11mm french 1873 44 Russian question

Dave.S

Dave.S

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Hi all ,I picked up an 1873 French.Can you fire 44 Russian in it safely?I am also looking for a screw.its the small one beside the take down button.Mine is missing.Anyone have a source for repro grips?Dave.
 
If you are lucky enough to have an antique that is still operable, why not go the extra step and load for it in the original ctg.?
It's not that hard to do and is in fact a very interesting aspect of antique collecting. It also helps to save the antique's unaltered value.
IMHO
 
Yes I'm keeping it in its original cal.Im hunting down a reloading kit for it,I had heard probably incorrectly that you can fire 44 russian out of them.
 
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You can reload with 44 brass. Russian might be short enough ... not certain about that. 44-40 cases are a better fit just above the rim but definitely need trimming and both probably need the rims thinned too.

The heel of the corret 45 bullet should be about 0.430" diameter but the bearing surface is about 0.450"
 
BlackPowderBurner said:
You might be confused with the 10.6mm German Ordnance cartridge used in their Reichsrevolvers. That one does largely interchange with .44 Russian.
Click to expand...

Yes, that’s correct. I have a nice S&W in 44 Russian and was thinking of getting a Reichsrevolver as a shooting partner with the S&W because of the caliber interchange.
 
bush1 said:
Yes, that’s correct. I have a nice S&W in 44 Russian and was thinking of getting a Reichsrevolver as a shooting partner with the S&W because of the caliber interchange.
Click to expand...

That definitely works. I've used 44 Russian reloads with great success in both an 1883 and a 1879 Reichrevolver. Good accuracy and case fit in the chambers.
 
44 Russian fits but you need to thin the rim and load a 45 cal heeled bullet or you won’t hit anything
If you don’t thin the rim the cylinder will jam after the first shot
I use a 44colt bullet
 
I picked up a nice 1873 in 11mm awhile back and have been collecting reloading info for it. Planning on reloading for it this coming winter so any of the following info I’ve gathered for it is from different sources and different people.

Feel free to make observations or corrections as I’ve only collected this info and haven’t tried any of it yet.

11mm 1873 French Revolver Reloading Info

Original BP cartridge .71 case length
1.18 loaded length
.452 dia, 11.7g (180gr) lead bullet with a .430 heel
0.65g (10grs) fine black powder

Bullets .452 (190gr) lead with a .420 heel from Jethunter (tumble lubed w/ Alox)
Some use a 230gr bullet

Brass 44-40 Win cases
Rim is .525 dia
Rim is .065 thick (trim to .040)
Case length (trim to .71) (one guy suggested .74)
Use a Lee case expanding die to open the neck
Note: Buffalo Arms sells cases made from 44 S&W Spl and The ID
of the brass is approx. .419 and will need to be expanded

Case Prep Lee shell holder for case trim kit #14
Case length gauge for 44-40 is too long (modify to correct length)
Custom Case length gauge ($15 in 2013)

Decap Universal decap die (I have one)

Prime Use #14 shell holder (for 44-40 case) and Lee prime tool
Use #11 shell holder (for 44 pl / 44 mag case)
Large pistol primers for 44-40, 44 spl and 44 mag

Press One guy says to use a 44 spl die to seat bullets but 44 spl are .430
One guy says to use a 44 spl die to seat bullets into a 44 mag or spl case
One guy says to use a 45apc die to deat bullets in a 44 spl case
45apc bullets are .452 so that might be better
454 Casul is .452
45 LC is .454

Powder BP or Unique for smokeless
Lee dipper kit and funnel

Lube Use a BP lube if using BP
A 45-70 case is a perfect cookie cutter for .452-3 pan lubing
Dragon Bullet Lube (Richmond Hill) has BP lube in cylinders
 
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