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.33 Winchester Center Fire

.33 Winchester Center Fire (center) with .223 Rem (left) and .308 Win (right).

Type

Rifle

Place of origin

United States

Production history

Designed

1902

Produced

1902–1940^[1]

Specifications

Parent case

.45-70

Case type

Rimmed, bottleneck

Bullet diameter

.338 in (8.6 mm)

Neck diameter

.365 in (9.3 mm)

Shoulder diameter

.443 in (11.3 mm)

Base diameter

.508 in (12.9 mm)

Rim diameter

.610 in (15.5 mm)

Case length

2.11 in (54 mm)

Overall length

2.80 in (71 mm)

Primer type

large rifle

Ballistic performance

Bullet mass/type	Velocity	Energy
200 gr (13 g) (factory load)	2,200 ft/s (670 m/s)	2,150 ft⋅lbf (2,920 J)
200 gr (13 g) (maximum load)	2,420 ft/s (740 m/s)	2,608 ft⋅lbf (3,536 J)

Source(s): Barnes & Amber 1972

The .33 Winchester Center Fire (colloquially .33 Winchester, .33 WCF,^[2] or .33 Win) is a centerfire rifle cartridge designed and produced from 1902 to 1940 by Winchester Repeating Arms Company for their Model 1886 lever-action rifle.

History

With the new Model 1886 lever-action rifle, and appearance of new smokeless powders on the market, in 1891, Winchester Repeating Arms Company started to experiment with necking down the .45-70 cartridge. The first attempt, a .31-62 with a 200-grain bullet, reportedly resulted in pressures too high for the action. Only a decade later, the desired result was achieved with a new caliber when the .33 Winchester was introduced in 1902.^[1]^[3] Never popular due to lack of range despite high muzzle velocity (the 1886's tube magazine ensured that aerodynamic pointed-tip bullets couldn't be used except while single loading), the only other firearms offered in this chambering were the Winchester Model 1885 and Marlin Model 1895.^[1]^[4] The round was eventually replaced by the .348 Winchester in 1936, and ultimately discontinued by Winchester in 1940,^[4] although it is still currently produced in small numbers by other ammunition manufacturers.^[1]

Use

A good round for deer, elk, or black bear in wooded terrain at medium range, it outperforms the ballistically similar .35 Remington and can be improved with modern powders.^[4]

References

Bibliography

Barnes, Frank C., ed. by John T. Amber. ".33 Winchester", in Cartridges of the World, pp. 83, 122, & 123. Northfield, IL: DBI Books, 1972. ISBN 0-695-80326-3.

Winchester firearms and cartridges

Rifles

Lever-action	Henry rifle Model 1866 Model 1873 Model 1876 Model 1886 Model 1892 Model 1894 Model 1895 Model 53 Model 55 Model 64 Model 65 Model 71 Model 88 Model 150 Model 250 Model 255 Model 9422
Bolt-action	Model 1878 Hotchkiss Model 1895 Lee Navy Model 1900 Model 1902 Model 1904 Model 43 Model 47 Model 51 Imperial Model 52 Model 54 Model 56 Model 57 Model 58 Model 59 Model 60 Model 60A Model 67 Model 68 Model 69 Model 70 Model 72 Model 75 Model 121 Model 131 Model 141 Model 320 Model 325 Model 670 Model 770
Pump-action	Model 1890 Model 1906 Model 61 Model 62 Model 62A Model 270
Semi-automatic	Model 1903 Model 1905 Model 1907 Model 1910 Model 30 Model 63 Model 74 Model 77 Model 100 Model 190 Model 290 Model 490
Full-automatic	Olin/Winchester FAL Model 1917 WAR
Falling-block action	Model 1885

Shotguns

Pump-action	Model 1893 Model 1897 Model 1912 Model 25 Model 42 Model 1200 Model 1300
Lever-action	Model 1887 Model 1901 Model 9410
Single-shot	Model 20 Model 36 Model 37 Model 37A Model 41
Double-barrel	Model 21 Model 24 Model 96 Model 101
Semi-automatic	Model 1911 SL Model 40 Model 50 Model 59 Model 1400 Model 1500 SX-1

Cartridges

History

Use

See also

References

Bibliography