12 . 17×42mm RF 12 . 17x42mm RF and its subvariety the 12 . 17x44mm RF . The 12 . 17×42mm RF rimfire round was developed by a joint Swedish - Norwegian arms commission , and was adopted by the armed forces of both Sweden and Norway in 1867 . It was used in the M1867 Remington rolling block rifles adopted as new standard rifles by the armed forces of Sweden and Norway the same year . Large numbers of older rifles , both Swedish muzzle loading Model 1860 and breech - loading Model 1864 and Norwegian breech - loading Kammerlader rifles of various models were also converted to rolling block rifles , chambered for the new standard round . A lengthened version of the round , the 12 . 17x44mm RF , was adopted by the Norwegian armed forces in 1871 . But the two cartridges were interchangeable , and could thus be fired from the same weapons . The round , nominally known as 4 Linjers ( actual bore diameter 4 . 1 Swedish decimal lines or 3 . 88 Norwegian decimal lines , that is 0 . 41 Swedish or 0 . 388 Norwegian inches ) , had a lead bullet 12 . 615mm ( 0 . 497 in ) in diameter , with the diameter of the bore , measured between the lands , being 12 . 17mm ( 0 . 479 inches ) . It used a copper case . In Swedish service the standard cartridge used a lead projectile ( shaped like a Minié ball ) weighing 24 gr ( 370 g ) . The muzzle velocity fired through a 955mm ( 37 . 6 in ) rifle barrel was 386 m / s ( 1 , 266 ft / s ) , with a muzzle energy of 1 , 788 J ( 1 , 319 ft / lbf ) . Fired through a 460mm ( 18 . 11 in ) carbine barrel the muzzle velocity was 340 m / s ( 1 , 115 ft / s ) , with a muzzle energy of 1 , 387 J ( 1 , 023 ft / lbf ) . In Norwegian service early rounds had a cast lead projectile weighting 5 . 85 kvintin ( 22 . 8 gr / 352 g ) and 1 kvintin ( 3 . 89 gr / 60 g ) of gunpowder . Later rounds had a pressed lead projectile weighting 6 kvintin ( 23 . 4 gr / 361 g ) and the gunpowder load was increased to 1 . 05 kvintin ( 4 . 09 gr / 63 g ) . There was also a blank round - an ordinary cartridge case loaded with 54 g ( 3 . 50 gr ) of gunpowder and closed with a cardboard or cork disc . 12 . 17x44mm R centerfire . A civilian / paramilitary centerfire version of the cartridge , the 12 . 17x44mm R using a brass cartridge case with the same dimensions as the 12 . 17x44mm RF , was introduced during the 1870s in both Sweden and Norway . The centerfire cartridge could be fired from both Swedish and Norwegian M1867 military Remington rolling block weapons with only a minor modification , converting the weapon from rimfire to centerfire and vice versa , which could be done by the shooter in the field provided he carried the replacement parts . The advantage of the centerfire cartridge was that spent cases could be reloaded , making centerfire ammunition significantly cheaper to use than rimfire ammunition , so the 12 . 17x44 mm R also saw extensive use in Swedish paramilitary service , being used by Frivilliga Skarpskytterörelsen ( " The Volunteer Sharpshooter Movement " ) , a voluntary paramilitary organization patterned on the British Volunteer Force and training civilians in the use of arms , with the units raised intended as local defense units ( the first such volunteer " sharpshooter " units were raised in Stockholm in 1860 , with the total number of active members throughout Sweden reaching 40 , 000 in 1865 ; volunteer " sharpshooter " units were armed with military m / 1867 rifles modified to use the 12 . 17x44mm R centerfire cartridge , and wore military style uniforms ) . Alternative names . The 12 . 17x42mm RF is also known as " 12 , 17mm patron m / 1867 " and " 12x42RF Swedish Remington Model 1867 " . < br > The 12 . 17x42mm RF is also known as " 12x44RF Norwegian Remington Model 1871 " and " 12 . 7x44RF Norwegian " . < br > The 12 . 17x44mm R is also known as " 12x44R Swedish Remington " , " . 50 Swedish / Norwegian Remington " and " 12 . 7x44R " . Today . Many Remington Rolling Blocks were converted to use the centerfire 12 . 17x44R cartridge or rebuilt to shotguns . Many of these guns still exist and are still used by black powder enthusiasts both for competition and hunting . Centerfire 12 . 17x44R cases are available , but a more cost - effective way to acquire cases is to cut , shape and fire - form . 348 Winchester cases .