The .45-06 Revolver..................

[Bob Wright]

Never heard of a .45-06? Well, let me elucidate:

During the Army test trials which began in 1900 or so, so many different handgun designs and calibers had been submitted, the Army directed Frankford Arsenal to make a cartridge that all applicants must be able to chamber and fire. The cartridge must be suitable for auto pistols or revolvers. The resulting cartridge was neither fish nor fowl. I was of .45 caliber, with a 230 gr. jacketed bullet. But the rim was so small that Smith & Wesson complained that it was too small for their revolver, while auto pistol applicants complained that the rim interfered with functioning. So Frankford produced two cartridges, as near alike as possible, one for auto pistol, one for the revolver.

The result was a short rimmed cartridge with a 230 gr. jacketed round nose bullet, the .45 Revolver M-1906. Now having played with my ".45 Xtra Short" cartridges it was a simple matter to load the cases with 230 gr. RN jacketed bullets. Thus:

These to be fired in the .45 ACP cylinder of my Blackhawk.

Bob Wright

 

[Jeepnik]

Hmm, and I thought the AutoRim was a new idea. Bet someone knew about the 45-06 when the "invented" it.

 

[Muley Gil]

I had the rear of my .45 ACP cylinder altered so that I can fire .45 Auto Rim cartridges in it.

 

[sceva]

I thought Peters Cartridge was the first out with the .45 Auto Rim

 

[Bob Wright]

I thought Peters Cartridge was the first out with the .45 Auto Rim

You are correct. Peters Cartridge Co. introduced the .45 Auto Rim in 1920 for use in Colt and S&W M1917 revolvers. It was for those who hated to fool with the half moon clips, and was loaded with lead bullets to minimize wear on those revolvers, which had reportedly softer steel in their barrels.

The .45 Revolver M-1906 is not the same as the Auto Rim. Rim thickness being the primary difference, but the .45 M1906 had a full metal jacketed bullet. These cartridges were never sold commercially, and most bear the head stamp " FA 06" though the earliset bstches were not head stamped. Smith & Wesson apparently toyed with the idea of introducing a revolver and calling it the ".45 Special." So far as I know, no revolvers were ever made other than those for the Army test trials. But S&W did make up boxes stamped .45 Special, and these boxes were used to ship the .455s made for England during WW I.


Bob Wright

 

[blackhawknj]

Experimental models and one offs are a fascinating subject, and illustrate Thomas Edison's observation on the importance of finding out what doesn't work-the 30 Caliber Carbine round in a handgun in WWII, e.g. I have always wondered about the one Trapdoor Springfield in 30-40 Krag.