Derived from the .50-60-400 Joslyn, the cartridge was developed after the unsatisfactory results of the .58 rimfire cartridge for the Springfield Model 1865 rifle. The .50-70 Government cartridge became the official cartridge of the U.S. military until replaced by the .45-70 Government in 1873. The .50-70 cartridge has a pressure limit of 22,500 PSI.[1]
The official designation of this cartridge at the time of introduction was "US center-fire metallic cartridge", and the commercial designation .50-70-450, standing for :
The U.S. Navy purchased Remington Rolling Block rifles chambered for the .50-70 cartridge. The U.S. Navy also contracted with Remington to produce several thousand rolling-blockcarbines chambered for a reduced load version which was officially produced for use only in carbines, using a shortened .50-70 with a 430-grain (28 g) bullet and 45 grains (2.9 g) of black powder.
The U.S. Army ordered both rolling-block rifles and carbines in caliber .50-70 and made some rolling blocks at their Springfield Armory facility in this caliber.[4] The U.S. Army also had a large supply of percussion-fired Sharps carbines at the close of the Civil War and had the Sharps Rifle Company convert about 31,000 of those to caliber .50-70 for cavalry use. Meanwhile, the Army, which had exited the Civil War with an inventory of almost a million percussion-fired muzzleloaders, converted Springfield Model 1863 and Model 1864 muskets to metallic cartridge ammunition using the Allin conversion (trapdoor) method, as well as cadet rifles. The first of the .50-70 conversions was the Springfield Model 1866. Newer improved versions were made and used by the Army through 1873. After 1873, with the advent of the .45-70 cartridge, the Army declared the .50-70 to be surplus, and while some rifles in .50-70 were issued to Indian Scouts, the bulk were simply sold off as surplus. In the U.S. Navy, however, the .50-70 cartridge and the guns associated with it remained in use until the late 1880s.
Buffalo Bill used a Springfield Model 1866 in caliber .50-70 while hunting buffalo to feed the track workers of the Kansas Pacific Railway. General George Custer was known to have had and used a sporterized rolling block in caliber .50-70 and was believed to have had it with him at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
As Army General Philip Sheridan had embarked on a plan to eliminate the bison during the course of the American Indian Wars, the .50-70 rifles were also issued or purchased by buffalo hunters for use in eliminating the vast bison herds. Sharps began manufacturing sporterized rifles in .50-70 (and later .50-90, .50-110, etc.) and with improved sights for longer range shots for use by the buffalo hunters. In 1867 the .50-70 cartridge in U.S. Army Model of 1866 Springfield rifles played a pivotal role in holding off an attacking force of 300-1000 LakotaSioux Indians during the Wagon Box Fight.[5]
Modern-made functional replicas of caliber .50-70 historical rifles have been imported into the US by such firms as Davide Pedersoli and A. Uberti, Srl. (a Beretta subsidiary). The caliber of .50-70 still enjoys some use and popularity with sportsmen and cowboy action shooters. Reloaders have experimented with a variety of bullet weights from 425 to 600 grains (39 g).
See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to .50-70 Government.
