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May 22, 2024
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Ive read several times of Winchester doing these test for advertising their early Levergun Cartridges, at least im sure in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, using i think always, 7/8″ Pine Boards.
For instance i just read advertisement of their 1886 in 33wcf, 200gr Softpoint Bullet having shot thru 12, 7/8″ Pineboards.
Wouldn’t using today’s common low grade lumber, which im sure is Pine, of 2×4 & 2×6’s, which i think average aprox 1.75″, duplicate very closely, 6 boards being aprox very close to 12 of the boards they used?? Just an honest guesstimate?
Has anyone tried this, to duplicate equally their test? And especially test with 30-30? Does anyone know the results of how many boards they advertised the 30wcf to shoot thru?
Im considering trying it with several 30-30 loads & bullets to get a close to original result?
Was their boards stacked back to back together?
March 6, 2011
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All of the tests I have seen had the boards separated about an inch. Shooting a lesser number of thicker boards would not be an equivalent test to shooting a greater number of boards separated.
May 23, 2009
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In my opinion no it would not, as lumber today is not what is was in the 1800s or even just 100 years ago.
I don’t know if they were spaced apart or not.
There is a interior photo of the Winchester Museum when it was in New Haven, CT of the entry lobby with the secretary at her desk. On top of a display cabinet is one of these advertising display penetration boards. From the photo they don’t appear to be spaced and look to be held together with four rods, one in each corner and threaded through them.
Its the only one that I recall seeing that I know for a fact is a legit one.
Sincerely,
Maverick
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February 17, 2022
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Me think that the use of different thickness boards with an equal spacing would change the dynamics of the penetration test. As I like to to say” if it ain’t the same it’s different”. My better half, who is a scientist, no really she is, taught me that,
May 23, 2009
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Sincerely,
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
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March 20, 2010
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I think its in the 1905 Winchester Catalog where it shows a chart of the ballistics for the various calibers. It has the “Penetration of Bullets in 7/8 inch Pine Boards at 15 Feet from Muzzle” stated, with chart showing the board counts for Lead, Soft Point, and full metal patched bullets.
Maverick,
In the photo you posted, the vertical lines within the block appear to be individual boards that are capped on the lateral sides? Reason I ask is there appears to be 14 seams (15 boards). (Edit-should have read your entire post stating same). BTW, The 50-110 W.H.V. has penetration listed as 14 boards.
Chris
1892takedown @sbcglobal.net ......NRA Endowment Life Member.....WACA Member
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May 23, 2009
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I don’t own said piece, but yeah it looks like 15 boards to me with the 15th starting to be penetrated.
Maverick
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November 7, 2015
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I’m wondering if the photos showing separation were to help illustrate the number of boards penetrated by the bullets being tested. Having the boards secured together as shown in Maverick’s post may have also prevented boards from breaking, a likely consequence with today’s lumber but maybe not quite as likely a century ago.
Mike
May 22, 2024
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I count 15 boards total the bullet stopped at #15, and obviously it was shot with the boards stacked together. This way would make IMO a much tougher test as opposed to spacing the boards, giving relief and room for the wood to fracture and give! Impressively tough test! And the lumber of today would not be of the quality of back then, most likely old growth trees. Thanks for the photos!
April 15, 2005
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The tables showing Velocity, Penetrations and Trajectory were published in all of Winchesters’ catalogs for at least a 20-year period (mid 1890s through 1916).
The attached pictures are a scanned copy of the April 1900 Catalog No. 65.
This is the October 1905 Catalog No. 72 (with the new 32 WS, 33 WCF, 35 WCF and 405 WCF cartridges added).
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
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