40-82 cartridge

ajkellerusmcvma311

We found this old cartridge in the desert near Winslow AZ. It is a 40-32 WCF with manufacturing marks from WRA Co. The bullet is lead and is corroded, the case is very tarnished.

Can anyone tell us how old this cartridge could be? It appears to have been laying in the desert for a very long time. 

CHIRO1989

Struck primer and lead still in the case too

sakodude

40-82 WCF was chambered in the Winchester model 1886 which where manufactured between 1886 and 1935. 
I would guess it was a discarded miss-fire.
Sako

earlyagain

Maybe a Sharps buffalo rifle?

Nope I was wrong.
Winchester 1885 single shot ( highwall?)
1886 lever action.

My book says rifles so chambered are rare despite its excellent for the time ballistic performance because they were usually rechambered later in life. It was a heavy game number loaded with blackpowder originally and lasted long enough to transition to smokeless. The popular bullet weight seems to be 260 grains.

zorba

I guess I missed that when I passed through Winslow last year...

But this kind of thing fascinates me!

earlyagain

When a auditory click reverberated through the dry desert air, was needed game lost? Or something more consequential?

ajkellerusmcvma311

It for sure looks like the Folded head case in the illustration posted by Wambli Ska which means it has most likely been laying in the AZ Desert for close to 100 years! I wonder if it has a black powder charge inside or if it is smokeless powder?

Jayhawker

Pull the bullet and find out....

Jayhawker

That cartridge is in remarkable condition...most discovered of that vintage are paper thin and brittle

zorba

Send it back to Winchester and tell them its defective and you want a replacement...

More seriously, what Jayhawker said - pull the bullet and see what kinda powder's in it - if any.

CHIRO1989

Does it lose any value if you pull the bullet?

earlyagain

CHIRO1989 said:

Does it lose any value if you pull the bullet?

I think it does. Smokeless powder will likely be dust. BP should still be recognisable.

I'd leave it be and start a collection of desert artifacts. The OP could also research recorded events of the area for comparison.

CHIRO1989

earlyagain said:

CHIRO1989 said:

Does it lose any value if you pull the bullet?

I think it does. Smokeless powder will likely be dust. BP should still be recognisable.

I'd leave it be and start a collection of desert artifacts. The OP could also research recorded events of the area for comparison.

I am guessing NO powder in it if it did not go off.

earlyagain

The primer's likely the dud. If not the bullet should have been propelled into the bore and got stuck there.

Jayhawker

CHIRO1989 said:

Does it lose any value if you pull the bullet?

As interesting an artifact as it is, it's dollar value is not significant. You can pull the bullet without damaging it with a kinetic puller after padding the chamber with some cotton balls. Gentle taps rather than big swings ( The only caution to keep in mind is if the case walls have deteriorated). After investigating the contents of the case, simply put the bullet back in the case
It would also be interesting to see that kind of bullet it actually is.
It's entirely possible that this is not a vintage cartridge at all...plenty of us straight wall cartridge nuts out there still shooting them on a regular basis. Plenty of rifles chambered for the are still out there in shooting condition

CHIRO1989

earlyagain said:

The primer's likely the dud. If not the bullet should have been propelled into the bore and got stuck there.

Duh , you are correct.

CHIRO1989

Jayhawker said:

CHIRO1989 said:

Does it lose any value if you pull the bullet?

As interesting an artifact as it is, it's dollar value is not significant. You can pull the bullet without damaging it with a kinetic puller after padding the chamber with some cotton balls. Gentle taps rather than big swings ( The only caution to keep in mind is if the case walls have deteriorated). After investigating the contents of the case, simply put the bullet back in the case
It would also be interesting to see that kind of bullet it actually is.
It's entirely possible that this is not a vintage cartridge at all...plenty of us straight wall cartridge nuts out there still shooting them on a regular basis. Plenty of rifles chambered for the are still out there in shooting condition

True, I assumed it was old.

ajkellerusmcvma311

earlyagain said:

CHIRO1989 said:

Does it lose any value if you pull the bullet?

I think it does. Smokeless powder will likely be dust. BP should still be recognisable.

I'd leave it be and start a collection of desert artifacts. The OP could also research recorded events of the area for comparison.

I think I will keep it intact as You suggested, makes for a good conversation piece.

Gene L

I googled it; it's an older cartridge indicated by the headstamp.  But it's not worth a whole lot, so whatever you want to do is fine.  From what I read, W.R.A. & CO means it's older, but I couldn't find a date reference.