45-70 cartridge question

TxDoc
Member
Posts: 1
(2/28/03 9:03:15 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del All 45-70 cartridge question
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A friend asked me:

"I am in possession of four 45-70 rifle
cartridges. They are brass-cased but have a
wooden bullet instead of the usual lead/metal
type bullet. I believe these wooden tips are
hollow with some type of small pellets inside.
The only info I've found on them is that they
could possibly have been made for killing small
game in the western U.S. in the mid 1800s, or
they were used in "wild west" type shows to
shoot glass bobbles. Anybody have any info on
these? Any info on their potential value (if any)
is also appreciated."




warpig883
*TFF Staff*
Posts: 6428
(2/28/03 9:22:24 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del
Re: 45-70 cartridge question
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi TxDoc

I found this on the web

Many countries used wooden bullets. However the actual purpose was as BLANKS.
The actual force of firing would shatter the wood and it would rapidly fall
away. Effective range was around 20-30 feet. It is possible that some
different types of wood could remain intact. (Ebony and other extremely hard
woods.) However the ballistics of such a round would be very poor. i.e.
accuracy and speed would severely suffer as the weight of such a round would
be approx. 30 to 40 grains.
>From personal experience of firing old .45-70 wooden rounds as well as German
wood tipped 8mm blanks the story would seem to be a battle myth. These rounds
just disintigrated when fired. Kind of like the story of coating the bullets
with garlic to cause infections.






TxDoc
Member
Posts: 2
(2/28/03 11:59:30 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: 45-70 cartridge question
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks WP. That was fast. I will pass it on. I never heard of this before. Learned something new.
<a href=http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=TxDoc>TxDoc's Pics</a>

<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/US/TX/Texarkana.html">
<img src="http://banners.wunderground.com/banner/gizmotimetemp/US/TX/Texarkana.gif"
alt="Click for Texarkana, Texas Forecast" height=41 width=127></a>
<a
href=http://www.pacificrescue.com/Images/uswave.gif</a>

LIKTOSHOOT
*TFF Senior Staff*
Posts: 7061
(3/1/03 7:58:35 am)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: 45-70 cartridge question
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So---you`s in Texarkana.......hello from 50 miles west ov ya on 30.

LTS



TxDoc
Member
Posts: 3
(3/1/03 9:01:59 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del follow up
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello, yeah right on the state line here!

The guy with the cartridges asked a follow up:

"Yeah, I've also been told this theory of the
bullet's purpose. My only question for that
is why does it have small shot in the wooden
bullet? If it is a blank, why even bother
putting small shot into it? Why not leave it
solid wood? I completely agree the wooden
bullet would most likely disentegrate, but
would the shot still travel effectively enough
and have enough punch left to kill a small
animal? TxDoc, does Warpig have any idea where
I could find out more info on these blanks?
Especially the ones used or made in the U.S.? "

he can be emailed at:
dsblaylock@(removethisfirst)hotmail.com

in case you don't want to tie up the forum space.
Thanks


warpig883
*TFF Staff*
Posts: 6441
(3/1/03 9:28:03 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del
Re: follow up
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have no idea. The info I did find on the net was all I found.

There are antique ammo collectors out there. Here is a big list of them. Hope this helps.
www.notry.com/cart.htm#ASSN