a rifle question

Grizzly Adam · Post by **Grizzly Adam** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:19 pm

Here's a chip-shot:

The oldest continuously manufactured centerfire cartridge is:

________________________

No cheating!

A.W · Post by **A.W** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:50 pm

45-70

Fox · Post by **Fox** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:52 pm

30-06 was originally designed in 1903 and then slightly altered to the case we now know as the 30-06 in 1906 for the American Government but Springfield, hense the 30-06 Springfield. The 30-30 was a 30 caliber bullet propelled by 30 grains of BLACKPOWDER, there is a difference. Old blackpowder rounds did this a lot, like the 45-70, 45-110 (Quigly's gun), 50-70, 50-90. Not sure about the 22-250 but I think it is just a marketing thing, make it seem bigger than the 222.

A.W · Post by **A.W** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:56 pm

I didn't cheat. I researched it on the internet.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/1011537/posts

Grizzly Adam · Post by **Grizzly Adam** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 3:48 pm

Well, according to common consensus, the hoary old .45/70 has always been considered the (American) centerfire cartridge longest in continuous production. I think that's the qualifiying language, as in always manufactured and commonly available.

I was just joining in the fun, and if the .50/70 has indeed never been out of common production, then the .45/70, like the Pinball Wizard, will have to surrender the crown.

I love gun trivia.

Of course, as ya'll know, the true Methuselah of cartridges is the humble .22! Long live the .22, and it has been long-lived!

hawg hunter · Post by **hawg hunter** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 4:31 pm

First off the 30 30 was the first smokless powder round by Winchester in 1894. as far as the oldest centerfire cartridge I would say the 44 40 came out in 1873. The oldest continusly produced catridge is 22 rimfire.

Grizzly Adam · Post by **Grizzly Adam** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 9:38 pm

Hey, Hawg Hunter ...

You're right about the .44-40 being intoduced in 1873 ... a distinction it shares with the venerable old .45 Long Colt cartridge.

Neither preceded the .45-70, which was the product of the US Army Armory at Springfield for use in their 1873 rifle. It's introduction officially phased out the .50-70 Bstout referred to.

As best I understand it (and I could well be wrong), gun historians fix the production date of the .45/70 cartridge by the army as beginning prior to production of the .44/40 and .45 Long Colt by some months and weeks within the same year, and even earlier in development. Chronological hair-splitting, perhaps, but then I guess oldest is oldest, whether by years or seconds.

By year, it's a tie for the three of them, huh?

I have read many gun writers who say the .45/70 is the Grand Old Man of cartridges. Of course, those writers could be mistaken. Personally, I don't have the time or stamina to research the question. They get paid to look that stuff up. I'm just an enthusiast.

I'll settle for a tie.

You're right about the .22, but we were talking centerfires.

TPM · Post by **TPM** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 10:21 pm

Hawg hunter has it right, kinda. The 30-30 has always been a smokeless powder round, the second 30 denoting 30 grains of smokeless powder. but it actually didn't come out until 1895. The legendary Model 1894 rifle was originally made in 32-40, 38-55 and 44-40. It wasn't until the second year of production, 1895, that the 30-30 and 25-35 were introduced. The 30-30 was actually originally called the 30WCF which stood for 30 Winchester Center Fire and guns were marked as such until the 1940's I believe.
The 22-250 is indeed a cartridged rooted in the 250 Savage (also known as 250-3000). The cartridge was necked down and the shoulder angle was increased a few degrees. It was a wildcat cartridge since the late 1930's but wasn't commercially produced until the mid 1960's. BTW, the 3000 in 250-3000 stands for 3000 feet per second.

chris4570 · Post by **chris4570** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 6:39 pm

The .45-70!!! My personal favourite. Gotta get another one!