historcial question: what was the fastest blp rifle catridge
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: what was the fastest black powder rifle catridge?
Smith357
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My first guess would be the .45-120 @ 1500 fps.
I'm fairly certain it's the original .303 British load. Something like 1,850 FPS on a .310", 215 grain jacketed roundnose, using an impossible to duplicate load of 70 grains of black powder. How they got that into the cases, I do not know.
unspellable
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fast BP rifle cartrdiges
A few of the British express cartridges passed the 1800 fps mark. I think one may have made 1950 fps, I'll have to look it up.
In fact, the original meaning of the term "express" (Coined by Purdey.) was for a high velocity black powder rifle, either muzzle loading or breech loading. The dividing line is generally felt to be around 1600 or 1700 fps. Of course this requires a light for caliber bullet. In the original Purdey express muzzle loaders the rifling had two grooves and the bullet had corresponding 'wings" so no effort was expended on engraving the rifling into the bullet on firing.
A few of the British express cartridges passed the 1800 fps mark. I think one may have made 1950 fps, I'll have to look it up.
In fact, the original meaning of the term "express" (Coined by Purdey.) was for a high velocity black powder rifle, either muzzle loading or breech loading. The dividing line is generally felt to be around 1600 or 1700 fps. Of course this requires a light for caliber bullet. In the original Purdey express muzzle loaders the rifling had two grooves and the bullet had corresponding 'wings" so no effort was expended on engraving the rifling into the bullet on firing.
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