Patent Ignition, Rimfire and Inside Primed Cartridges

 

*Cartridges with an "@" after the listing denotes there is a picture of the cartridge at the
  bottom of the page.

*A Year represents date of the cartridge patent or commercial release.
 

SEPERATE PRIMED

(non paper only)

.34 Adams .35-100 Maynard@, 1856 .36 Sharps Lop Ear @, 1857

9mm Pidault-Cordier

9x41mm Treuille de Beaulieu

.36 geraghty

.36 Smith (rubber & Linen)

.36 Marston@

.36 Cofer Revolver

.36 Reynolds .380 Adams

.41 Roper Rifle

 

.45 Adams (aka 450 dams)

11mm Riera (reproduction shown)

.46 Maynard (First type)
.48 Morse Stepbase

 

.497 Adams

15mm Pauly

 

15mm Rembert

.50 Maynard (Brass and Paper), 1856 .50-50 Maynard (1865) @, 1865

 

.50-50 Maynard Brass (some has wire shell extractors or cords attached), 1850's

 

.50 Gallager (some all brass, some brass and paper)

.50 Frankford Arsenal (Experimental)
.50 Smiths Carbine (Paper Cased)1857

.50 Smiths Carbine (Rubber Cased)1857

 
.54 Burnside@, 1860

Brass                                    Tin

.56 Billinghurst Requia @, 1860's

.58 Maynard Flop ear

.69 Maynard with cord .69 Maynard Flop ear .69 Maynard Capsule

PATENT IGNITION & Self Contained

.25 Allen lip Fire@, 1860

   
.28 Front Loading Cup Primer @,1859

 

.30 Eagle Cupfire

 

.303 Morris, Vase shape

 

.307 Triangular aka 307 Schneeloch

 

.31 Colt Thuer

 

.31 Crispin 1865

 

.31 Milbank Primed Front Loading .31 Volcanic@, 1854

6mm Gaupillat/Loron

 

.32 Allen Lipfire

 

.32 Crispin

.32 Teat Fire@, 1864 (2 Models,

one has flat teat one has round teat)

 

8mm Gravity Fed@ .34 (110 Bore) Eley Needlegun

 

8.5mm Gaupillat Collete/Loron

.36 Allen Lipfire

 

.36 Colt Thuers, pocket

(smaller than Patent)

.36 Colt Thuers Patent, Navy

 

 

.36 (90 Bore), Eley needle fire

 

 

 

.36 Crispin

 

.36 Sharps Wire

 

.36 Volcanic

 

.38 German Needle fire (rimmed and rimless)

9mm Gaupillat, 1854

.40 Genhart, tube primed .41 Volcanic, 1854 .41 (75 Bore) Eley Needle fire

.41 Williamson

.42  Front Loading Eagle Cup Primer, 1859

11mm Jouvet

 

.44 Allen Lip fire @, 1860

.44 Crispin, 1865

.44 Thuers

.45 National Teat Fire @, 1864

 

12mm Chassepot

.50 Crispin (short & Long)@, 1865

 

.54 Hunt & Jennings

 

.58 Gallagher and Gladding

.58 Schubarth

 


                    

     

PINFIRE CARTRIDGES

2mm 5mm @ 7mm 9mm
11mm 12mm Short @ 12mm Long @ 13mm
14mm (rare)  15mm  -  -

 

PINFIRE SHOT SHELLS


7mm 9mm 11mm 13mm Various Collath Gauges 4 Gauge
8 Gauge 10 Gauge 12 Gauge 14 Gauge 16 Gauge 20 Gauge
24 Gauge 28 Gauge 30 Gauge 32 Gauge 410 Gauge -

 

RIMFIRE

I am not including the dimensions of cartridges smaller than 25 Caliber as they are fairly obvious to identify.
 
