I have a Winchester model 1885 in caliber 45 Eley. The gun was made in 1905. The Chamber is the size of a 45 Nitro Express. Can anyone tell me what kind of ammunition Winchester had in mind for a 45 Eley rifle in 1905? Was this rifle intended for a black powder cartridge or a for a Nitro Express cartridge. Did Winchester have any catalogs in 1905 that would describe the 45 Eley Cartridge. All help in identifying this ammunition will be greatly appreciated.
Hello Gordon,
Winchester did not manufacture any 45 Eley or 450 Nitro Express cartridges even though they manufactured the rifles for that caliber/cartridge. Early rifles made for the 45 Eley were black powder, but by 1905, I suspect that the Eley cartridges were loaded with Cordite.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
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