.44 russian low pressure loads

TTB4570

TTB4570

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So I've gone through the pinned threads on this boards about smokeless in antiques,
I was wondering if any of you have a "go to" loading that you use in yours?

I have a S&W model 3 Top break that apparently has sleeved at one point in it's life, so i'd like to keep pressures low.

Don't worry, I won't be holding anyone accountable for their loadings posted here, I'll just use it as my max charge cap
 
The cylinder, I have it out for repairs right now and when the gunsmith was ultrasounding it, he noticed that it appears to be sleeved (the plot thickens).
 
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Lee Enfield said:
Wow, there sure isn't very much meat there to sleeve a Model 3 cylinder.

Single Action American, Russian or New Model? Or double action?
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Model 3 Double action

I was curious how He came to that conclusion as well, there didn't seem to be any visible seams that I could find when I handled it.
 
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Probably was a .44-40 calibre one that was converted to .44 Russian so as to qualify as Antique status in Canada, the sleeved part of the cylinder thickness will be very minor if so. They usually took out the minimum needed to make a straight through cylinder hole, fitted a sleeve usually made up from a section of worn out cut-off barrel turned in a lathe to just under the same size as the straight through cylinder chamber to make a tight fit and either silver soldered or red Loctite it in place before running a .44 Russian or .44 Special reamer in the new sleeved cylinders to cut the new chamber.

If done right by a professional and talented gunsmith it will be barely noticeable that the cylinder was re-sleeved. And yes, a 120 + year old black powder steel or iron cylinder that has been re-sleeved with a cut-off section of centre fire cartridge barrel steel from a 1940's or newer rifle will generally be stronger depending on the thickness of the new sleeve section.
 
I have a New Model S & W #3 , in original excellent condition. I occasionally shoot it with my hand load of ;
260 gr.( actual wt.) lead ( #429421 @ .429 dia. ) with 5 gr. of Unique , fed. 150 primmer .
Seems light enough to me to be safe . ,,,,,,,,,, Frank
 
6grs blue dot starting at 5grns and working up whatch out for squib loads make shure bullet clears the barrel before the next round is fired
 
mkrnel said:
Probably was a .44-40 calibre one that was converted to .44 Russian so as to qualify as Antique status in Canada, the sleeved part of the cylinder thickness will be very minor if so. They usually took out the minimum needed to make a straight through cylinder hole, fitted a sleeve usually made up from a section of worn out cut-off barrel turned in a lathe to just under the same size as the straight through cylinder chamber to make a tight fit and either silver soldered or red Loctite it in place before running a .44 Russian or .44 Special reamer in the new sleeved cylinders to cut the new chamber.

If done right by a professional and talented gunsmith it will be barely noticeable that the cylinder was re-sleeved. And yes, a 120 + year old black powder steel or iron cylinder that has been re-sleeved with a cut-off section of centre fire cartridge barrel steel from a 1940's or newer rifle will generally be stronger depending on the thickness of the new sleeve section.
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mknrel you hit the nail on the head there. I actually saw the gun today at the smiths.
 
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The cylinder was a 44 Russian cylinder that was relined because it has some minor pitting and set up so it can shoot 44 sp the gun was set up long before the addendum to the saa colts took effect about two years ago.. ive seen other low serial number long cylinder 44 Russian S&WDAs set up to shoot 44 sp in the past as well.
 
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dingus said:
the cylinder was a 44 Russian cylinder that was relined and set up so it can shoot 44 sp the gun was set up long before the addendum to the saa colts took effect about two years ago . ive seen other low serial number long cylinder S&WDAs set up to shoot 44 sp in the past as well,
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Thanks Dingus
 
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4.5gr's of unique with a 240gr seemed good to me. The topbreak design didn't hold up well to the 44-40 cartridge when it was introduced, so using stout loads of 44R or 44-40 will stretch the latch/frame over time. Better to keep the loads light and safe
 
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