Page Index Toggle Pages: [1] 2  Send TopicPrint
Hot Topic (More than 10 Replies) Help identify this caliber (Read 1676 times)
Judge 1879
Participating Member
*
Offline



Posts: 45
Location: Arizona
Joined: Jun 27th, 2024
Help identify this caliber
Aug 15th, 2024 at 8:20am
Print Post  
Hello all, I recently purchased a W. Wurfflein and have made a chamber cast, however I'm not really sure if I'm reading the measurements properly.  Starting from the rim it measures. 460, the base 3.78, the neck is .350, and the case length seems to be 1.30. The muzzle diameter is .300, while the end of the mold prior to the rifling is 
.324, the total length of the casting before the rifling is 1.82 including the rim. 1.74 not included the rim.
« Last Edit: Aug 17th, 2024 at 10:40am by Judge 1879 »  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
yamoon
Oldtimer
*****
Offline


NRA Life, ASSRA , GGCA,
MCA

Posts: 880
Location: Junction City Kansas
Joined: Feb 11th, 2012
Re: Help identify this caliber
Reply #1 - Aug 15th, 2024 at 12:43pm
Print Post  
May be 8.15x46r, a very common European target round.
Mike
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
frnkeore
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 7268
Location: Central Point, OR 97502
Joined: Jun 16th, 2010
Re: Help identify this caliber
Reply #2 - Aug 15th, 2024 at 12:59pm
Print Post  
Is the base diameter actually .378?

I have no idea of what the caliber might have been called but, it sounds like it will be easy to make cases for it, with either 357 mag or 357 max. The rim thickness may be to great though w/o a shim.

You didn't say if it has rifling. If so, is the bore .300 and what is the groove diameter?

Also, the shape of the chamber sounds like it could be for a "stop ring" bullet.

Could we get a good picture of the chamber cast?
  

ASSRA Member #696, ISSA Member #339
Back to top
YIMAIM  
IP Logged
 
rgchristensen
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 1089
Joined: Jan 2nd, 2014
Re: Help identify this caliber
Reply #3 - Aug 15th, 2024 at 2:43pm
Print Post  
Sharpe’s “Rifle in America” lists the models of Wurfflein rifles, and the  cartridges for which they were chambered.  Barnes’ “Cartridges of the World”, gives descriptions of most odd cartridges.

CHRIS
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Judge 1879
Participating Member
*
Offline



Posts: 45
Location: Arizona
Joined: Jun 27th, 2024
Re: Help identify this caliber
Reply #4 - Aug 15th, 2024 at 7:51pm
Print Post  
I am having a difficult time uploading pictures,  I'll try again. And yes it does have rifling, I will measure the grove depth. It is such a beautiful rile and the barrel and bore are near perfect. Again I'll attempt to upload pictures.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Judge 1879
Participating Member
*
Offline



Posts: 45
Location: Arizona
Joined: Jun 27th, 2024
Re: Help identify this caliber
Reply #5 - Aug 15th, 2024 at 9:18pm
Print Post  
Have recast the chamber( sulpher is sooo darn fragile).
Remeasured and yep the measurements are the same. I tried to get the rifle groove depth and came up with .004, .296/.300. I originally thought it was a bottleneck but then realized that I was looking at the place the actual bullet is in the chamber. I still can't upload images ( says they are too large) any idea on how to fix that? Thanks for all your help.
« Last Edit: Aug 15th, 2024 at 10:52pm by Judge 1879 »  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
25cal
Participating Member
*
Offline



Posts: 41
Joined: Nov 27th, 2009
Re: Help identify this caliber
Reply #6 - Aug 16th, 2024 at 1:24pm
Print Post  
Hard to tell from the dimensions given, but might possibly be one of the Wesson 30 calibers, 30-30 or if it's a bottle neck 30-40. They are both listed as slightly shorter OAL, but they were around in the same era as the rifle originally. According to Donnelly they can be formed from 357 Max. brass.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Schutzenbob
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline


Rheinisch-Westfälisc
hen Sprengstoff-Fabriken

Posts: 2051
Location: Nightingale, California
Joined: Oct 24th, 2005
Re: Help identify this caliber
Reply #7 - Aug 16th, 2024 at 1:32pm
Print Post  
Judge,

Your computer photo gallery should have a menu at the top that reads "properties." Click on that and select "resize and save."
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
frnkeore
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 7268
Location: Central Point, OR 97502
Joined: Jun 16th, 2010
Re: Help identify this caliber
Reply #8 - Aug 17th, 2024 at 3:04am
Print Post  
Can you give us the A, B, C lengths?
  

