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45-70 W.H.V. WRA cartridge question

jodividus
I found about ten unfired cartridges, in a box at a sale, the bottom says 45-70 W.H.V. W.R.A. Co on the bottom, and the primer has a rim around it and appears to be brass colored. The bullet looks lead. They all appear original. Can anyone tell me anything of them? Age, scarcity, can they be fired or are they a collectible. Thanks
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5 comments

Date Votes
  • Bert H.
    Hello jodividus...

    Those cartridges were made specifically for the Model 1886 Lightweight Rifle, and the Model 1885 Single-shot. Winchester produced them for a relatively short period of time, and they were discontiunued in about 1930. The reason they were discontinued was due to a liability issue with ignorant people using them in the older Springfield Trapdoors rifles. The original boxes were clearly marked "For use in the Model 1886 and Single Shot Only", but at least some of the less than intelligent people insisted on using them in the older Trapdoor rifles anyway. The results were often not favorable. Today, those cartridges are collectable, but the real value is in an original unopened box. They can be safely fired in any modern rifle chambered for 45-70, but at several bucks a pop, I would not recommend it.

    Bert H.

    Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!
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  • TRAP55
    Bert, what did the W.H.V. stand for, Win. High Velocity?

    "Aim small...Miss small"
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  • Bert H.
    quote:Originally posted by TRAP55
    Bert, what did the W.H.V. stand for, Win. High Velocity?

    "Aim small...Miss small"


    Yes, you nailed it.[:D]

    Bert H.

    Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!
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  • Ross
    You seem to have an example of the "Winchester Protected Primer". When extracted, the primer will show an extra cup, pierced at the rear, to protect from inadvertent firing in tubular magazines.
    Winchester made these for all their tube magazine calibers, I believe. I do not know the time range for these.
    You may also find a "W" stamped on the primer and maybe on the side of the bullet.
    Cheers from Darkest California,
    Ross
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  • Iconoclast
    TRAP55, FWIW, WRA loaded a whole bunch of different cartridges with the "W.H.V." headstamp . . . circa 1920s, as I recall. I have had examples in .32-40, .38-55, .50-110 and all of the M1873 calibers as well (possibly others - these are the only ones I remember at the moment). I've even seen variations on the "HV" theme in Savage brand ammo. And to expand a bit on Bert's excellent comment, WRA even went so far as to headstamp the .32-20, .38-40 & .44-40 "M92 W.H.V." . . . but still some idiots persisted in trying to shoot them in the 1873s, SAA Colts, etc. The loads really are not all that more powerful than the standard loads, but they were smokeless and apparently some folks are just stupid enough to try it. Some things never change . . . .

    "There is nothing lower than the human race - except the French." (Mark Twain) ". . . And liberals / DemoWipes" (me)
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