Strange Brass

Fabrat · July 8, 2002, 11:25 AM

Hi all .... while working on a new porch for the in-laws cabin I found a spent cartridge I can't find any info on. The head case is stamped 33WCF. Anyone know the history on this one?

Fabrat

**Mike Irwin** · July 8, 2002, 12:10 PM

Whoa. That's an oldie.

It's a .33 Winchester Center Fire.

Introduced originally for the 1886 Winchester as a high-velocity (for the time) small bore round. I think it was originally loaded with black powder, but made the transition over to smokeless.

It was only moderately popular.

It was dropped in favor of a modernized rifle/cartridge in the 1930s -- the Model 71 in .348 Winchester.

.33 WCF hasn't been loaded commercially (by one of the big companies) since WW II, but new ammo and cases can be purchased from a number of sources, including Old Western Scrounger.

**Mike Irwin** · July 8, 2002, 09:19 PM

Whoops, the .33 WCF was introduced in 1902, and was originally a smokeless powder round.

My previous information, quoted from memory, was incorrect.

According to Cartridges of the World, power was no better than the .35 Remington, so it wasn't a very hot number.

Jim Watson · July 8, 2002, 09:41 PM

I have a .33, an 1886 Winchester made in 1906.
A very nice rifle for the time, about 30% more powerful than a .30-30, a 200 grain bullet at 2250 fps or thereabouts. About 15% more powerful than the .35 Remington, CotW notwithstanding.
It has the same head and rim diameter as .45-70 and about the same length. I make brass for mine from .45-70 with one form die, the full-length sizing die, and a little trimming. Hornady makes the right bullet, a 200 grain .338" flatpoint softpoint with crimp groove. I have shot mine mostly with cast bullets, treating it like a big .32-40.

July 8, 2002, 11:25 AM	#1
Fabrat Member Join Date: February 2, 2002 Location: Maine Posts: 22	Strange Brass Hi all .... while working on a new porch for the in-laws cabin I found a spent cartridge I can't find any info on. The head case is stamped 33WCF. Anyone know the history on this one? Fabrat

July 8, 2002, 12:10 PM	#2
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	Whoa. That's an oldie. It's a .33 Winchester Center Fire. Introduced originally for the 1886 Winchester as a high-velocity (for the time) small bore round. I think it was originally loaded with black powder, but made the transition over to smokeless. It was only moderately popular. It was dropped in favor of a modernized rifle/cartridge in the 1930s -- the Model 71 in .348 Winchester. .33 WCF hasn't been loaded commercially (by one of the big companies) since WW II, but new ammo and cases can be purchased from a number of sources, including Old Western Scrounger. __________________ "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.

July 8, 2002, 09:19 PM	#3
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	Whoops, the .33 WCF was introduced in 1902, and was originally a smokeless powder round. My previous information, quoted from memory, was incorrect. According to Cartridges of the World, power was no better than the .35 Remington, so it wasn't a very hot number. __________________ "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.

July 8, 2002, 09:41 PM	#4
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	I have a .33, an 1886 Winchester made in 1906. A very nice rifle for the time, about 30% more powerful than a .30-30, a 200 grain bullet at 2250 fps or thereabouts. About 15% more powerful than the .35 Remington, CotW notwithstanding. It has the same head and rim diameter as .45-70 and about the same length. I make brass for mine from .45-70 with one form die, the full-length sizing die, and a little trimming. Hornady makes the right bullet, a 200 grain .338" flatpoint softpoint with crimp groove. I have shot mine mostly with cast bullets, treating it like a big .32-40.