 
2 mm  3mm  11 cal Whatzit 3.5mm
4mm 4mm Flobert 4 x 14.5 Swiss  4.5mm Interdynamics
22 BB Cap, 1845 22 CB Cap, 1850's 22 Gov't BB 22 short, 1857
22 Long,1871 22 Long Rifle,1887 22 Extra Long, 1880  22 WRF,1890
22 Win Auto,1903 22 Rem Auto,1914 22 Swiss short  22 Stinger
22 Win Magnum 4mm Long - -

NOTE: Cartridge length may vary considerably and is not an accurate measure in identification. The following measurements are the averages, or the ones most likely encountered.

Legend for Charts

Case Types:


A= Straight B = Straight Tapered C= Bottleneck Tapered D = Bottlenecked E= Rimless

(Year represents date cartridge patented or released)


Caliber
Rim Diameter
Base Diameter
Neck Diameter
Case Length
Cartridge Length
Case Type
Year Introduced
.177 High Standard 0.270 0.226 0.191 0.616 0.972 C -
.17 HMR (Hornady Rimfire Magnum) 0.290 0.239 0.192 1.057 1.35 C 2002
.230 Short  0.280 0.230 0.225 0.392 - A -
4.5mm Interdynamics 0.291 0.255 0.198 1.051 - - -
5mm Rem Mag 0.325 0.259 0.225 1.01 - C 1969
5mm French 0.277 0.222 0.222 0.422 0.615 A -
5mm Flobert 0.278 0.226 0.225 0.268 - A -
5mm Wingo - - - - - - -
5.2mm Swiss - - - - - - -
5.6mm Bosquette - - - - - - -
5.6mm Flobert 0.278 0.226 0.225 0.268 - A -
.25 Stevens Short 0.334 0.276 0.276 0.599 0.884 A 1902
.25 Short 0.290 0.246 0.246 0.469 0.783 A 1860
.25 Bacon & Bliss 0.289 0.245 0.245 0.469 - A -
.25 Stevens Long 0.335 0.277 0.277 1.12 0.469 A 1890
6mm Gaulois - 0.232 0.232 0.28 0.469 A -
6mm Long 0.272 0.221 0.221 0.418 0.561 A -
6mm Bosquette - - - - - - -
6mm Flobert - - - - - A -
.267 Remington 0.350 0.290 0.290 1.115 1.436 A -
7mm 0.325 0.278 0.278 0.344 - A -
7mm Bosquette - - - - - - -
7mm Flobert - - - - - - -
.297 Revolver 0.369 0.310 0.310 0.493 - A 1860's
.30 Short 0.345 0.292 0.292 0.502 0.855 A 1860
.30 Long 0.339 0.292 0.292 0.651 0.975 A 1871
.30 Sharps No2 0.410 0.350 0.345 0.850 - A -
.310 Eley Dishbase 0.369 0.315 0.315 0.500 0.938 A -
.310 Revolver 0.375 0.314 0.314 0.568 0.970 A -
.32 BB Cap 0.368 0.317 0.317 0.372 0.575 A -
.32 Extra Short 0.368 0.316 0.316 0.390 0.645 A 1871
.32 Short 0.370 0.318 0.318 0.547 0.932 A 1860
.32 Long 0.378 0.319 0.319 0.797 1.208 A 1861
.32 Long Rifle 0.375 0.318 0.318 0.938 1.216 A 1900
.32 Extra Long, Ballard&Weson 0.378 0.318 0.318 1.18 1.58 A 1869
.32 Swiss Special 0.378 0.319 0.319 0.713 - A -
.320 Short 0.376 0.315 0.317 0.571 - A -
.340 Eley 0.391 0.339 0.339 0.583 0.985 A 1870'S
7.5 Swiss 0.342 0.302 0.299 0.556 - A -
7.5 Swiss extra short 0.342 0.302 0.299 0.433 - A -
.35 Allen 0.407 0.342 0.342 0.865 1.388 A -
.350 German
9mm German
9mm Sharps
0.463 0.385 0.375 0.675 1.16 A -
8mm Flobert 0.390 0.339 0.334 0.345 - A -

