The .38-56 Winchester Center Fire or .38-56 Winchester cartridge was introduced in 1887 by Winchester for the Winchester Model 1886,[3] and was also used in the Marlin Model of 1895.

.38-56 WCF
A .38-56 WCF cartridge next to a .30-30 Winchester cartridge
.38-56 WCF (left) and .30-30 Winchester (right)
TypeRifle
Place of originUnited States
Production history
Produced1887–1930s
Specifications
Case typeRimmed, Bottleneck
Bullet diameter.3775 in (9.59 mm)
Neck diameter.40 in (10 mm)
Shoulder diameter.445 in (11.3 mm)
Base diameter.505 in (12.8 mm)
Rim diameter.605 in (15.4 mm)
Rim thickness.065 in (1.7 mm)
Case length2.10 in (53 mm)
Overall length2.50 in (64 mm)
Primer typeLarge rifle
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy
220 gr (14 g) RN 1,750 ft/s (530 m/s) 1,496 ft⋅lbf (2,028 J)
275 gr (18 g) FN 1,382 ft/s (421 m/s) 1,166 ft⋅lbf (1,581 J)
Test barrel length: 26"
Source(s): LoadData.com,[1] Rifle Magazine[2]

Project and history

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Production of Winchester Model 1886 rifles chambered in this cartridge ceased in 1910 due to lack of demand,[3] and most commercial production of the cartridge itself ceased in the 1930s. New production loaded cartridges and unloaded brass cases are rare and are often created using reformed .45-70 brass. The cartridge was originally intended to outperform the similar .38-55 Winchester but in reality had very similar ballistics despite using more gunpowder.[4]

Dimensions

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "LoadData.com - .38-56 WCF (Venturino Lever Gun Data)". Archived from the original on 2015-11-07. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  2. ^ "Dave Scovill, "The Winchester Model 1886," Rifle Magazine's The Legacy of Lever Guns, Winter 2000, 12, 115" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-20. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  3. ^ a b "Dave Scovill, "The Winchester Model 1886," p. 7" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-20. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  4. ^ "Dave Scovill, "The Winchester Model 1886," p. 115" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-20. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
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