NAME – 11x25mmR

NAME (COMMON) – .44 Smith & Wesson Russian

TYPE – Rimmed centerfire

YEAR OF INTRODUCTION – 1870

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN – USA

CASE TYPE – Rimmed straight

CARTRIDGE LENGTH – 36.2 mm (1.425 in)

CASING LENGTH – 24.6 mm (0.970 in)

CASE HEAD DIAMETER – 11.61 mm (0.457)

CASE RIM DIAMETER – 13.1 mm (0.515 in)

BULLET TYPE – Round nosed lead

BULLET DIAMETER – 10.97 mm (0.432 in)

BULLET WEIGHT – 15.94 g (246 grains)

POWDER WEIGHT – 1.49 g (23 grains) [Black Powder]

CASING WEIGHT – 4.73 g (73 grains)

TOTAL ROUND WEIGHT – 22.16 g (342 grains)

MUZZLE VELOCITY – 235 m/s (770 fps)

NOMINAL BARREL LENGTH – 16.5 cm (6.5 in)

MUZZLE ENERGY – 439 j (324 ft/lb)

     This round was designed by Smith & Wesson for their Russian model revolver intended for the Imperial Russian Army. By 1878, a commercial model of the revolver was available for public sales. The round was one of the most accurate handgun cartridges of the day and a large number of Western shooters preferred it over the Colt weapon. It did not long survive the changeover to smokeless powders.