Where have all the Newtons gone?

Noel

Noel

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Bouncing around on the Farmall
Newton, my bow! :p

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Anyone around these parts have one of these classic gems?

Not so much of the Centaur type but more like one of the rifle variety.
256, 30, 35 Newtons....... for their time they were real hotrods, which may have been their failing because the bullets could not hold up to the stress in that day and age.

I found some old info from a Western Cartridge catolog I have (1937) referring to them but other than that info seems a bit weak.

Just imagine back in that day, carrying a 35 Newton......the Western factory 250gr load was taking off at 2660!:eek: I suppose the velocity could be quite optomistic but the rest of the loads they have here seem very obtainable.
The 30 Newton was rated as a 180gr projectile going 2860. It is "only" 160 fps faster than the 30, model of 1906;) but still, the case was not much bigger was it?

Any info is appreciated. Just curious about some more not so common cartridges.:pirate:

Cheers,
Noel
 
The 30 and 35 exist today, they're just called "Norma" and have a belt. Newton was brilliant, just didn't play well with others. It's interesting to think what would exist for cartridges today if Winchester had picked up his cartridges instead of the H&H line and subsequent belted cases.

Do a search for Leeper's thoughts on the Newton cartridges. Makes for interesting, and informative, reading.
 
Had a chance to get a 256 at auction a few years back. Went way too high for my budget.
Custom Mauser in 256 Newton, gigantic Leupold on top. Very nice.
Looking at the rifle itself, I wonder if Sir Charles Ross, and Newton had met.
 
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Thanks RickF I wil check that out.
I was looking around last night and found one forum, it was mentioned the top load for a 250gr was 2975. No wonder bullets cannot hold together!

Has anyone found any cartidge drawings?

I also found Mr. Newton was in on development of a 9,3x70! It was met with even less success than the Brenneke cartridge for the same reason. I will post some eye candy later today I hope.

Thanks for the help!
Noel
 
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There were two basic patterns of Newton rifles. The first version is condsidered superior to the second. Newton was an innovator and promoter, but not a successful businessman. In a way there are parallels between Newton and Charles Ross, as far as sporting rifles are concerned.
 
.newtonrifles.com/NewtonPictures.htm

Just add w's kids. The only decent pics I've found so far.

Did they not have their own action design after the first run?

Can brass be reformed or fireformed for the 35?

Glad to be of service Calum. That was a great cartoon. Certainly better than Rocket Robin Hood! LOL
 
I believe you can make brass from the 8x68S cases, but that's just from memory. As well, all the actual real world firing data I've come across show the 250 gr bullets in the 35s at around 2750 fps or so. This would make sense considering the case capacity of the brass. I think the 2900 plus was estimated, as a lot of the old data was. - dan
 
I have a pair of Newton rifles (both are the original double set trigger version - facing the "right" way) one came with a detachable Noske side mount and a wonderful little German 2 3/4 power scope (I think Hensoldt but need to check again) ... the scope is brilliant and provides outstanding colour and contrast despite being uncoated...

That rifle also came with an original "30 US Gov't" chambered barrel with segmental rifling supposedly made by Pope .... actually looks more like a Glock polygonal rifling ... Glock and HK probably copied this or Metford...

These rifles have the segmented breech lock-up and although they use the standard mauser extractor ... the left lug is not bisected for the ejector...they also have a pair of little secondary safety lugs at the rear...and a safety that locks the striker rather than the trigger. Takedown is accomplished by using the drop down floor plate as a lever to unscrew the forward action screw and the action then tips up and out of the stock.

The Newton rifles are still way ahead of their time and as no patents still exist would make an excellent rifle design for someone who wanted to go after the well heeled shooter that wanted a takedown rifle....

The other rifle came with an original barrel as spare but has a 257 Roberts barrel and an average set of Williams peep sights installed .... pretty nice little deer rifle.
 
AP said:
I have a pair of Newton rifles (both are the original double set trigger version - facing the "right" way) one came with a detachable Noske side mount and a wonderful little German 2 3/4 power scope (I think Hensoldt but need to check again) ... the scope is brilliant and provides outstanding colour and contrast despite being uncoated...

That rifle also came with an original "30 US Gov't" chambered barrel with segmental rifling supposedly made by Pope .... actually looks more like a Glock polygonal rifling ... Glock and HK probably copied this or Metford...

These rifles have the segmented breech lock-up and although they use the standard mauser extractor ... the left lug is not bisected for the ejector...they also have a pair of little secondary safety lugs at the rear...and a safety that locks the striker rather than the trigger. Takedown is accomplished by using the drop down floor plate as a lever to unscrew the forward action screw and the action then tips up and out of the stock.

The Newton rifles are still way ahead of their time and as no patents still exist would make an excellent rifle design for someone who wanted to go after the well heeled shooter that wanted a takedown rifle....

The other rifle came with an original barrel as spare but has a 257 Roberts barrel and an average set of Williams peep sights installed .... pretty nice little deer rifle.
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You are a lucky man!:cool:
What cal are they?


Thanks for the tip Dan. A very kind CGN'er has offered to let me look at his Newton book so I hope to uncover some details this fall and winter. TO be honest tho, I am suprised you don't have one in your, ahem....stash????
:p
Cheers Stacey!:cool:
 
A good friend of mine has a 35 Newton,and some 35 orginal ammo to go with it.And Dan is right you can make cases from 8x68 cases.I already told him that if it ever goes for sale i get first dibs.
 
River Rat said:
A good friend of mine has a 35 Newton,and some 35 orginal ammo to go with it.And Dan is right you can make cases from 8x68 cases.I already told him that if it ever goes for sale i get first dibs.
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The 35 is the one I would like to get too as well as the 30. Such a shame they have been all but forgotten. 8x68 isn't the cheapest or easiest to find either.

Is your friend's 35 a genuine Newton rifle or rebarreled ?
 
Yes I can only imagine it does.

Of the posts I have found on the 35 at other forums, they all mention being cross eyed momentarily after recoil. LOL They were rumored to have ruined many a slender stock.

Do they shoot well? How do the moose enjoy it in your locale?
 
Noel said:
You are a lucky man!:cool:
What cal are they?


Thanks for the tip Dan. A very kind CGN'er has offered to let me look at his Newton book so I hope to uncover some details this fall and winter. TO be honest tho, I am suprised you don't have one in your, ahem....stash????
:p
Cheers Stacey!:cool:
Click to expand...

Well, back in the day I foolishly (maybe) traded a 256 for a Thompson, which is now a fairly expensive door stop. Some days you just can't win. - dan
 
Thanks Mauser98!

They are very similar to the Brenneke 9,3 case and for top power too.

I like the write up in the manual saying the recoil was enough to make the floorplate pop open and dump the live rounds on the ground. No wonder folks go cross eyed shooting them.

River Rat, you sure you want to have a rifle like that? LOL

Maybe I need to violate one of my Brno 21H's into this and see how it treats me!
 
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