Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Your least diverse caliber?

I know he said own and shoot, but mine would have to be a 270. I got components and reloading equipment, but no rifle. I traded it away for something. For me, that makes it the least diverse.

Little Known Facts about Firearms: The 45 Elias Steamer (Elias' Least Diverse Cartridge)
Copyright 2015 - me



In 1889, Elias Martineau, of the ‘salt water boiled chicken' Louisiana Martineaus, devised the first steam driven, self-contained cartridge – the 45 Elias Steamer.

Elias lived just outside of Lafayette, in the newly created Acadia Parish. God bless him, his intentions were honorable, but he just wasn’t too bright. He figured to capitalize on the idea of using boiling salt water from the Gulf to propel bullets. Sadly, neither the Martineau chicken recipe nor Elias’ steam driven bullet idea took off.

Originally, Elias thought that he could create a cartridge that would rival the black powder and new smokeless powder cartridges of the day. He chose the 45-70 because of its availability and the sheer number of single shot rifles available back then.

For 18 months he worked tirelessly, assembling tiny, single piston steam compressors inside of 45-70 cases. The effort took most of his time and ruined his eyesight. When it became too difficult to use even a large magnifying glass, he imported illegals from Tennessee to labor in his small shed. He was determined to succeed, despite hiring people from the Smoky Mountains.

Had Elias made one or two prototypes before going into full time production, he might have realized his idea wouldn’t hold water. Or, more to the point, wouldn’t hold enough water. While the principle of steam pressure had been proven in locomotives, it was a new idea in bullet propulsion. This was the golden age of firearms however. New ideas were born every week, and the industrial revolution drove innovation.

By July 1890, Elias’ small staff had produced 10 steam driven cartridges, and testing day had arrived. Even the army was interested! Four military men arrived from Washington and went into Martineau’s backyard to set up a firing bench and a target stand. One fellow even remembered to bring refreshments and lunch. The very first target was a 30x30 piece of deer hide, held onto a makeshift wooden stand with wire.


Four army men

Back at the firing line, there were empty bottles, cans, and even a small chicken in a cage. After the initial test shots were made on deer hide, these items were to be shot up to demonstrate the accuracy and firepower of the 45 Elias Steamer.

Elias carefully laid out the ten new cartridges on the table. He put on a new shirt, combed his hair and called for his rifle – a well-used Springfield trapdoor. Calvin Victor, his assistant, brought it to him and motioned for the camera. This was a historic moment! That’s when Elias realized that in his haste to construct this new steam driven cartridge, he had forgotten to modify a rifle to fire it. So everyone went home.

Sadly, Elias Martineau would not live to see his dream come true. Two months later, he was struck and killed by a driverless horse and buggy in the laneway of his farm, while walking to the outhouse.

And now you know the best of the story!

I think it was E.W. Scripps that said: "Give light and the people will find their own way to the outhouse."

. . . or something like that.


Mister Redgwell, I think you are the true embodiment of that eternal truth. I'm going out now into the back yard, pointing myself in a generally northerly direction and issuing three loud "Huzzahs!" in celebration of your genius.

A cartridge's diversity is limited only by the imagination of the shooter. Some years back I spent some time shooting paper patched round balls for the .44 Mag, and found accuracy with one ball quite good at 50 yards, 2 balls worked quite well also, but printed two groups of about 1.5" spread, about 3" apart. Never quite figured that out, but the single ball load was good on squill and other obnoxious critters. I wouldn't call them mouse fart loads, the last round of single ball loads crossed the Chrony at about 2400 fps. Not very accurate but fast enough to catch the Road Runner.

As was posted above, most loaders are only interested in near red line loads. Some I've seen posted may be above that even. Lord knows I've got shelves full of the "condom" bullet, some with colorful tips even. If my wife knew how many dollars worth of the various powders I have stashed away I'd be in trouble. Anymore, most of my shooting and fun in the shooting realm comes from homecast boolets. Go to the range, dig up some scrap, melt it down, add some tin, and see what I can do. In fact, my deer hunting this year will probably come down to deciding between a 250 grain cast bullet at 1400 fps out of the 38-55 or a 180 cast at 2200 out of the 308 . Maybe one of each?

8.15x46r in an old German single shot. I sure would like to hunt something with it

I do not know what you consider diverse or not diverse regarding calibers. It is kind of a weird word to apply to calibers. Does a diverse caliber mean you can shoot people from a variety of races, genders, ages, and orientations with it?

It sounds like you might be pointing to flexibility of available loads? Or bullets for reloading?

If that is it, for me it is probably the .38-40 WCF. The only factory load I've seen in many years is the anemic WW 180 grain JSP load which is really not that good for anything. The bullet is too stoutly constructed to expand at the speed the cartridge delivers. To help it a bit you can get a buy a Corbin canneluring tool and roll crimp grooves into 10mm pistol bullets or switch to WFN cast bullets. That's about it. Even with max Ruger-only loads, it's pretty anemic.

Tom

I cant see what would be wrong with shooting Moose with a 44 mag? I've hunted Moose with a couple different 44's but never an opportunity to kill. I was there when a friend killed one with his Marlin 1894 and it worked great.

8 Bore black powder rifle, one standing, and one folding leaf to get it to 100 yards, although, with the right [hard] alloy, I don't know of a critter that will shrug one off.

Have a .41 Swiss and 8mm Lebel that have to be right up there😄.

PennDog

.577 Snider Enfield.

I’ve always had a fascination with the 8mm Rem Mag. When I was younger, I thought it was the perfect elk cartridge that was also useful for mule deer hunting in open country. Milder cartridges with more bullet choices have proven to be just as useful, so the 8mm stays in the safe. And my shoulder thanks me.

50 Maynard

The .50 Hilliard might be more diverse that the Maynard. Don't need no cartridge case.

Same here. Like so much, I have two of them.

I'm fond of the 8mmRM too (sexy looking round) but never got one, and now they're hard to find. I did buy the next best thing, an X-bolt in 325WSM.

As " un-diverse" as all of the aforementioned cartridges may (or may not) be, they're still way better than a hand held rock or pointy stick.

Mine has to be my 1899 SRC in 32-40

The 38-55 is an excellent cartridge for shooting cast bullets, One of the best in my opinion.

As far as a least diverse - easy my 256 Magnum, no bear loads.

Morning Fieball 2, I used to have a bird load for my 38-55 to. If I remember it was 5 or 6 grains of red dot, 1/2 (bottom) of an orange foam ear plug, then the pellets (don't remember how much), then the top 1/2 of the foam ear plug, run the case up into a 308 die, just far enough to keep the foam plug from falling out. Shot quite a few bush chickens up north around Adikoken area. It was really quiet & would make ya giggle when it went off. Was only good to 20 or 25 yds. One yr up there my buddy brought his young lad up. He would walk all the logging roads with an older boy that was his sister's boyfriend. One afternoon they came back to camp with 13 birds. (Mixed partridge, spruce grouse) we had a great big pot of dumplings & birds. Boy , we all had full bellys that night. Every body have a good week!!! Bill. 🐾👣🇨🇦

Wow what a great idea! I hadn't thought of using earplugs. I will see if I can get ahold of a small quantity of birdshot somewhere. Here's the 38-55 I usually carry. I've got one on the way I'm excited to get. It's a special order 20" carbine in a takedown model 1899 Savage. Never seen a 38-55 takedown so am super excited about it.