| Revision as of 07:20, 27 November 2015 edit♥Golf (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users26,740 editsm edit← Previous edit | Revision as of 07:24, 27 November 2015 edit undo♥Golf (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users26,740 edits moved some text that is likely better suited in the lead section; added some headers and created a table of contentsNext edit → | ||
| Line 56: | Line 56: | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| The '''.476 Enfield''', also known as the '''.476 ]''', '''.476 Revolver''', and occasionally '''.455/476''',<ref name="barnesp175">Barnes, p.175, ".476 Ely/.476 Enfield Mk-3".</ref> was a ] ] ] ] ]. Used in the ] revolver, the Mk III variant was introduced by the ] in 1881,<ref name="barnesp175"/> supplanting the earlier .476 Enfield Mark I and II cartridges, which in turn had replaced the ] cartridges, all of which also used black powder propellant.<ref name="barnesp175"/> | The '''.476 Enfield''', also known as the '''.476 ]''', '''.476 Revolver''', and occasionally '''.455/476''',<ref name="barnesp175">Barnes, p.175, ".476 Ely/.476 Enfield Mk-3".</ref> was a ] ] ] ] ]. The Enfield name derives from the location of the ] at ], the ] where British Military Small Arms were produced, while Eley was a British commercial brand.<ref name="mazep32"/>Used in the ] revolver, the Mk III variant was introduced by the ] in 1881,<ref name="barnesp175"/> supplanting the earlier .476 Enfield Mark I and II cartridges, which in turn had replaced the ] cartridges, all of which also used black powder propellant.<ref name="barnesp175"/> | ||
| ==History== | |||
| ===British service use=== | |||
| The .476 Enfield cartridge was only in British service for a comparatively short period before it was replaced by the black powder-loaded ] in 1887<ref name="barnesp175"/> and then by the ]-loaded .455 Webley Mark IV in September 1894.<ref name="barnesp175"/> Just over 1,000<ref name="mazep32">Maze, p.32.</ref> Enfield Mark IIs were issued to the ], and these remained in service until 1911,<ref name="mazep32" /> when the last Enfields were phased out in favour of more modern (and reliable) ] ] revolvers.<ref name="mazep32"/> | The .476 Enfield cartridge was only in British service for a comparatively short period before it was replaced by the black powder-loaded ] in 1887<ref name="barnesp175"/> and then by the ]-loaded .455 Webley Mark IV in September 1894.<ref name="barnesp175"/> Just over 1,000<ref name="mazep32">Maze, p.32.</ref> Enfield Mark IIs were issued to the ], and these remained in service until 1911,<ref name="mazep32" /> when the last Enfields were phased out in favour of more modern (and reliable) ] ] revolvers.<ref name="mazep32"/> | ||
| ==Interchangeability== | |||
| Using the same ] as the .455 (11.6mm) ],<ref name="barnesp175"/> the .476 casing was 0.05 mm (0.002 in) longer<ref name="barnesp175"/> and carried a charge of 18 gr (1.17 g) of black powder, compared to 6.5 gr (0.42 g) of ] in the .455 Mark I.<ref name="barnesp175"/> While the .476 Enfield cartridge could be used in any British-manufactured .455 Webley calibre service revolver, there were issues with the later-production ] or ] .455 Revolver models, which were liable to have slightly smaller bore diameters.<ref name="barnesp175"/> | Using the same ] as the .455 (11.6mm) ],<ref name="barnesp175"/> the .476 casing was 0.05 mm (0.002 in) longer<ref name="barnesp175"/> and carried a charge of 18 gr (1.17 g) of black powder, compared to 6.5 gr (0.42 g) of ] in the .455 Mark I.<ref name="barnesp175"/> While the .476 Enfield cartridge could be used in any British-manufactured .455 Webley calibre service revolver, there were issues with the later-production ] or ] .455 Revolver models, which were liable to have slightly smaller bore diameters.<ref name="barnesp175"/> | ||
| Despite the difference in designation, the .476 readily interchanged with the earlier .450 Adams and .455 Webley rounds<ref name="mazep32"/> (the latter in black powder Mark 1 and smokeless Marks I through VI),<ref name="barnesp175"/> as well as the .455 Colt (a U.S. commercial brand for the same .455 Webley round, with slightly different ballistics),<ref name="barnesp174">Barnes, p.174, ".455 Revolver MK-1/.455 Colt".</ref> which all used the same .455 in (11.6mm) bullet, the distinction being which diameter was measured.<ref name="mazep32"/> Officially, .450 Adams, .476 Enfield, and .455 Webley cartridges could all be fired in the Webley Mark III British Government Model revolver;<ref>Geoffrey Boothroyd, ''The Handgun'' (Crown Publishers, 1970). ISBN 9780948253270 </ref>{{Page needed|date=March 2010}} although case length, bullet weight and shape, and powder charge differed, all three cartridges featured a case diameter of .476 inch with a bullet diameter of .455 inch, which could be fired in a barrel of .450 inch bore. | Despite the difference in designation, the .476 readily interchanged with the earlier .450 Adams and .455 Webley rounds<ref name="mazep32"/> (the latter in black powder Mark 1 and smokeless Marks I through VI),<ref name="barnesp175"/> as well as the .455 Colt (a U.S. commercial brand for the same .455 Webley round, with slightly different ballistics),<ref name="barnesp174">Barnes, p.174, ".455 Revolver MK-1/.455 Colt".