 
Caliber
Rim Diameter
Base Diameter
Neck Diameter
Case Length
Total Length
Case Type
Year Introduced
9mm  0.402 0.350 0.350 0.417 0.560 A -
9mm Flobert 0.413 0.346 0.346 0.413 - A -
9mm Bosquette - - - - - - -
9mm Long - - - - - - -
9.2 x 51.5 Rubin 0.635 0.542 0.394 2.03 - A -
.38 Bacon 0.441 0.378 0.384 0.860 - B 1868
.38 Navy /Prescott 0.441 0.378 0.384 0.860 Prescot has smaller bullet than the Navy B 1860
.38 Short 0.435 0.376 0.376 0.749 1.170 A 1865
.38 Long 0.441 0.377 0.377 0.862 1.31-1.64 A 1864
.38 Extra Long 0.440 0.378 0.378 1.481 1.956 A 1870
.38 Extra Short 0.420 0.373 0.370 0.570 - A -
.380 Extra Short 0.424 0.377 0.377 0.676 - A 1870's
9.5mm Swiss 0.423 0.376 0.376 0.666 - A -
.41 Derringer 0.460 0.405 0.405 0.470 0.890 A 1863
.41 Long 0.466 0.408 0.408 0.635 1.045 A 1873
.41 Swiss 0.622 0.540 0.439 1.512 2.19 D 1860'S
.42 F&W 0.477 0.416 0.416 0.830 1.47 A -
10.4 x 38 Swiss Vetterli 0.620 0.539 0.449 1.519 2.205 D -
10.4 Swiss Revolver 0.503 0.430 0.430 0.700 - A 1872
10.5 x 38R Swiss Milbank-Amsler - - - - - - -
11mm x 78 0.660 0.558 0.475 3.06 - A -
11.2mm x 36 Austrian Fruehwirth 0.587 0.492 0.464 1.409 - A -
11.35 x 27.5R Danish Remington 0.583 0.502 0.464 1.087 - B -
11.7 X 42R Danish Rem - - - - - - -
.44 Short 0.513 0.440 0.440 0.652 1.18 A 1870
.44 Henry Flat short case 0.521 0.445 0.445 0.815 1.31-1.36 A 1859
.44 Henry Flat long case 0.518 0.445 0.445 0.895 1.22-1.36 A 1859
.44 Henry Pointed 0.512 0.443 0.443 0.832 1.34-1.53 A 1859
.44 Long 0.510 0.440 0.440 0.942 1.47-1.57 A 1860
.44 X long Howard 0.507 0.441 0.441 1.068 1.57-1.67 A -
.44 Robinson - - - - - - -
.44 X long Ballard 0.506 0.441 0.441 1.120 1.65-1.74 A 1862
.440 Short 0.497 0.435 0.435 0.665 - A -
.442 Extra Short 0.502 0.447 0.446 0.621 - A -
.442 British 0.502 0.447 0.447 0.621 1.207 A 1865
.44-45 Springfield 0.528 0.444 0.444 1.409 - A -
12mm  0.515 0.470 0.465 0.640 - A -
12 x 29R Norweigan Carbine 0.622 0.551 0.535 1.177 - A -
12.17mm x 29R Lund Carbine 0.637 0.552 0.539 1.138 - A -
12.17 x 42R Swedish Rem 0.624
0.545
0.543
1.69
- - -
12.17 X 44R Norweigan Rem 0.624 0.546 0.544 1.730 - A -
12mm Swiss Vetterli - - - - - - -
13.9mm x 33R WAnzl 0.692 0.606 0.581 1.287 - A -
.45 Colt - - - - - A -
.45 Frankford 0.571 0.496 0.476 1.906 - A -
.45 Danish Rem. 0.584 0.503 0.485 1.654 - A 1867
.45-45 Peabody 0.638 0.563 0.520 1.358 1.760 B/D 1866
.45-60 Peabody 0.648 0.563 0.516 1.648 - B/D -
.45-70 Peabody 0.646 0.561 0.518 1.705 2.055 B/D 1866
.46 Extra Short 0.530 0.458 0.458 0.633 1.125 A -
.46 Short 0.530 0.458 0.458 0.836 1.326 A 1869
.46 Long Rem Carbine 0.530 0.455 0.455 0.996 1.64-1.88 A 1864
.46 Long Rem 0.523 0.456 0.456 1.252 1.876 A 1865
.46 Extra Long 0.525 0.457 0.457 1.534 2.285 A 1871
.46 Frankfort Arsenal 0.665 0.583 0.496 1.338 - B/D -
.46 Hammond 0.590 0.518 0.500 1.625 2.175 B/D -

