.40-72 Winchester

The .40-72 Winchester, also known as .40-72 WCF is a centerfire straight-walled rifle cartridge designed for black powder rather than smokeless powder. It was introduced in 1895 for the Winchester 1895 lever-action rifle.

.40-72 Winchester Center Fire
Type	Rifle
Place of origin	United States
Production history
Designer	Winchester Repeating Arms Company
Manufacturer	Winchester Repeating Arms Company
Produced	1895–1936
Specifications
Case type	Rimmed, straight
Bullet diameter	.406 in (10.3 mm)
Neck diameter	.431 in (10.9 mm)
Base diameter	.460 in (11.7 mm)
Rim diameter	.518 in (13.2 mm)
Case length	2.60 in (66 mm)
Overall length	3.15 in (80 mm)
Rifling twist	1 in 22 inches
Primer type	large rifle
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy 330 gr (21 g) 1,380 ft/s (420 m/s) 1,395 ft⋅lbf (1,891 J) 300 gr (19 g) 1,420 ft/s (430 m/s) 1,342 ft⋅lbf (1,820 J)
Test barrel length: 26 Source(s): The Rifle in America

Description and performance

The .40-72 Winchester cartridge.

The original Winchester factory load consisted of a 300-grain (19 g) bullet at 1,420 ft/s (430 m/s) or a 330-grain (21 g) bullet at 1,380 ft/s (420 m/s).

With the introduction of superior cartridges designed for smokeless powder, the .40-72 Winchester became obsolete and was soon dropped from production. Production of loaded cartridges by Winchester ceased in 1936.

The .40-72 WCF cartridge.

Besides the Winchester 1895 lever-action, the .40-72 Winchester was chambered in the Winchester 1885 single-shot rifle.

Dimensions

See also

• List of Winchester Center Fire cartridges
• List of rimmed cartridges
• List of cartridges by caliber
• List of rifle cartridges
• .40 S&W
• 10mm Auto
• .41 Action Express

External links

• 40-72 Winchester