Belgian Pinfire Ammunition

The first practical self contained cartridge that was considered safe to use in a firearm was patented in 1835 by a Frenchman named Casimir Lefaucheux. Breech loading cartridges prior to this were considered unsafe to keep them primed in the gun. Basically the pinfire cartridge had the primer inside the cartridge itself and was struck by a pin that protruded radially from the side of the cartridge. Quite a few of the guns that fired this cartridge were introduced to the American Civil War in numbers limited to what could be run through the Naval blockade to various Southern states.

Pictured above is how the cartridges were designed, and an original factory drawing showing the measurements of the 7mm pinfire cartridge. Most surviving examples of the pistols were in a diminutive caliber in 7mm, which would be about .29 caliber. The example I have is chambered for this cartridge, so I made the ammunition for it.

I start off with 5.7x28mm pistol cases and trim them down in the lathe to remove the rims entirely.

I turned down some FN 5.7 cases to size, then soldered the center fire primer holes shut. After cleaning them up, I was ready for the next step. Prepping the cases with a pin and a percussion cap.

The backs of each case are sanded smooth.

With the percussion cap and pin glued in place I then filled the case with the proper amount of gun powder and seated the projectile. I like to actually use clear fingernail polish from the dollar store because it’s cheap.

The cartridge has to be sized correctly in order to not hang up the cylinder of the revolver. There’s a notch cut into the frame of the gun to allow the pin to pass through. And it has to protrude enough to allow the hammer to strike the pin and ignite the powder charge.

The ballistics of such a tiny projectile are not very impressive, but I suppose it would be better than having to defend yourself with a knife.

Here your can see the firing pin as it rests against the hammer in the downward position.

There’s a notch cut out in the frame so the firing pins of each cartridge can clear it.

Here’s the view from the cocked hammer with the firing pin in the ready position.

The dimunitive Belgian pin fire revolver has a folding trigger, is double action, and not very useful at ranges very far beyond poker table length. But it sure is a lot of fun to shoot on the gun range.