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The standard barrel length of the Model 1876 is 28 inches. Why was the Cal. 50-95 barrel length 26 inches? Ballistics?
Cheers
Kirk
Kirk Fitzgerald said
Why was the Cal. 50-95 barrel length 26 inches? Ballistics?Cheers
Kirk
Yes, ballistics. The extremely slow rifling twist rate use for the 50-95 Express cartridge does not benefit from lengthening the barrel.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Kirk Fitzgerald said
The standard barrel length of the Model 1876 is 28 inches. Why was the Cal. 50-95 barrel length 26 inches? Ballistics?Cheers
Kirk
They made quite a few with 22 inches barrels, and by quite a few, I mean a lot. I’ve personally never been able to compare a 22inch & 26inch barrel 50 Express 76, but I do wonder if the rate of twist is different between the two barrel lengths?
Anybody out there got such a pair of 50EXs in their collection that they’d care to share such details with us?
Sincerely,
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
Maverick and others,
I don’t think Winchester changed the rate of twist on the 50-95 rifles regardless of length of barrel. Going on memory alone right now, and that is proving ever more dangerous, but pretty sure I am correct on that. Rather the barrel length was determined to fit the handling qualities desired for the expected application. Generally the caliber was considered a short range (relatively speaking) with massive energy transfer to the target type of number. Some collectors do talk about “cat rifle” versions, usually a shorter length than the standard 26 inch, as it was often used on things that bite as they charged at close range. With the bullet being almost as wide as long, it was not a ballistic long range number under best of conditions. I can only wonder what its ballistic coefficient would be, but not a head turner for sure. Currently I have but one in the caliber on hand, and it is not a 22 inch version.
Tim
Merz has a 50-95 in the 22-inch version, but no mention of the barrel length in the Cody letter. Think it’s an original short rifle?
http://www.merzantiques.com/product/w2449-1876-special-order-short-rifle-in-50-caliber/
Bert and Tim thank you for your answers. I both enjoyed and was educated. Never fail to learn something new for you guys.
Cheers
Kirk
Tim is correct. Twist rate was 1 in 60″ in all 1876 Express guns, no matter what the barrel length.
Hmmm. my sources say that it was 1:56, and that is what it is in my 30-inch high-wall barrel.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
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