If you spend any time around bolt-action rifles, you’ll hear shooters toss around terms like “short action” and “long action.” It sounds simple enough—one is short, the other is long—but there’s a lot of myth and half-truth floating around this subject. The reality is more nuanced, and once you understand how cartridge length, magazine dimensions,...
Category: Cartridges
The Morse Carbine: America’s First Metallic Cartridge Military Arm
The Morse Carbine stands as one of the most remarkable yet overlooked innovations of the American Civil War. Developed in the crucible of national conflict, this unique breechloading firearm marked a bold leap forward in military arms—embracing the concept of metallic cartridges years before it became standard. While it never reached widespread deployment, the Morse...
The Minié Ball: The Conical Bullet That Revolutionized Warfare
In the crucible of 19th-century warfare, one innovation changed everything—not a new kind of cannon, nor a radical new rifle, but a deceptively simple piece of lead with a hollow base. The Minié ball, named for French Army Captain Claude-Étienne Minié, turned the rifled musket from a specialist’s tool into the dominant infantry weapon of...
The .38-55 Winchester: A Historical and Technical Examination of a Legendary Cartridge
The .38-55 Winchester remains one of the most enduring and respected cartridges in American firearms history. Known for its balanced power, mild recoil, and exceptional accuracy, the .38-55 has stood the test of time. Though introduced in the 19th century, its influence persists well into the modern era, with shooters, hunters, and historical firearms enthusiasts...