.345 Winchester Self-Loading

Rimless rifle fire cartridge

The .345 Winchester Self-Loading (colloquially .345 WSL or eventually .345 Winchester Machine Rifle) is a rimless, rifle fire cartridge in a "cylindrical" shape, created in 1917 by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company.^[1]

It was designed for aircraft use, but there was also an alternate barrel with bayonet attachment for ground use. The rifle was the Winchester-Burton Machine Rifle, also known as the Winchester Model 1917 and was developed by Frank F. Burton. Little documentation on the rifle survives, but it was believed to have been intended for use as an anti-balloon weapon.^[1] ^[2]

History

During the outbreak of the First World War, observation balloons were essential for both sides of the front. These static balloons inflated with hydrogen, became targets for airmen on both sides, and were defended by anti-aircraft batteries and patrol fighters.^[3]

To face these balloons, conventional ammunition proved to be inefficient, and other alternatives were sought. In 1916, French officer Yves le Prieur created a rocket system powered by electricity, but its range was limited. In 1917, tracer and incendiary ammunition was being developed to target these balloons.^[1]^[3]

To meet this need, Frank F. Burton of Winchester, developed the "Burton Light Machine Rifle", a selective fire blowback rifle, with selection of rate of fire to be used in observation and surveillance planes, the first practical version of which was ready in 1917.^[4] ^[5] ^[6] For this rifle, he adapted the .351 WSL cartridge into a rimless cartridge, firing an incendiary Spitzer bullet, resulting in the .345 Winchester Self-Loading.^[1]^[7]

Dimensions

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "345 Winchester Machine Rifle". cartridgecollector.net. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
^ Small Arms Review: America's First Assault Rifle, by James L Ballou. December 2010, 14(3)
^ ^a ^b "The Winchester-Burton Machine Rifle". Historical Firearms. Archived from the original on February 8, 2021. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
^ "The Mysterious Burton Machine Rifle ft. Danny Michael of the Cody Firearms Museum". youtube.com. The Armourer's Bench. June 4, 2023. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023.
^ "The Mysterious Burton Machine Rifle". The Armourer's Bench. June 4, 2023. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023.
^ Hlebinsky, Ashley (October 13, 2019). "Burton Light Machine Rifle". Recoil Magazine. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023.
^ "Forgotten Weapons: The 1917 Burton Light Machine Rifle". Popular Mechanics. 2016-07-01. Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved 2021-01-01.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to .345 Winchester Self-Loading.

Forgotten Weapons: America's First Assault Rifle: Burton 1917 LMR. By Ian McCollum, July 4, 2016

Winchester firearms and cartridges

Rifles

Lever-action	Henry rifle Model 1866 Model 1873 Model 1876 Model 1886 Model 1892 Model 1894 Model 1895 Model 53 Model 55 Model 64 Model 65 Model 71 Model 88 Model 150 Model 250 Model 255 Model 9422
Bolt-action	Model 1878 Hotchkiss Model 1895 Lee Navy Model 1900 Model 1902 Model 1904 Model 43 Model 47 Model 51 Imperial Model 52 Model 54 Model 56 Model 57 Model 58 Model 59 Model 60 Model 60A Model 67 Model 68 Model 69 Model 70 Model 72 Model 75 Model 121 Model 131 Model 141 Model 320 Model 325 Model 670 Model 770
Pump-action	Model 1890 Model 1906 Model 61 Model 62 Model 62A Model 270
Semi-automatic	Model 1903 Model 1905 Model 1907 Model 1910 Model 30 Model 63 Model 74 Model 77 Model 100 Model 190 Model 290 Model 490
Full-automatic	Olin/Winchester FAL Model 1917 WAR
Falling-block action	Model 1885

Shotguns

Pump-action	Model 1893 Model 1897 Model 1912 Model 25 Model 42 Model 1200 Model 1300
Lever-action	Model 1887 Model 1901 Model 9410
Single-shot	Model 20 Model 36 Model 37 Model 37A Model 41
Double-barrel	Model 21 Model 24 Model 96 Model 101
Semi-automatic	Model 1911 SL Model 40 Model 50 Model 59 Model 1400 Model 1500 SX-1