Original cartridge specs for a given caliber

xwray · April 22, 2013, 11:24 PM

This is probably asking for too much but I'll ask anyway. I'm looking for a spreadsheet or online table that documents the original cartridge specs - bullet weight, FPS, and powder type/load if possible - of all currently available calibers. In other words I'd like to know when a new firearm/caliber combo was first developed, what were the intended cartridge specifications for that weapon.

I hope that makes sense...I just want to know what the original cartridge characteristics were before all subsequent variations of a given caliber were developed - the cartridge genesis if you will.

Perhaps there's a particular loading manual that might have the original cartridge specs hilited for reference or suchlike?

Thanks for any feedback

griz · April 23, 2013, 05:57 AM

I'm not exactly sure of what you are looking for, but usually the ammo companies have a list of the calibers they load and the velocity. Here is Federal's for instance.

**Mike Irwin** · April 23, 2013, 09:07 AM

ALL currently available cartridges?

A bit of a project you've chosen to bite off.

Your best bet is to start with a copy of Cartridges of the World.

Good luck. You're going to need it.

One other point...

A lot of modern cartridges don't have a "genesis" load. They were developed and introduced with multiple bullet styles and weights to appeal to a broad range of shooters.

Jim Watson · April 23, 2013, 09:19 AM

Yup.
A copy of CotW and a stack of old catalogs or at least Shooters Bibles with listings of ammunition going back for years and years.
If you care to search it out, you can find early issue bullet weight and velocity.
I don't know of any place that you will find it spoon fed for you, that is the sort of research that most researchers expect to be paid for.
Some of us here could and would look up historical information on one particular caliber of interest, but I know I am not going to dig out bulk data just to post on the internet.

Very few makers will reveal what powder they use or used, though.
There is the Internet Wisdom that factory ammunition is loaded with powders not available to the American Commoner, and some is. But not all, but they still won't say. And it doesn't mean much because the ammo plant buys powder on bids and what they use this quarter may not be what they used last quarter.

xwray · April 23, 2013, 10:08 AM

Thanks for the feedback...I know that to compile such a database would be a tremendous amount of work which is why I was hoping it had already been done somewhere.

Jimro · April 23, 2013, 10:21 AM

This is relatively easy with military cartridges, this is where I would start. Considering that many of the most successful commercial cartridges have been based off of military cartridges you should be able to get a handle on the bulk of hunting ammo that was designed to improve on the parent case.

There are exceptions to the military heritage of hunting cartridges, such as the 30-30 and 375 H&H (and all the magnums that they spawned).

But what you will find is that there are "families" of cartridges with a bit of overlap between them as far as performance goes.

Jimro

April 22, 2013, 11:24 PM	#1
xwray Junior Member Join Date: November 8, 2011 Posts: 10	Original cartridge specs for a given caliber This is probably asking for too much but I'll ask anyway. I'm looking for a spreadsheet or online table that documents the original cartridge specs - bullet weight, FPS, and powder type/load if possible - of all currently available calibers. In other words I'd like to know when a new firearm/caliber combo was first developed, what were the intended cartridge specifications for that weapon. I hope that makes sense...I just want to know what the original cartridge characteristics were before all subsequent variations of a given caliber were developed - the cartridge genesis if you will. Perhaps there's a particular loading manual that might have the original cartridge specs hilited for reference or suchlike? Thanks for any feedback __________________ <Smith & Wesson...the original point and click interface>

April 23, 2013, 09:07 AM	#3
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,388	ALL currently available cartridges? A bit of a project you've chosen to bite off. Your best bet is to start with a copy of Cartridges of the World. Good luck. You're going to need it. One other point... A lot of modern cartridges don't have a "genesis" load. They were developed and introduced with multiple bullet styles and weights to appeal to a broad range of shooters. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

April 23, 2013, 10:08 AM	#5
xwray Junior Member Join Date: November 8, 2011 Posts: 10	Thanks for the feedback...I know that to compile such a database would be a tremendous amount of work which is why I was hoping it had already been done somewhere. __________________ <Smith & Wesson...the original point and click interface>

April 23, 2013, 10:21 AM	#6
Jimro Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2006 Posts: 7,097	This is relatively easy with military cartridges, this is where I would start. Considering that many of the most successful commercial cartridges have been based off of military cartridges you should be able to get a handle on the bulk of hunting ammo that was designed to improve on the parent case. There are exceptions to the military heritage of hunting cartridges, such as the 30-30 and 375 H&H (and all the magnums that they spawned). But what you will find is that there are "families" of cartridges with a bit of overlap between them as far as performance goes. Jimro __________________ Machine guns are awesome until you have to carry one.

April 23, 2013, 05:57 AM	#2
griz Senior Member Join Date: July 31, 2000 Location: Middle Peninsula, VA Posts: 1,588	I'm not exactly sure of what you are looking for, but usually the ammo companies have a list of the calibers they load and the velocity. Here is Federal's for instance.

April 23, 2013, 09:19 AM	#4
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	Yup. A copy of CotW and a stack of old catalogs or at least Shooters Bibles with listings of ammunition going back for years and years. If you care to search it out, you can find early issue bullet weight and velocity. I don't know of any place that you will find it spoon fed for you, that is the sort of research that most researchers expect to be paid for. Some of us here could and would look up historical information on one particular caliber of interest, but I know I am not going to dig out bulk data just to post on the internet. Very few makers will reveal what powder they use or used, though. There is the Internet Wisdom that factory ammunition is loaded with powders not available to the American Commoner, and some is. But not all, but they still won't say. And it doesn't mean much because the ammo plant buys powder on bids and what they use this quarter may not be what they used last quarter.