headstamp w.c.f. & .577 s. & .577/450 ?

[Gallahad]

I have a few cartridges with the headstamp w.c.f. and I don't know what this stands for?  They include : 45-90,  33, & 405.  Also I have two Giant cartridges, I think are rifle, and those are .577 s.  with no other headstamp, and a .577/450, with no other headstamp, and this one is paper patched. I know nothing of thease, and would like some history if ya got it! Thanks, and God Bless!

[50 Calshtr]

Gallahad
   WCF stands for Winchester Center Fire.  On the two Brits, how long is the 577 case? If it's less than 2 1/2 inches it may be military, the 577 Snider.  If it's 2 3/4 or 3" it would be a sporting cartridge and should have either Eley or Kynoch, most often although there were others, on the head in addition to the bore.  As always there are exceptions but generally speaking the sporting cartridges were marked with the manufacturers name and caliber and sometimes the type of load, NE (Nitro Express) or possibly LC (Light Cordite).  Black powder and LC rounds generally had a lead bullet such as your paperpatched 577-450, NE bullets were jacketed.
  Hope this helps

[Gallahad]

Thanks!  The .577 s is a snider I beleive, but has a solid lead bullet. The case is about 1 9/16" long. and the only thing on the head is .577s.  What would the 577-450 be used for? That is an odd looking bottle neck case about 2 3/16 long.  Some big bullets!  :eek:

[50 Calshtr]

You're welcome.  The 577-450 was used in the British Martini service rifle of the late 1800s prior to the 303.  There were about 4-5 variations of the round using a 450 -480 gr bullet and 85-90 gr of black powder.  As often happens some sporting rifles were chambered for the round, most often based on the Martini action.  These were loaded with a lighter 325-350 gr bullet and about 90 gr of black, or later, the equivalent of cordite for higher velocity, 1600 fps vs 12-1300 for the black.  The round is about the same ballistically as our 45-70/45-90.  There are a number of the Martinis on the market now that were imported from Napal at a reasonable price but the loading dies and brass are almost as expensive as the rifle.

[50 Calshtr]

You're welcome.  The 577-450 was used in the British Martini service rifle of the late 1800s prior to the 303.  There were about 4-5 variations of the round using a 450 -480 gr bullet and 85-90 gr of black powder.  As often happens some sporting rifles were chambered for the round, most often based on the Martini action.  These were loaded with a lighter 325-350 gr bullet and about 90 gr of black, or later, the equivalent of cordite for higher velocity, 1600 fps vs 12-1300 for the black.  The round is about the same ballistically as our 45-70/45-90.  There are a number of the Martinis on the market now that were imported from Napal at a reasonable price but the loading dies and brass are almost as expensive as the rifle.