44-40 BP loads

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Sharps '63

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I am in the process of getting ready for the first CAS event of the season, a two day shoot in Prince George. Since I intend to shoot "Frontiersman", that means cap & ball revolvers and BP in my long guns.

In the past I loaded 35 grs FFg in my 44-40 cases with 200 gr RNFP's, but since I was using the bullet to compress the powder, that resulted in several case bulges. Not wanting to compress the powder with a die (too lazy) I reduced the charge to 33 grs. That helped, but there was still the occasional bulge. Not a problem with my lever action .44's, but some would not chamber in my 44-40 Remington conversions.

Further reducing the charge to 30 grs resulted in NO case bulging and 3/16" powder compression. I know I'm 'gaming' here, but after casting, sizing, lubing and all the hassle of loading 44-40 bottle neck cases, any reduction in labour is worth it.

"If someone lets you shoot his BP cartridge guns with bullets he cast/sized/lubed, etc., he really likes you." anonymous BP CAS
 
The case heads are a lot thicker in today's brass then they used to be way back when. So I'm not surprised that you can only load so much. And that it's no where near the 40gns from the original cases.

A drop tube should help a lot though.
 
Your RO's and timer operators will thank you if you cut back even more. I can speak from experience that after a day of standing up beside shooters and absorbing every ounce of un-needed energy/muzzle blast, it can get real old real fast. Full power BP loads might not compete with magnum bullet energy but they sure hold their own in the muzzle blast department.

Don't get me wrong, I know everybody enjoys a good fire belching, smoke choking thunder clap once in a while but your TO will enjoy your company more with a whole lot of "moderation"
 
In his book: "Shooting Lever Guns of the Old West", gunwriter Mike Venturino states that he loaded his 44-40 cartridges with 33-34 grains of Goex Ffg. This, with a drop tube. So, if you are comfortably fitting 30 grains into your cases, you're in reasonably good territory, performance wise. You could likely trim a grain or two off that charge and still get adequate powder compression. Plus, as Fingers284 says, your RO will be a lot happier, too.
 
I do not have personnel experience with this load (YET) . One of my cowboy shooting associates is shooting 18gr. of black and a corn meal filler.
He says this cuts his powder costs in half and reduces recoil as well. I plan to give this load a try. I do not know if he uses a wad between powder and filler . But I am thinking maybe a lubed felt wad like we use in the cap and ball might work.
 
I've had Mike Venturino's books for years and have had the pleasure of shooting with him at the last CAS event he went to in Idaho. He announced that he was quitting CAS and going into BPCR silhouette as he was fed up with the powder puff 'gamers'. Especially one guy he met who was shooting reduced BP loads with custom made cases that reduced case volume by half.

It was his inspiration that got me shooting 33 grs FFg in 44-40. Some of my early case bulge problems were because I was using .430/.431 bullets. Now I size .429 and it has somewhat helped prevent case bulge. I'd rather shoot than load.
I've been drop tubing my BPCR loads for years, but can't be bothered to do so for hundreds of pistols loads. Same for fillers and wads. The process is labour intensive enough as it is without complicating it.

The current issue of "Black Powder Cartridge News" has a couple of interesting articles of interest to CAS folks. One on the history of the 44-40 (aka .44 WCF) and t'other on the history of the '73 Winchester. In the evolution of the 44-40 case, there were several types - folded head, original drawn 'solid head' (we now refer to as "balloon head"), and modern solid web.

The second type was quite strong until weakened by mercuric priming compounds, especially after several reloads. I've been present when a Dominion .45 Colt "balloon head" case full of BP blew in the chamber of a Pedersoli pump. The shooter got a face full of gas and the case separated in the chamber. This also happened to the author and he had a b!tch of a time removing it. He goes on in detail about pressures, etc. He exceeded 1400 fps with 40 grs FFFg Goex in his '73 rifle.

The other article has inspired me to once again acquire a '73. I had a beautiful Uberti "1 of 1,000" rifle but found that I could shoot better and faster with my carbines. I will try a Short Rifle and see if I like it any better.

Anyone who wants to drop tube and compress 40 grs of BP into a solid head 44-40 case has my blessings to do so! "A" it will be a major PITA (IMHO) and "B" your RO's will not appreciate the shock wave. Same for adding a scoop of filler with a separating wad between powder and filler. Have at 'er, Cowboy!

We've had some lengthy chin wags on CasCity re: BP and smokeless in the 44-40. There's nothing carved in stone and if it works for you - you've succeeded. Go shooting!
 
Shot in Prince George over the week end and my 30 grs FFg 44-40 loads performed very well. Lots of bark and very effective on steel. Turns out that I'm not the only one to have settled on 30 grs as the ideal charge without using fillers and/or wads.

The weather was miserable, wet and cool enough to qualify for Vancouver weather! Not conducive to the best shooting (especially for the two of us shooting cap & ball), but we "Cowboyed Up" and had fun. It helps if you use the right size caps. One of my guns needed #11 caps after I replaced the nipples over the winter. #10's needed a couple of hammer falls to go "Boom!"
 
I shoot Frontiersman, and use .44-40 in my Uberti Henry. 33 - 35 grain loads with a 200 gr. bullet. no case bulging. How tight is your crimp? I had some bulging when I started, and I backed off on how much I was crimping. No more bulges. Been shooting those loads for years. Don't use a drop tube either. Load powder with LEE dippers. 1.9cc & 2.2cc.
As to cutting back on the smoke... The smoke, noise, and flame are what make it fun. There are to few of us BP shooters out there to begin with I think the smokeless guys can suck it up. It is not that bad. ;-)
 
I was at a match this past weekend, where one of the cowpokes was shooting black powder. Lots of noise, smoke and fun. Gotta admire someone who goes that extra step to add more authenticity and challenge to the sport. We had a good conversation later. He too, was shooting 30 grains FFg in his 44-40 revolvers and rifle. Personally, I think there should be more of that in CAS. Far too many gamers are taking over the sport and moving it away from its roots.
 
I rarely shoot BP in my 44-40 Henry as the barrel gets pretty damn hot in a fast 10 shot string!

As for crimp, I don't overdo it as the 44-40 case mouths are pretty thin. If I'm really concerned, I'll use my Lee Factory Crimp die.

I left CAS when the .38 Spl. race gun took over. When I came back, it was now a two-gun event and the .38 Spl. with powder puff loads was top gun. Our club never went that way, most of us shooting .44's and .45's, many with BP. We also shoot Duellist or Double Duellist. Shoot "Cowboy" or go home! There are enough categories in SASS to satisfy everyone. Shoot your own game and let others do the same.

I'm always amused by the gamers who pace off the steps between shooting positions and take forever to settle into the start position, moving their guns a fraction of an inch for whatever imagined advantage. The best of the best put their guns down, stand in the start position and await the start signal. They leave their egos at home and enjoy shooting "Cowboy".

There was a time when the Rule Book was a small booklet you could carry in a shirt pocket. Under "Equipment Eligibility", it said - "If John Wayne would use it - it's OK". That went the way of the buffalo a long time ago .....
 
So where exactly is the bulge occurring? Initially I had bulges at the case mouth. A good friend, and long time CAS shooter suggested backing off the crimp die. Problem solved. Been shooting .44-40 for a number of years now. I load the cases up to 1/8 inch from the top. Compress with 200 gr. bullet no bulges.

Anyway, all I shoot is BP as that was what was used "back in the day". Good luck with it! :)
 
I was getting bullets that were a little off set in the case. Made them difficult to chamber in a pair of Remington conversions I recently sold. My 44-40 rifles eat everything!
 
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