.50-70-450 Cartridge

Dissatisfaction with the rimfire cartridge, including the large priming charge required, led to the development of the centerfire cartridge.  The .50-70-450 consists of a copper case containing 70 gr. of powder and a 450 gr. bullet.  The centerfire design first adopted by the Service was the "Bar Anvil" cartridge developed by E.H. Martin of the Springfield Armory in 1866 (first photo).  A tin anvil forming a hollow bar, containing 1/2 gr. of priming composition, was fitted inside the case.  The sides of the case just below the head were crimped to hold the cup in place.  Several million of these cartridges were manufactured between October 1866 and March 1868. 

The bar anvil was replaced in 1868 by the Benet Cup Anvil Cartridge, designed by Colonel Stephen Benet (second photo).  This cartridge used a thicker-walled, round copper cup held in place by 2 crimps above the cup.  2 holes in the cup allowed the flame from the priming composition to ignite the powder.  The third photo shows an outside primed cartridge.  The fourth photo is a .50-45-400 Cartridge.  This short case cartridge was developed for use in the M1867 Navy Cadet Rifle.