The .401 Winchester Self-Loading (also called .401SL or .401WSL) is an American

rifle A rifle is a long-barreled firearm A firearm is any type of gun designed to be readily carried and used by an individual. The term is legally defined further in different countries (see Legal definitions). The first firearms originated ...

cartridge.

Description and performance

Winchester Winchester is a cathedral city in Hampshire Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in western South East England on the coast of the English Channel The English Channel, "The Sleeve"; ...

introduced the .401SL in the Winchester '10 self-loading rifle as a supplement to the Winchester '07 and the .351SL in their offering of hi-power, self-loading rifles. The only chambering available in the Winchester Model 1910, the .401SL was used by France, Russia, and American company security forces in the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in ...

.Houze, Herbert G. (2003). ''Winchester's First Self-Loading Rifles.'' 'American Rifleman' Vol 151(5) p.84. The .401SL proved powerful enough for both

deer Deer or true deer are hoofed ruminant mammal Mammals () are a group of vertebrate Vertebrates () comprise all animal Animals are multicellular, eukaryotic organisms in the biological kingdom Animalia. With few e ...

and other large game at ranges under 150 yards.Whelen, Townsend. ''The American Rifle''. Century Co., 1918. p.274 Both 200gr and 250gr

bullet A bullet is a kinetic projectile, a component of firearm A firearm is any type of gun designed to be readily carried and used by an individual. The term is legally defined further in different countries (see Legal definitions). The first ...

weights were offered by Winchester and other ammunition manufacturers as factory loadings. With extra available detachable magazines holding 4-rounds each, the Model 1910 could provide substantial firepower for the big-game hunter. This feature helped promote the use of the .401SL on dangerous game such as

moose The moose (in North America) or elk (in Eurasia) (''Alces alces'') is a member of the New World deer subfamily and is the only species in the genus ''Alces''. It is the largest and heaviest extant species In biology Biology ...

and

grizzly bear The grizzly bear (''Ursus arctos horribilis''), also known as the North American brown bear or simply grizzly, is a population Population typically refers to the number of people in a single area, whether it be a city or town A ...

in spite of the lack of controlled expansion bullet designs, which doubtlessly would have improved game-taking performance and the subsequent reputation of the .401SL cartridge.Stebbins, Henry M. ''Rifles, A Modern Encyclopedia.'' Stackpole Co., 1958. p.274 401 Winchester SL cartridge hr metallic

The .401 SL is of similar size to the later .41 Remington Magnum; but the longer self-loading rifle cartridge produced a muzzle energy of with a bullet, while the magnum revolver is credited with a muzzle energy of with a bullet. The .41 Rem magnum revolver comparison is not entirely fitting, however, as in a carbine a cartridge will often product twice the muzzle energy over than when fired from a revolver barrel.

Dimensions

References

External links

401 Winchester WSL Cartridges

351 Winchester and 401 Winchester: Auto-Loading Pioneers

Vintage Full Box Winchester 401 Self-Loading Ammo 200 Gr. Soft Point
* {{DEFAULTSORT:401 Winchester Self-Loading Pistol and rifle cartridges Winchester Repeating Arms Company cartridges Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1910

Description and performance

Dimensions

See also

References

External links