^Barnes, Frank C., and Amber, John. Cartridges of the World (Northfield, IL: DBI Books, 1972), p.115, ".50-70 Musket (.50 Gov't)"
^Col. J.G Benton, "Springfield Breech Loading Rifle Musket, Model of 1868", United States Army, 1868
^Remington Rolling Block Military Rifles, by George Layman
^Keenan, Jerry. The Wagon Box Fight, Boulder, CO: Lightning Tree Press, 1990, p. 22
External links
Gaining respect for the .50/70 Government
.50-70 Government
February 07, 2023
government, also, called, musket, government, black, powder, cartridge, adopted, 1866, springfield, model, 1866, trapdoor, rifle, typerifleplace, originusaservice, historyin, service1866, 1873used, byusaproduction, historydesigned1866specificationscase, typeri. The 50 70 Government also called the 50 70 Musket and 50 Government 2 is a black powder cartridge adopted in 1866 for the Springfield Model 1866 trapdoor rifle 50 70 GovernmentTypeRiflePlace of originUSAService historyIn service1866 1873Used byUSAProduction historyDesigned1866SpecificationsCase typeRimmed straightBullet diameter 515 in 13 1 mm Neck diameter 535 in 13 6 mm Base diameter 565 in 14 4 mm Rim diameter 660 in 16 8 mm Rim thickness 065 in 1 7 mm Case length1 75 in 44 mm Overall length2 25 in 57 mm Primer typeLarge rifleMaximum pressure22 500 psi 155 MPa Ballistic performanceBullet mass type Velocity Energy425 gr 28 g lead SP 1 448 ft s 441 m s 1 979 ft lbf 2 683 J 550 gr 36 g lead FN 1 375 ft s 419 m s 2 310 ft lbf 3 130 J 400 gr 26 g SP 1 849 ft s 564 m s 3 037 ft lbf 4 118 J Test barrel length 28 Source s Accurate Powder 1 Contents 1 Description 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksDescription EditDerived from the 50 60 400 Joslyn the cartridge was developed after the unsatisfactory results of the 58 rimfire cartridge for the Springfield Model 1865 rifle The 50 70 Government cartridge became the official cartridge of the U S military until replaced by the 45 70 Government in 1873 The 50 70 cartridge has a pressure limit of 22 500 PSI 1 The official designation of this cartridge at the time of introduction was US center fire metallic cartridge and the commercial designation 50 70 450 standing for Caliber 50 Powder charge 70 grains 4 5 g black powder Bullet weight 450 grains 29 g 3 The U S Navy purchased Remington Rolling Block rifles chambered for the 50 70 cartridge The U S Navy also contracted with Remington to produce several thousand rolling block carbines chambered for a reduced load version which was officially produced for use only in carbines using a shortened 50 70 with a 430 grain 28 g bullet and 45 grains 2 9 g of black powder The U S Army ordered both rolling block rifles and carbines in caliber 50 70 and made some rolling blocks at their Springfield Armory facility in this caliber 4 The U S Army also had a large supply of percussion fired Sharps carbines at the close of the Civil War and had the Sharps Rifle Company convert about 31 000 of those to caliber 50 70 for cavalry use Meanwhile the Army which had exited the Civil War with an inventory of almost a million percussion fired muzzleloaders converted Springfield Model 1863 and Model 1864 muskets to metallic cartridge ammunition using the Allin conversion trapdoor method as well as cadet rifles The first of the 50 70 conversions was the Springfield Model 1866 Newer improved versions were made and used by the Army through 1873 After 1873 with the advent of the 45 70 cartridge the Army declared the 50 70 to be surplus and while some rifles in 50 70 were issued to Indian Scouts the bulk were simply sold off as surplus In the U S Navy however the 50 70 cartridge and the guns associated with it remained in use until the late 1880s Buffalo Bill used a Springfield Model 1866 in caliber 50 70 while hunting buffalo to feed the track workers of the Kansas Pacific Railway General George Custer was known to have had and used a sporterized rolling block in caliber 50 70 and was believed to have had it with him at the Battle of the Little Bighorn As Army General Philip Sheridan had embarked on a plan to eliminate the bison during the course of the American Indian Wars the 50 70 rifles were also issued or purchased by buffalo hunters for use in eliminating the vast bison herds Sharps began manufacturing sporterized rifles in 50 70 and later 50 90 50 110 etc and with improved sights for longer range shots for use by the buffalo hunters In 1867 the 50 70 cartridge in U S Army Model of 1866 Springfield rifles played a pivotal role in holding off an attacking force of 300 1000 Lakota Sioux Indians during the Wagon Box Fight 5 Modern made functional replicas of caliber 50 70 historical rifles have been imported into the US by such firms as Davide Pedersoli and A Uberti Srl a Beretta subsidiary The caliber of 50 70 still enjoys some use and popularity with sportsmen and cowboy action shooters Reloaders have experimented with a variety of bullet weights from 425 to 600 grains 39 g See also Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to 50 70 Government List of rifle cartridges 13 mm caliberReferences Edit a b 50 70 Govt data from Accurate Powder at the Wayback Machine archived 2007 09 30 Barnes Frank C and Amber John Cartridges of the World Northfield IL DBI Books 1972 p 115 50 70 Musket 50 Gov t Col J G Benton Springfield Breech Loading Rifle Musket Model of 1868 United States Army 1868 Remington Rolling Block Military Rifles by George Layman Keenan Jerry The Wagon Box Fight Boulder CO Lightning Tree Press 1990 p 22External links EditGaining respect for the 50 70 Government 50 70 Government Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 50 70 Government amp oldid 1116105647, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
