Rimfire · Proprietary · Not SAAMI standardized · Not standardizedObsolete
.46 Long Rimfire
Longer variant of the .46 Short Rimfire; used in early American pocket revolvers during the transition away from percussion arms..
- Caliber
- 0.459″ · 11.659 mm
- Introduced
- 1866
- Case
- Rimmed
- Parent
- .46 Short Rimfire
- Primary use
- Target, Small game
- Status
- Discontinued
- Obsolete
- Obsolete
- Introduced
- 1866
- Type
- Rimfire
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- Various / American commercial
- Manufacturer
- Various / American commercial
- Standard
- Proprietary · Not SAAMI standardized · Not standardized
- SAAMI
- Not SAAMI standardized
- Obsolete
- Obsolete
- Status
- Discontinued
- Availability
- Rare
- Case capacity
- 31.5 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:20
- Primer
- Rimfire
- Case type
- Rimmed
- Max pressure
- 12,000 CUP, SAAMI crusher
- Eff. range
- 75 yd
- Max range
- 2600 yd
- Recoil
- 6.3–7.2 ft·lb
- Subsonic
- Capable
Ballistics
Velocity only, no drag model: no published ballistic coefficient is on file for .46 Long Rimfire, 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
- .46 Short Rimfire
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.
Wikipedia · approximate| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 11.66 | 0.459 | · |
| Neck ⌀ | 11.63 | 0.458 | ~ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Shoulder angle | n/a | ||
| Base ⌀ | 11.63 | 0.458 | ~ |
| Rim ⌀ | 13.49 | 0.531 | · |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.58 | 0.062 | |
| Neck length | n/a | ||
| Case length | 27.91 | 1.099 | · |
| Overall length | 41.55 | 1.636 | |
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. .46 Long Rimfire is highlighted below.
Lineage
Connected reference
History
A lengthened version of the .46 Short Rimfire, the .46 Long was chambered in a small number of American revolvers in the late 1860s. Both .46 caliber rimfire cartridges became obsolete quickly as large centerfire revolvers (.44-40, .45 Colt) became the dominant frontier handgun cartridges.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .46 Long Rimfire use?
- .46 Long Rimfire typically uses a 1:20 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .46 Long Rimfire?
- .46 Long Rimfire uses a 0.459″ (11.659 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .46 Long Rimfire still in production?
- .46 Long Rimfire is discontinued; typical availability is rare.
- What is .46 Long Rimfire used for?
- .46 Long Rimfire is primarily used for target, small game.
- What is .46 Long Rimfire based on?
- .46 Long Rimfire is derived from the .46 Short Rimfire case.
Sources & provenance
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →
