.429 dia bullets for the 44-40 Winchester?

[7mmlefty]

This is a question for all the experienced in reloading older cartridges.

First- Can I reload 44 cal, 200 grain (.429) jacketed bullets in my modern 44-40 Winchester.

Second- I would like to get the velocities safely past 1400 fps, up to 1700+ fps,.. just like the 44 mag.
So to avoid serious leading in the barrel, I need to use copper jacketed bullets.. Is this possible?

The only loads Ive been able to find for the 44-40 are for lead cast only and are well under 1400 fps, not to mention, copper jacketed 44-40 bullets in 200 grain for reloading are hard to find around here, and was told by a guy at shooters choice, they dont make copper clad for the 44-40.

Any powders youve experimented with safely, but not mentioned in the reloading books would be appreciated. Thanks for any info..

 

[mbogo3]

Funny Win makes 200gr jacketed .426 bullets for the 44-40 If the neck of your chamber will work with a .429 in place yes you can.Slug your bore first to get some idea of it's true size.What model and kind of gun are you using? 1600-1800fps is quite doable...if it's a commemorative 94 i think Win cheaped out and used .44 mag barrels so likely .429-.430.Modern .44 bullets will have the crimping groove in the wrong place for 44-40 but Speer 200gr is the shortest to keep OAL in spec for functioning in a 44-40......Harold

 

[commonman]

I am loading for a commemorative Winchester 94. Like Harold mentioned bore is in the .430 area.

In the back of the 45th edition (1970) of the Lyman reloading handbook it lists some pretty hot loads for a model 92 using 2400 and IMR 4227. For a 200 jacketed it lists a load that delivers 2079 fps at max. Has a cast load very similar. I had a bit if 4227 so made some with 19 grains under a 210 grain cast bullet sized at .429, nice shooting cartridge way better than the pussy loads for my revolver. The rifle handled the 19 gr readily, so I do intend to keep trying when I can get some time. (The rifle is a great little pack gun, a bit gaudy but lite as a feather.)

I'll make you a pdf of that page if you want, just pm me your email addy.

 

[broncoo]

Alliant 2400 will get you where you want to be i shoot 200's at 1700 from a 24" bbl out of a win 92my lyman and lee show that as max

 

[Andy]

If your chamber can accomodate a 0.429" bullet, you can use them. I use 0.430" cast in my 44-40, because the neck area of the chamber is large enough that there's still 0.003" for it to expand. A chamber cast is the most reliable way to determine this, but if you can drop a 0.429" bullet easily into the neck of brass fired in that gun, you're good to go.

If there's not sufficient clearance, you can size your bullets down to 0.427" using the Lee Sizer. Even jacketed, if lubed with a good lube, can be sized down. A properly sized and lubricated gas-checked cast bullet will shoot well without leading.

The 44-40 has a lot of case capacity (more than a 44 Mag), and in the right gun e.g. a M92, can be shot using 44 Mag loads.

 

[sail32]

Some of the newer reloading manuals show different loads and velocities depending upon which weapon they are to be used in.
In your post you did not mention the weapon for the ammunition you want to reload.

 

[7mmlefty]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate youre replies to my rather serious question. Ive only bought cowboy loads and reloaded cowboy loads cause its all the info I have.
After firing about 200 rounds out of it, she only seems like a pop gun with the best being 2" inch groups at 25 yards... I know it can do better.

The rifle is a Cheyanne carbine commemorative with 20 inch barrel, so can take the pressures of any modern updated load, Thanks sail 32.

I did drop a .429 dia bullet into the chamber Andy... it fit and rested on the rifling.. very good news, just too bad I resized all my fired brass.

commonman, my email is nbintegra@rogers.com I would like a list of that vintage 70 Lyman reloading info.Thanks.

Mbogo3, you could be right on the 44 mag barrel. I slugged a .427 into the barrel and the rifling cut into the bullet but no contact with the lands, so theres room for a larger dia bullet.

Such a pretty rifle must not just be looked at. She must be taken out to see how beautiful she really is.