The Caliber is 42-80

[B.Ruddick]

Hello out there,

I stand to inherit a Winchester 1886 in 42-80 one day not anytime soon I hope.

I understand that back in it's days it burned black powder in it's metalic casings. There maybe one or two live rounds for it somewhere hiding from me (good thing if that's all there is left).

Any how, I've been searching around for some info on the cartridge, and haven't come accross anything yet, any one out here know where a guy can find some stuff out about this round?

I would like to find some knowledge of reloading this beast with newer black powder and hand cast bullets, and maybe even see if there is anything out there on smokeless powder reloads for it using modern jacketed bullets.
As well as ballistics, energies, velocities, etc..
Oh and what brass I could use to form to a 42-80.

All this is just out of curiosity sake.

 

[senior]

I believe the one you are refering to is 40-82

260gn bullet at 1425 fps with 28gns of 4198 powder.

Can be made from .45 Basic brass cut to 2.45" or from 45-90 brass run in proper FL die. You could probably use 45-70 in a pinch it would just be a little short.

Bore dia is .406

This is a hard cartridge to load for because of odd sizes & expensive dies. Let me know how you make out I may be able to share some bullets with you.

 

[Boomer]

Google Old Western Scounger. On the left side of the page under catagories, click on bulk brass, at the bottom of page 1 they have .40-90 brass for $35.00 USD. If this is in fact the necked Sharps cartridge, it may be easier to make your .40-82 cases from those.

NEI Handtools Inc, make .406 flat nose bullet moulds in 250, 260, and 325 gr. In pointed bullet designs they make .406 in 380, 385, and 420 gr. moulds in .406.

Good luck.

 

[B.Ruddick]

Yes, thank you for correcting me on that caliber blunder.
That looks better 40-82.
Now am I correct in assuming that the caliber represented a 40 caliber bullet with 82 grains of powder behind it?
or was the 82 the displacement of the brass measured in grains?
and I know the brass has a distinct angled shoulder.

Thanks for your help on this so far, anyone else have any other info?

 

[kodiak1]

You are right on the first count it stood for the GRN.s of Powder.
Buffalo Arms would sell you everything you need.
Bruno Gross out of Fairview AB. would set you up in stuff also.
Ken