.43 Spanish

The .43 Spanish cartridge was produced after Spain purchased the newly invented rolling-block action single-shot rifle. The breech-loading firearm, which was marketed by Sam Remington, impressed the Spaniards after their own evaluation.{{Cite web|title=Thoughts on the .43 spanish and the Remington Rolling-Block Rifle {{!}} Black Powder Cartridge|url=https://www.blackpowdercartridge.com/thoughts-on-the-43-spanish-and-the-remington-rolling-block-rifle|access-date=2021-09-22|website=www.blackpowdercartridge.com}} In 1869, the Spanish government put in an order for 10,000 rifles.{{cite book|author=David F. Butler|title=United States Firearms: the First Century, 1776–1875|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QtUfAQAAIAAJ|year=1971|publisher=Winchester Press|isbn=9780876910306 }} In addition to the firearms, they wanted their own cartridge and Remington developed the .43 Spanish. It was produced in two variants: the bottleneck case .43 Spanish (11.15x57mmR Remington Spanish) and the straight-wall case .43 Spanish Reformado (11.4x57mmR Reformado).

The cartridge was very similar to the .44-77 Sharps cartridge, except for the difference in their case dimensions.{{Cite book|last=Flatnes|first=Oyvind|title=From Musket to Metallic Cartridge: A Practical History of Black Powder Firearms|publisher=Crowood|year=2013|isbn=978-1-84797-594-2|language=en}} The Spanish military version of the cartridge was later upgraded in 1889 to a "heavier, brass-jacketed reformado bullet".{{cite book|author=Alejandro de Quesada|title=The Spanish–American War and Philippine Insurrection|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v1FbVCtpdQ4C&pg=PT92|year=2012|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|isbn=978-1-78096-353-2|page=92}} While Remington stopped manufacturing the cartridge in 1918, its use in the United States became widespread after World War II because it was sold as a surplus.

The .43 Spanish used a {{convert|.454|in|mm|abbr=on}} diameter bullet that weighed {{convert|396|gr|g|abbr=on}}. Its {{convert|1280|ft/s|m/s|abbr=on}} was powered by {{convert|74|gr|g|abbr=on}} of black powder. Instead of solid lead bullet, the .43 Spanish used a brass-jacket bullet, which was considered unusual because cupronickel, gilding metal, and copper clad steel were preferred for bullet jackets during the period. It was also the reason why American soldiers suspected that the Spaniards used poison in their bullet during the Spanish-American War.{{Cite book|last=Rottman|first=Gordon L.|title=The Book of Gun Trivia: Essential Firepower Facts|publisher=Osprey Publishing|year=2013|isbn=978-1-78200-621-3|pages=182–183|language=en}} It corroded in the tropics, producing a powdery pale green verdigris once they are exposed to high humidity or salty sea air over time. The brass component, however, improved bullet penetration.

• Argentine Modelo 1879, rifle and carbine
• 1869 Spanish Peabody{{cite book|author=Philip Peterson|title=Standard Catalog of Military Firearms: The Collector's Price and Reference Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aftMDn2bd14C&pg=PA315|year=2011|publisher=F+W Media|isbn=978-1-4402-2881-0|page=315}}
• Whitney–Burgess–Morse lever-action rifle (military version){{cite book|author=Jerry Lee|title=The Official Gun Digest Book of Guns & Prices 2013|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zyYXCAyeBZwC&pg=PA1229|year=2013|publisher=Krause Publications|isbn=978-1-4402-3543-6|page=1229}}
• Model 1879 Remington–Lee{{cite book|author=Dan Shideler|title=Standard Catalog Of Remington Firearms|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eW6K-z8d2IMC&pg=PA104|year=2008|publisher=F+W Media|isbn=978-1-4402-2699-1|page=104}}

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{{reflist}}

• Croft Barker. Shooting the .43 Spanish Rolling Block. Cistern Publishing, 2003. {{ISBN|0971512833}}
• Thombs, David A., and Barrett, Stephen P. [https://web.archive.org/web/20210719031801/https://bibliotecavirtual.defensa.gob.es/BVMDefensa/es/catalogo_imagenes/grupo.do?path=71177 The internet and firearms research with reference to the .43 Spanish Remington Rolling-Block and its ammunition], The Journal of the Historical Breechloading Small Arms Association, Vol.4, No.4, pp. 14–23

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• [https://www.cartridgecollector.net/43-spanish-remington .43 Spanish Remington], Cartridge Collector

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