44-40 rechambered to 44 Russian - antique?

sportee

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Here's another question about status...take a revolver made in the 1800's orginally chambered for 44-40 which is on the no list. The 44-40 case necks down to .443 in the cylinder...Now re-bore the cylinder to .457 so it will chamber a 44 russian. It still has the "44WIN" stamped on the frame but now chambers 44 russian instead...could this be de-registered as an antique?
 
I dont think so!
As a 44 40 would still chamber in the gun!
If it was orignal chambered in 44 40 i think your screwed!

Take a 44 Russian chambered gun and ream it to shoot 44 special and your OK tho as a 44 special aint on the list theres a few 44 Russians about like that!
+ it still shoots the 44 Russian as well!
they will not chamber a 44 40.
tho the 44 Special factory Rd is loaded to almost exact specs as the 44 Russians were, theres care needed here in reloading.
 
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What is the diameter of the bullet for the .44 russian? Presumably it is roughly .014 larger than .429 hence the larger neck. If that is so and you sleeved the barrel to the correct diameter then the gun would cease to be a 44-40. Otherwise you just have a 44-40 with a sloppy chamber that splits cases.

cheers mooncoon
 
The info i have says that the case dia for the 44 russian is .457 same as the 44spl and the 44mag. The base of the 44-40 is .475 so if bored through and sleeved to .457 it wouldnt chamber a 44-40. Maybe that would work but that would be one thin sleve...somewhere around .018.
 
If the gun will no longer chamber a shell, it ceases to be that caliber regardless of what is stamped on it. You do have to be careful that the new chamber does not accept one of the named shells such as .44 mag or the CFC will consider it to be that caliber.

cheers mooncoon
 
44-40 bt dia is .427". 44 Russ is .429" same as 44 Special and Mag.
44 mag is not on the prescribed antique list.
 
The calibers on the "no" list are as follows: 32 Short Colt, 32 Long Colt, 32 Smith and Wesson, 32 Smith and Wesson Long, 32-20 Winchester, 38 Smith and Wesson; 38 Short Colt, 38 Long Colt, 38-40 Winchester, 44-40 Winchester, or 45 Colt.

The 44-40 is longer than even a 44 mag so If i rechamber to 44 russian it should also be able to chamber 44colt, 44spl and 44mag. None of these are on the "no" list so would be ok right? or do they also have to be cartridges made before 1898? I know a 38 merwin hulbert for example will chamber a 38SW and a 38spl (unless in wrong) but is considered antique.
 
They cannot be chambered for a shell on the no list but the date of introduction of the shell they are chambered for does not matter. If you sleeve the chamber down to .457 then it will not accept a 44-40 and it ceases to be that caliber. If the new chamber includes a shoulder which prevents a .44 mag being put in all the way then they should have no complaints even though the 44 mag is not on the no list. They may be reluctant to deregister a gun chambered for a common modern caliber even though it is not officially on the no list.

cheers mooncoon
 
Assuming that the revolver is less than collectible, and if the bore is rough, not only could the chambers be sleeved, the barrel could be lined as well. Of course, one would want to use a cartridge that would not overstress the pistol. An antique which would accept a .44 Magnum would be an absolute bomb, if a modern cartridge got mixed up with the carefully underloaded blackpowder handloads. A revolver set up to use .38 Special wadcutters could be a really fine shooter.
 
I dont agree that if a 44 Mag fits its not Antique.:confused:

Some of the old 44 Russian belgian guns with longer strait bored thru cylinders can chamber a 44 mag! (as there no chamber throat) Yet a 44 40 wont chamber!
44 40 being a tapered case is to wide at the back half of the case.

If you put a hot 44 mag in a gun designed for a 44 Russian then we would just call you Stumpy :D
 
I am not saying the gun is not an antique, I am saying that you would have a harder time getting the CFC to remove the registration even though the law says it is exempt from registration.

cheers mooncoon
 
I am not saying the gun is not an antique, I am saying that you would have a harder time getting the CFC to remove the registration even though the law says it is exempt from registration.

cheers mooncoon

Oh! OK Doug i misunderstood ya :p

I have a Antique Revolver and it can chamber a 44 Mag case but the bullet sticks outa the cylinder if its factory loaded.
So i can use the 44 Mag case but seat the bullets slightly deeper. and load accordingly.
It wont chamber a 44 40 tho.
 
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Well the one i got wont chamber a Factory RD as there to long.
BUT it will chamber a 44 mag case! so its safe enough just load the 44 Mag with FFFg and seat the bullet a tad deeper.
I have shot it recently with a decent load and no shrapnell went flying anywhere but the frame Latch did break!
turns out it had and old hairline crack at the latch hole screw.
Its all fixed up now and ready for more shooting.

But i agree a Antique useing Factory 44 Mag ammo is a Bomb!
 
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