 
Caliber
Rim Diameter
Base Diameter
Neck Diameter
Case Length
Total Length
Case Type
Year Introduced
14.5mm Waenzl 0.698 0.605 0.583 1.269 1.94 A -
15mm French - - - - - - -
.50 Ball Carbine  0.640 0.560 0.476 0.859 1.13 B 1865
.50 Warner Carbine 0.604 0.526 0.526 0.850 1.514 A -
.50 US Carbine 0.660 0.565 0.535 1.750 - B -
.50 Rem Pistol 0.643 0.559 0.541 0.858 1.288 B 1865
.50-45 Peabody 0.643 0.557 0.535 1.131-1.358 1.550-1.889 B 1864
.50-50 Peabody 0.642 0.559 0.484 1.358 - B -
.50-60 Peabody 0.645 0.559 0.496 1.445 1.859 B 1864
.50-70 Peabody 0.677 0.555 0.535 1.754 - B -
.50 Swedish Carbine 0.625 0.547 0.527 1.625 2.053 B -
.50-70 Gov't 0.655 0.557 0.532 1.720 2.191 B -
.50-76 Joslyn 0.645 0.558 0.545 1.460 - B/D -
.52 Sharps & Hankins Carbine 0.633 0.556 0.545 1.133 1.676 B 1860's
.52 Sharps & Hankins Rifle 0.645 0.556 0.550 1.158 1.766 B -
.52-70 Sharps  0.639 0.562 0.531 1.465 2.163 B -
.52 Jenks 0.693 0.614 0.557 1.263 - B -
.52 Meigs 0.633 0.556 0.545 1.133 - A -
.54 Joslyn 0.641 0.559 0.559 0.890 - A -
.54 Ballard Rifle 0.637 0.556 0.550 1.206 1.806 B -
.54 Ballard Carbine 0.655 0.575 0.563 1.203 1.702 B 1862
.54 Allen 0.663 0.577 0.561 1.203 - A -
17 x 28R Danish 0.787 0.706 0.704 1.083 - A -
17.5 x 29R Dutch 0.814 0.741 0.739 1.161 - A -
17 x 32R Scheel 0.822 0.722 0.709 1.248 - A -
.56 Starr 0.645 0.559 0.546 1.02 1.717 A -
.56-46 Spencer
Long case
0.638 0.559 0.479 1.062 1.610 D 1862
.56-46 Spencer Short Case 0.638 0.563 0.479 0.898 - D 1862
.56-46 Spencer
X-Long Case
0.644 0.563 0.470 1.886 2.49 D 1862
.56-50 Spencer 0.638 0.557 0.517 1.15 1.59 D 1864
.56-52 Spencer 0.638 0.557 0.532 0.992 1.640 B/D 1863
.56-56 Spencer 0.643 0.558 0.558 0.873 1.48-1.60 A 1864
.58 Ball & Lampson 0.701 0.630 0.630 1.118 - A -
.58 Joslyn 0.691 0.612 0.612 0.984 1.225 A 1861
.58 Dangerfield Lefever - - - - - - -
.58 Chabot 0.695 0.624 0.622 1.200 1.690 A -
.58 Roberts 0.755 0.651 0.622 1.280 1.781 B -
.58 Montstorm 0.732 0.649 0.618 1.202 1.900 B 1858
.58 Musket 0.711 0.634 0.624 1.204 1.67 B -
.58 Miller 0.709 0.631 0.621 1.188 1.688 B 1867
.58 Short Gatling 0.679 0.606 0.606 0.965 1.831 A 1866
.58 Long Gatling 0.675 0.608 0.608 1.114 1.953 A 1866
.69 Roberts 0.851 0.724 0.72 0.740 - A -
18mm Milbank-Amsler 0.816 0.734 0.693 0.975 - B 1868
1" Gatling - - - - - A -

