.43 Spanish
11mm Spanish
11.15×58mmR Spanish Remington
U.M.C. 43-77
TypeRifle
Specifications
Bullet diameter.439 in (11.15 mm)
Land diameter.433 in (10.99 mm)
Neck diameterRimmed, Bottleneck[1]
Shoulder diameter.462 in (11.73 mm)
Base diameter.522 in (13.26 mm)
Rim diameter.629 in (15.98 mm)
Rim thickness.085 in (2.16 mm)
Case length2.255 in (57.277 mm)
Overall length2.845 in (72.263 mm)
Primer typeBerdan
Making of .43 Spanish cartridges in Union Metallic Cartridge Co. factory at Bridgeport, Connecticut, 1877

The .43 Spanish was a centerfire rifle cartridge developed by Remington designers around 1867.[2] It was used in early rolling block rifles that Remington manufactured for the government of Spain. The cartridge is also referred to as the .433 Spanish,[3] "11mm Spanish", and identical cartridges for the US Peabody rifle were marked "U.M.C. 43-77".[4]

History

The .43 Spanish cartridge was produced after Spain purchased the newly invented rolling-block action single-shot rifle. The breech-loading firearm, which was marketed by Sam Remington, impressed the Spaniards after their own evaluation.[5] In 1869, the Spanish government put in an order for 10,000 rifles.[6] In addition to the firearms, they wanted their own cartridge and Remington developed the .43 Spanish.[6] It was produced in two variants: the bottleneck case .43 Spanish (11.15x57mmR Remington Spanish) and the straight-wall case .43 Spanish Reformado (11.4x57mmR Reformado).[2]

The cartridge was very similar to the .44-77 Sharps cartridge, except for the difference in their case dimensions.[7] The Spanish military version of the cartridge was later upgraded in 1889 to a "heavier, brass-jacketed reformado bullet".[8] While Remington stopped manufacturing the cartridge in 1918, its use in the United States became widespread after World War II because it was sold as a surplus.[3]

"Poison bullet"

The .43 Spanish used a .454 in (11.5 mm) diameter bullet that weighed 396 gr (25.7 g). Its 1,280 ft/s (390 m/s) was powered by 74 gr (4.8 g) of black powder.[5] Instead of solid lead bullet, the .43 Spanish used a brass-jacket bullet, which was considered unusual because cupronickel, gilding metal, and copper clad steel were preferred for bullet jackets during the period.[9] It was also the reason why American soldiers suspected that the Spaniards used poison in their bullet during the Spanish-American War.[9] It corroded in the tropics, producing a powdery pale green verdigris once they are exposed to high humidity or salty sea air over time.[9] The brass component, however, improved bullet penetration.[9]

Firearms chambered

References

  1. 1 2 Roy Martin Marcot (2005). The History of Remington Firearms. Lyons Press. p. 53. ISBN 978-1-59228-690-4.
  2. 1 2 Thombs, David A., and Barrett, Stephen P. The internet and firearms research with reference to the .43 Spanish Remington Rolling-Block and its ammunition, The Journal of the Historical Breechloading Small Arms Association, Vol.4, No.4, pp. 14–23
  3. 1 2 ".43 Spanish". Roberson Cartridge Company. 2019-12-12. Retrieved 2021-09-22.
  4. ↑ Fred A. Datig (1958). Cartridges for Collectors: Center fire, rimfire, patent ignition. Borden Publishing Company.
  5. 1 2 "Thoughts on the .43 spanish and the Remington Rolling-Block Rifle | Black Powder Cartridge". www.blackpowdercartridge.com. Retrieved 2021-09-22.
  6. 1 2 David F. Butler (1971). United States Firearms: the First Century, 1776–1875. Winchester Press. ISBN 9780876910306.
  7. ↑ Flatnes, Oyvind (2013). From Musket to Metallic Cartridge: A Practical History of Black Powder Firearms. Crowood. ISBN 978-1-84797-594-2.
  8. ↑ Alejandro de Quesada (2012). The Spanish–American War and Philippine Insurrection. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 92. ISBN 978-1-78096-353-2.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Rottman, Gordon L. (2013). The Book of Gun Trivia: Essential Firepower Facts. Osprey Publishing. pp. 182–183. ISBN 978-1-78200-621-3.
  10. ↑ Philip Peterson (2011). Standard Catalog of Military Firearms: The Collector's Price and Reference Guide. F+W Media. p. 315. ISBN 978-1-4402-2881-0.
  11. ↑ Jerry Lee (2013). The Official Gun Digest Book of Guns & Prices 2013. Krause Publications. p. 1229. ISBN 978-1-4402-3543-6.
  12. ↑ Dan Shideler (2008). Standard Catalog Of Remington Firearms. F+W Media. p. 104. ISBN 978-1-4402-2699-1.

Further reading

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