.44 cal (Antique Whitneyville Armoury rifle) Ammo -- Need guidance

[Dodosmike]

Im in possession of a late 1800's 44cal Whitneyville Armoury rifle. Is been throughly cleaned, inspected by a gunsmith and in "reasonable and shootable" condition Ive been told. The accuracy is up for debate, but that a moot point as of right now, as I don't know what to shoot in it.

Barel indicates ".44cal". So that excludes what I know as a modern .44-40 load.

Can somebody point me to a cartridge that would work in this gun?

Ive been told low pressure "cowboy" loads, but I don't have any knowledge of what that is. Google isn't any help, at least with my "google abilities".

Not .44 magnum.
Not .44-40

Is a .44 "special"?

If I can obtain a dozen or so reloads from somebody, that'd be ideal. OR a box of 20 off the shelf loads, thats fine too, I just don't know what I need.

Can somebody point me in the right direction please....... thanks a bunch!

 

[BrotherRockeye]

44wcf is 44-40

see this

https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/rifles/whitney-rifles/whitneyville-armory-ct-usa--lever-action-sporting-rifle-44-40-cal-antique-rifle.cfm?gun_id=100860034

44 Russian, 44 American were around in that era but if the ad I linked for you is any indication then your rifle is 44wcf or 44-40

here's another one

https://www.1898andb-4.com/guns/whitneyville-armory-ct-u-s-a-heavy-44-cal-26-barrel/

Looks like yer in 44-40

kinda curious why this

Barel indicates ".44cal". So that excludes what I know as a modern .44-40 load.

 

[billdick]

It should be 44-40 as it is not a modern chambering at all and still loaded to the pressure it was way back when. I'm sure whitneyville was out of business before 44 special came about but I could be wrong. I guess your best bet would be to have a chamber cast done

 

[Dodosmike]

https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/rifles/whitney-rifles/whitneyville-armory-ct-usa--lever-action-sporting-rifle-44-40-cal-antique-rifle.cfm?gun_id=100860034

This is as close to the one I have as Ive seen.

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[Dodosmike]

 

[mbogo3]

Chamber cast

 

[Dodosmike]

Chamber cast

Is this a clay mold of the bore?
Would micrometer measurements be accurate enough?


Ive been looking for 44-40, 44mag and 44 spl comparison measurements with no luck. Is there enough variation in these calibers that can be measured and compared side-by-side?
Ive even looked for a S-by-s visual comparison, with no luck.

 

[triggerman42]

Like you have been told , 44/40 is what you want. Forget about those other calibers. Cowboy action is a low pressure / low velocity round . Stick with that.

 

[Dodosmike]

Sooo......something like this?:

https://www.ammunitiontogo.com/prod...4-40-win-hornady-205gr-cowboy-flat-point-ammo
https://static-cdn.ammunitiontogo.c...bc/9/e/9ee16fe14a2df2144fad4b65bbcd1db7_4.jpg

 

[bugs]

Yes that is correct ammunition .44 special and .44 mag had not been invented when this rifle was produced

 

[Galt]

 

[Galt]

actually its the Kennedy the OP has.

 

[Galt]

and shooting it
.

 

[sail32]

I would say your rifle is a Whitneyville Armory Kennedy Rifle in 44-40.

https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/62/1029/whitneyville-armory-kennedy-rifle-4440

 

[mbogo3]

How much ya wanna bet he is using too small a diameter of bullets hence the neck case blackening.Why does he keep taking the rifle off his shoulder to cycle it?

 

[Dodosmike]

Serial is J664 if that helps identify it.

Based on this: https://www.eliwhitney.org/7/museum/permanent-installations/gun-collection I think its a Scharf.

 

[Dodosmike]

and shooting it
.

I paused that video at 1:37 and I can clearly read 44cal CF behind the rear sight. Interesting

 

[Dodosmike]

6 shots, one at a time. Remote fired the first one (string on the trigger). The rest from a standing position. Flawless, other than its missing the ejector spring.
Cleaned the barrel, oiled it, back in the safe. Might use it to deer hunt a day or so this fall. We'll see.

 

[fingers284]

Deer hunting with any of the old pelters makes owning them worthwhile. The last 2 deer I've taken were with an 1895 Marlin in 38-56 and an 1871 #1 Rem Rolling Block in 45-70.