IDENTIFICATION TIPS FOR UNHEADSTAMPED US/CDN RIMFIRE CARTRIDGES

          AMERICAN METALLIC CARTRIDGE CO.:
                BULLET: Paper covered shot loads. Belted ball, similar to USC Co. Some other bullets used.
                CASE: No distinguishing features

              CRITTENDEN TIBBALS MFG CO.:
                BULLET: Early grooved type with very sharp pointed bullet point.
                CASE: May have concentric circles on head, with 2 opposing radial marks.
                Not always a certain indication.

            DOMINION CARTRIDGE CO. (Montreal, Canada)
               BULLET: Single grease groove on large caliber rounds

           ETHAN ALLEN CO.:
                BULLET: Long double belted, pointed bullet with 1 grease groove (except the 41 Derringer).
                CASE: No distinguishing features

            PHOENIX METALLIC CO.:
                BULLET: Belted ball similar to the USC Co version, but smaller. Many bullets used.
                Paper covered shot loads. Made Merwin and Cup-Primed Cases.
                CASE: No distinguishing features, but rim may be undersized.

            SMITH & WESSON
                BULLET: Frequently a very dark colored lead with distinct mold marks
                CASE:
               Type 1: 2 piece case with fold where case joins rim.
                Type 2: One piece case with felt wad at head. sligth indentation of head.
                Type 3: one piece case, no distinguishing marks

            UNITED STATES CARTRIDGE CO. (USC CO.)
                BULLET: Wide belted, round nose, target type with either no grease grooves, single, or
                double grease grooves.
                CASE: Centrifuse causes 3 to 8 ticks on the inner side of the rim.

            UNION METALLIC CARTRIDGE CO.:
                BULLET: Typical style, as well as one that has 2 equal sized grease grooves with a
                round nose.
                CASE: May have very flat head, or the rim may be rounded without any centrifuse marks.

           WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO.:
           BULLET: Typical style, also single narrow grease groove with a slightly flattened tip.
               CASE: 2 or 4 light dash marks on head.
 
 

INSIDE PRIMED & PRIMITIVE CENTER FIRE

Case Types:

                                                                            A= Straight                                        B = Straight Tapered
                                                                            C= Bottleneck Tapered                    D = Bottlenecked

                                                                            E= Rimless

Primer Type:

  B.C = Battery Cup                                                          F.A = Flat Anvil
FR = Farrington Primed                                                  B.A= Bar Anvil
         BT = Benet Primed                                                          MN = Martin Primed
      IP = Other Inside Primed                                                Blank = Unknown