ASSRA Member #696, ISSA Member #339
Back to top
YIMAIM  
IP Logged
 
Judge 1879
Participating Member
*
Offline



Posts: 45
Location: Arizona
Joined: Jun 27th, 2024
Re: Help identify this caliber
Reply #9 - Aug 17th, 2024 at 9:43am
Print Post  
So it looks like dimension "A" is 1.30, if "C" is overall leanththen that is 1.82, if it's the shoulder to the top it is .52, and "B" is .70
Now if we are also looking at the throat of the cartridge it measures. 354 and the " bullet" is 
329
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
frnkeore
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 7268
Location: Central Point, OR 97502
Joined: Jun 16th, 2010
Re: Help identify this caliber
Reply #10 - Aug 17th, 2024 at 12:05pm
Print Post  
That doesn't add up.

1.3 + .700 = 2.0, longer than what you say is the overall length of 1.82.

It looks kind of like it could be a 30/30 Wesson. The 1.3 would be about right but, the "B" dimension would need to be nearer .32 - .36.

To me, it looks like A + B would = case length and C minus B would = the throat.
  

ASSRA Member #696, ISSA Member #339
Back to top
YIMAIM  
IP Logged
 
Dellet
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 1090
Joined: May 19th, 2017
Re: Help identify this caliber
Reply #11 - Aug 17th, 2024 at 1:55pm
Print Post  
Maybe loosely based on a 30-30 Wesson but the bore diameter is too small .296/.300” and the neck diameter to large at .350”. 

The brass would have been extremely thick, .025” or so to seat a .300” bullet.

A better casting might help, and include at least 1/2” of rifling.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Judge 1879
Participating Member
*
Offline



Posts: 45
Location: Arizona
Joined: Jun 27th, 2024
Re: Help identify this caliber
Reply #12 - Aug 17th, 2024 at 7:19pm
Print Post  
I will do another casting. Honestly this is very confusing.  I may have to take it to a gunsmith. But finding one who is familiar with vintage arms
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Dellet
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 1090
Joined: May 19th, 2017
Re: Help identify this caliber
Reply #13 - Aug 17th, 2024 at 11:16pm
Print Post  
Judge 1879 wrote on Aug 17th, 2024 at 7:19pm:
I will do another casting. Honestly this is very confusing.  I may have to take it to a gunsmith. But finding one who is familiar with vintage arms


I think with good measurements it’s possible to ID. There were very few cartridges with a .300” groove. Hard part is bore sizes weren’t exactly reliable. 

More important is the body taper, shoulder if there’s is one and neck diameters. 

Below is a photo of a 30-30 Wesson and a 32-30 Remington.   
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Judge 1879
Participating Member
*
Offline



Posts: 45
Location: Arizona
Joined: Jun 27th, 2024
Re: Help identify this caliber
Reply #14 - Sep 18th, 2024 at 7:57am
Print Post  
After much study and the cartridges of the world book I believe it is a 30-30 Wesson. and of course the 357 Max cases are nowhere to be found. So for the time being I guess the rifle sits quietly as it has for many many years.Dellet wrote on Aug 17th, 2024 at 11:16pm:
Judge 1879 wrote on Aug 17th, 2024 at 7:19pm:
I will do another casting. Honestly this is very confusing.  I may have to take it to a gunsmith. But finding one who is familiar with vintage arms


I think with good measurements it’s possible to ID. There were very few cartridges with a .300” groove. Hard part is bore sizes weren’t exactly reliable. 

More important is the body taper, shoulder if there’s is one and neck diameters. 

Below is a photo of a 30-30 Wesson and a 32-30 Remington.  

  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Page Index Toggle Pages: [1] 2 
Send TopicPrint