</ref> which all used the same .455 in (11.6mm) bullet, the distinction being which diameter was measured.<ref name="mazep32"/> Officially, .450 Adams, .476 Enfield, and .455 Webley cartridges could all be fired in the Webley Mark III British Government Model revolver;<ref>Geoffrey Boothroyd, ''The Handgun'' (Crown Publishers, 1970). ISBN 9780948253270 </ref>{{Page needed|date=March 2010}} although case length, bullet weight and shape, and powder charge differed, all three cartridges featured a case diameter of .476 inch with a bullet diameter of .455 inch, which could be fired in a barrel of .450 inch bore. | ||
| The Enfield name derives from the location of the ] at ], the ] where British Military Small Arms were produced (in this case, the Enfield revolver the cartridge was best known for being used in), while Eley was a British commercial brand.<ref name="mazep32"/> | |||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 07:24, 27 November 2015
| .476 Enfield Mark III | |
|---|---|
 One Enfield Mk II (left) andthree Enfield Mk III cartridges | |
| Type | Revolver |
| Place of origin |  Britain |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1881–1911 |
| Used by | British Army, colonial militaries, North-West Mounted Police |
| Specifications | |
| Bullet diameter | .455 in (11.6 mm) |
| Neck diameter | .474 in (12.0 mm) |
| Base diameter | .478 in (12.1 mm) |
| Rim diameter | .530 in (13.5 mm) |
| Case length | 0.87 in (22 mm) |
| Overall length | 1.33 in (34 mm) |
| Primer type | Berdan |
The .476 Enfield, also known as the .476 Eley, .476 Revolver, and occasionally .455/476, was a British centrefire black powder revolver cartridge. The Enfield name derives from the location of the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock, the armoury where British Military Small Arms were produced, while Eley was a British commercial brand.Used in the Enfield Mk II revolver, the Mk III variant was introduced by the British Army in 1881, supplanting the earlier .476 Enfield Mark I and II cartridges, which in turn had replaced the .450 Adams cartridges, all of which also used black powder propellant.
History
British service use
The .476 Enfield cartridge was only in British service for a comparatively short period before it was replaced by the black powder-loaded .455 Webley Mark I in 1887 and then by the smokeless powder-loaded .455 Webley Mark IV in September 1894. Just over 1,000 Enfield Mark IIs were issued to the North-West Mounted Police, and these remained in service until 1911, when the last Enfields were phased out in favour of more modern (and reliable) .45 Colt New Service revolvers.
Interchangeability
Using the same bullet as the .455 (11.6mm) Webley Mark I, the .476 casing was 0.05 mm (0.002 in) longer and carried a charge of 18 gr (1.17 g) of black powder, compared to 6.5 gr (0.42 g) of cordite in the .455 Mark I. While the .476 Enfield cartridge could be used in any British-manufactured .455 Webley calibre service revolver, there were issues with the later-production Colt or Smith & Wesson .455 Revolver models, which were liable to have slightly smaller bore diameters.
Despite the difference in designation, the .476 readily interchanged with the earlier .450 Adams and .455 Webley rounds (the latter in black powder Mark 1 and smokeless Marks I through VI), as well as the .455 Colt (a U.S. commercial brand for the same .455 Webley round, with slightly different ballistics), which all used the same .455 in (11.6mm) bullet, the distinction being which diameter was measured. Officially, .450 Adams, .476 Enfield, and .455 Webley cartridges could all be fired in the Webley Mark III British Government Model revolver; although case length, bullet weight and shape, and powder charge differed, all three cartridges featured a case diameter of .476 inch with a bullet diameter of .455 inch, which could be fired in a barrel of .450 inch bore.
See also
- List of cartridges by caliber
- List of handgun cartridges
- List of rifle cartridges
- Table of handgun and rifle cartridges
- 11mm caliber
Notes
- ^ Barnes, p.175, ".476 Ely/.476 Enfield Mk-3".
- ^ Maze, p.32.
- Barnes, p.174, ".455 Revolver MK-1/.455 Colt".
- Geoffrey Boothroyd, The Handgun (Crown Publishers, 1970). ISBN 9780948253270
References
- Barnes, Frank C., ed. by John T. Amber. ".476 Ely/.476 Enfield Mk-3", in Cartridges of the World, pp. 175 & 178. Northfield, IL: DBI Books, 1972. ISBN 0-695-80326-3.
- Barnes, Frank C., ed. by John T. Amber. ".455 Revolver MK-1/.455 Colt", in Cartridges of the World, p. 174. Northfield, IL: DBI Books, 1972. ISBN 0-695-80326-3.
- Maze, Robert J. Howdah to High Power. Tucson, AZ: Excalibur Publications, 2002. ISBN 1-880677-17-2.