.476 Enfield
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.476 Enfield Mark III | |
---|---|
Type | Revolver |
Place of origin | United Kingdom |
Service history | |
In service | 1881–1911 |
Used by | British Army, colonial militaries, North-West Mounted Police |
Specifications | |
Case type | rimmed straight |
Bullet diameter | .455 in (11.6 mm) |
Neck diameter | .474 in (12.0 mm) |
Base diameter | .478 in (12.1 mm) |
Rim diameter | .530 in (13.5 mm) |
Case length | 0.87 in (22 mm) |
Overall length | 1.33 in (34 mm) |
Primer type | Berdan |
The .476 Enfield, also known as the .476 Eley, .476 Revolver, and occasionally .455/476,
History
British service use
The .476 Enfield cartridge was only in British service for a comparatively short period before it was replaced by the black powder-loaded .455 Webley Mark I in 1887[1] and then by the smokeless powder-loaded .455 Webley Mark II in September 1897.[1] Just over 1,000[2] Enfield Mark IIs were issued to the North-West Mounted Police, and these remained in service until 1911,[2] when the last Enfields were phased out in favour of more modern (and reliable) .45 Colt New Service revolvers.[2]
Interchangeability
Using the same bullet as the .455 (11.6mm) Webley Mark I,[1] the .476 casing is 0.05 mm (0.002 in) longer[1] and carries a charge of 18 gr (1.17 g) of black powder, compared to 6.5 gr (0.42 g) of cordite in the .455 Mark I.[1] While the .476 Enfield cartridge could be used in any British-manufactured .455 Webley calibre service revolver, there were issues with the later-production Colt or Smith & Wesson .455 Revolver models, which were liable to have slightly smaller bore diameters.[1]
Despite the difference in designation, the .476 readily interchanged with the earlier .450 Adams and .455 Webley rounds[2] (the latter in black powder Mark I and smokeless Marks II through VI),[1] as well as the .455 Colt (a U.S. commercial brand for the same .455 Webley round, with slightly different ballistics),[3] which all use the same .455 in (11.6mm) bullet, the distinction being which diameter was measured.[2] Officially, .450 Adams, .476 Enfield, and .455 Webley cartridges can all be fired in the Webley Mark III British Government Model revolver;[4][page needed] although case length, bullet weight and shape, and powder charge differ, all three cartridges feature a case diameter of .476 inch with a bullet diameter of .455 inch, which can be fired in a barrel of .450 inch bore.
See also
- List of cartridges by caliber
- List of handgun cartridges
- List of rifle cartridges
- Table of handgun and rifle cartridges
- 11mm caliber
Notes
References
- Barnes, Frank C., ed. by John T. Amber. ".476 Ely/.476 Enfield Mk-3", in Cartridges of the World, pp. 175 & 178. Northfield, IL: DBI Books, 1972. ISBN 0-695-80326-3.
- Barnes, Frank C., ed. by John T. Amber. ".455 Revolver MK-1/.455 Colt", in Cartridges of the World, p. 174. Northfield, IL: DBI Books, 1972. ISBN 0-695-80326-3.
- Maze, Robert J. Howdah to High Power. Tucson, AZ: Excalibur Publications, 2002. ISBN 1-880677-17-2.