Rifle · Proprietary
.38-70 Winchester
Winchester Model 1886 black powder cartridge for medium to large game; part of Winchester's black powder lineup, used in custom-ordered Model 1886 rifles..
- Caliber
- 0.378″ · 9.6 mm
- Introduced
- 1886
- Case
- Rimmed
- Status
- Discontinued
- Introduced
- 1886
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- Winchester
- Standard
- Proprietary
- Status
- Discontinued
- Availability
- Rare
- Primer
- Berdan Large Rifle
- Case type
- Rimmed
- Max pressure
- 24,000 psi
- Eff. range
- 200 yd
Ballistics
Velocity only, no drag model: no published ballistic coefficient is on file for .38-70 Winchester, so this is the shape gravity alone gives the advertised velocity. Drag would steepen it. The tool below solves real loads through their published G1 or G7 model.
Open in Ballistic Compare- Parent case
- —
Representative trajectory — modeled from a single velocity input (no published BC for this cartridge yet).
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
Cartridges of the World · approximate| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 9.60 | 0.378 | ~ |
| Neck ⌀ | 10.24 | 0.403 | · |
| Shoulder ⌀ | 10.69 | 0.421 | · |
| Shoulder angle | — | — | |
| Base ⌀ | 12.85 | 0.506 | · |
| Rim ⌀ | 15.24 | 0.600 | · |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | — | — | |
| Neck length | — | — | |
| Case length | 58.67 | 2.310 | ~ |
| Overall length | 69.34 | 2.730 | · |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. .38-70 Winchester is highlighted below.
Missing a dimension for .38-70 Winchester? Some case measurements aren't in a published SAAMI/CIP drawing yet. Have a factory or reamer print? Send it → — verified hard-to-find data earns a free Lindcott sticker.
Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.
Firearms chambered in .38-70 Winchester
1 model in the database chamber .38-70 Winchester. Browse all →
Connected reference
History
One of the less common Winchester Model 1886 cartridges, the .38-70 was available on special order for hunters who wanted a .38 caliber option in the Model 1886 action. It is a transitional black powder cartridge from the late 1880s, predating the adoption of smokeless powder in lever-action rifles.
FAQs
- What bullet diameter is .38-70 Winchester?
- .38-70 Winchester uses a 0.378″ (9.6 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .38-70 Winchester still in production?
- .38-70 Winchester is discontinued; typical availability is rare.
Sources & provenance
- Reference Gun Digest Books — Cartridges of the World (Gun Digest Books, F. C. Barnes)
- Secondary 38-70 Winchester C.F. — Cartridge Collector · velocity_max_fps
- .38-70 WCF Reloading Data — Winchester Collector Forum · velocity_max_fps
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →