Table of handgun and rifle cartridges by year

[Toxic Shock]

[Wheellock]

Gotta question: It says that the 22 short cartridge dates back to 1857. Were they ever used during the Civil War? If so; what gun? I've only read and heard about black powder and ball. Is it because the 22 short was not very effective against the opponent?

With the scale of the conflict so large, certainly someone, somewhere used a 22 in the Civil War. It is probably not documented, though. On a larger scale, the US did purchase Henry rifles and millions of rounds of 44 rimfire. I wish that cartridge would make a comeback, that would be fun.

[Tarmy]

[TrappedinCalifornia]

9 X 19 may have been created before the venerable .45 Auto, but it was designed for those effete Euros, not the manly men of the United States of America.





And, all the greatest cartridges in use today are designs of over 100 years old.

For me, such is the crucial aspect of the table. It may be that there have been a few cartridges developed in the 'modern era' which fit a specific niche 'better' than some of the older stuff, but it's clear that there haven't been any cartridges developed which function better all around. Just like 9mm vs. 45ACP. While technology may have imparted better performance out of the 9mm via hollow points, it still only makes it marginally better than 45ACP in hardball, particularly given that hollow points aren't 'allowed' in war, at least officially.

[Kerplow]

1955 is the most contemporary cartridge I own.

[pacrat]

1955 is the most contemporary cartridge I own.

Your post got me thinking [I know, hard to believe]

Newest chronologically cartridge for me is 7mmTCU from 1980. Going back to 1857 for a 22 short RF SS pistol. With the majority around the centenarian mark.

Speculations about 22srf in Civil War are likely correct. But in a short pistol barrel. And a miniscule 29 gr lead ball and 4 gr of FFFFg. It had less power than an average pellet gun of today.

Which can be lethal but not likely. A few yr ago a guy in Bellflower. Killed a guy who was stealing his back yard grow. Shot him in the chest with a .177, guy made it over the fence and died on the sidewalk. Pellet slipped between ribs and hit his heart. Bad Luck for pot bandit.

Grower told cops he "wasn't trying to kill the guy". That's why he shot him with a pellet gun. Bad Luck for Grower.