               PC = Percussion Cap or Nipple used
 
Caliber
Rim Diameter
Base Diameter
Neck Diameter
Case Length
Total Length
Case Type
Primer Type
Year Introduced
5mm French 0.277 0.222 0.222 0.422 0.686 A IP 1890
5.75 Velodog same measurements as on the 14-37 cal centerfire charts - - - IP 1894
6mm Merveilleux 0.280 0.238 0.238 0.451 0.609 A IP 1898
6mm Protector 0.278 0.238 0.238 0.266 0.417 A IP -
6.35 Pickert 0.309 0.275 0.273 0.608 0.892 A IP 1922
7mm French 0.357 0.312 0.310 0.580 1.048 A IP, B.C 1890
7mm Devisme 0.359 0.314 0.307 0.429 0.743 A IP, disk -
7mm Perrin 0.356 0.312 0.310 0.448-0.557 0.57-0.836 - B.C 1860
7.65 Pickert 0.375 0.340 0.338 0.685 - A IP 1920's
8mm Devisme - - - - - - - -
8mm Protector 0.354 0.314 0.313 0.357 0.593 - IP 1882
8mm Raphael - 0.338 0.335 0.484 0.767 A B.A 1860
30 Moses 0.728 0.417 0.408 1.85 2.08 - PC 1862
31 Colt Thuer - - - - - - - -
32 Protector 0.350 0.312 0.312 0.365 - A BT -
320 Revolver 0.380 0.320 0.320 0.620 - A BT -
320 Long Revolver 0.380 0.318 0.318 0.680 - A BT -
35-30 Maynard. M1865 0.771 0.408 0.397 1.53 1.98 A - -
9mm French Perrin 0.448 0.398 0.396 0.562 - A B.C, IP 1850's
9mm Moutier - 0.364 0.363 0.419 0.734 A IP -
9mm Devisme 0.445 0.399 0.379 0.540 0.947 A B.A -
9mm Revolver 0.438 0.386 0.382 0.590 - A B.C, IP 1890
9mm Spirlet 0.371 0.410 0.372 0.681 1.09 - IP -
340 Revolver 0.390 0.344 0.342 0.660 - A B.C -
36 Colt Thuer - - - - - - - -
36 Cofer Revolver 0.368 0.363 0.362 1.08 1.83 - PC 1861
380 Long Revolver 0.432 0.382 0.378 0.980 - A B.C -
380 Revolver 0.432 0.382 0.378 0.680 - A B.C -
38 Colt - - - - - A FR, MN, BT -
38 S&W 0.436 0.386 0.386 0.740 - A FR, MN, BT -

 

Caliber

Rim Diameter

Base Diameter

Neck Diameter

Case Length

Total Length

Case Type

Primer Type

Year Introduced

40 & 42 Experimental - - - - - A MN -
40-40 Maynard 1865 0.766 0.458 0.450 1.75 2.24 A - 1865
410 Revolver 0.472 0.407 0.407 0.482 - A IP -
10mm Gaupillat - - - - - - IP -
11mm French 0.496 0.468 0.464 0.71 1.18 A B.C 1873
11mm Raphael - 0.451 0.448 0.525 0.947 A IP, BA -
11mm Devisme 0.524 0.472 0.468 0.543 0.934 A IP, disk 1860
430 Revolver 0.404 0.450 0.448 0.678 - A B.C -
430 Long Revolver 0.502 0.452 0.445 1.040 - A B.C -
44 Bakewell 0.523 0.520 0.358 1.65 2.58 - PC 1863
44 Colt Remington - 0.456 0.456 1.006 1.563 A MN, BT 1869
44 Dupee 0.508 0.508 0.450 1.17 1.55 A Milbank 1872
44 Win 0.545 0.465 0.436 1.31 1.88 B Milbank 1873
44 S&W - 0.441 0.441 0.844 1.406 A MN, BT 1869
44 Colt Thuer - 0.431 0.461 0.875 1.406 - - -
44 Colt 0.486 0.462 0.456 1.10 - A MN, BT 1860
440 Revolver - - - - - - - -
442 Revolver 0.504 0.452 0.450 0.680 - A B.C -
442 Long Revolver 0.502 0.450 0.442 1.03 - A B.C -
44-50 Meigs 0.550 0.502 0.442 1.28 1.80 D FR 1873
45 S&W Schoefield - 0.479 0.479 1.094 1.406 A BT 1872
45 70 Benet 0.605 0.503 0.480 2.10 2.56 A BT 1873
45 70 Farrington similar to above - - - - A FR -
45 75 Win 0.620 0.550 0.479 1.84 2.27 D milbank 1874
450 Revolver 0.508 0.478 0.476 0.686 - A B.C -

 

Curtis Steinhauer

 

cartridgecorner13@gmail.com