A dilemma, great gun but expensive calibre.

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I have an opportunity to buy a very well furnished 1873 in 44-40 but am concerned that the cost and difficulty in securing ammo might make it no so great of a deal. Gun is gorgeous and on my to buy list but retail ammo is scarce and expensive, I do not reload and I hear this calibre is a challenge to do so.

Do I bite the bullet and buy this gun in a more common calibre or take the deal and cost of feeding it as a plinker?
 
So many guns, so little available ammo ;)
Buy it , hold onto it and buy ammo when the pay cheque allows.
Budget Shooter Supply, Bullet Barn (new owners) and Rusty Woods in Mission (former site sponsor) are more than enough
hints to assist you in buying ammo or reloading supplies.
I am sure others will chime in with more technical information.
If this gun is a Winchester buy it and enjoy it for what it is and use it accordingly, but as a plinker a .22 is the best way to go.
Rob
 
Buy it and find someone that reload and could help you make some ammo for it and teach you the ropes of reloading until you buy your own kit!
 
Buddy is in same boat - bought what he thought was a gorgeous used Weather Mark V in 7mm Weatherby Mag - really nice looking rifle, in great shape - about had kittens when he discovered that 40 rounds delivered here was $320. He does not want to "touch off" $8 a piece shots, so convinced himself and everyone who will listen that the new-to-him scope is "sighted in", because a gunsmith in the city "bore sighted" it. Decide if you want the rifle to look at, or to shoot it - proceed accordingly...
 
Potashminer said:
Buddy is in same boat - bought what he thought was a gorgeous used Weather Mark V in 7mm Weatherby Mag - really nice looking rifle, in great shape - about had kittens when he discovered that 40 rounds delivered here was $320. He does not want to "touch off" $8 a piece shots, so convinced himself and everyone who will listen that the new-to-him scope is "sighted in", because a gunsmith in the city "bore sighted" it. Decide if you want the rifle to look at, or to shoot it - proceed accordingly...
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Ahhh, nothing like an Uber Magnum to get things done ;)
So, back to the Op, have we convinced you to reload?
Rob
 
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Thanks for the feedback. I’m passing on this gun for now but will invest in a reloading setup and possibly pursue this caliber and others down the road once I’ve been at it for a bit.

Cheers!
 
Do it mate-
Realoding commercial cast projectiles is cheap as chips, 44-40 would take SFA powder per charge..primers are universal an often cheap enough!
brass can be scrounged, doesnt need to be super shiney n proberly doesnt NEED to be all the same brand for starting out plinking... if u miss, re load an try again!

kewl Calibre!
 
I would hold out for an easier cartridge to reload. If you have no experience in that of course.
Fans will flame me, but the Old BP cases with a slight taper are not the easiest to 'roll your own' with. I've never really messed with 38-40 or 44-40 for that reason. The straight walled cartridges are easier...can dispence with the lubing as straight walled cases can be reloaded using Carbide dies.
I do reload 32-20, and it can be done... but any that say the BP cases with the slight taper aren't more difficult...I'm skeptical. More than a few crumpled cases in the recycle pail... some 41 & 45 LC with split necks... bvut more 32-20 and 577 Snider that I botched and crumpled. Can say I don't know what I'm doing... I'll be OK despite the criticism.
The reloading books echo what I have to say ( for the most part ) IMO.
38 spl, 41 LC, 44 Russian. 44 magnum, 45 LC...they are just so easy.
If it's a 'Bucket List' rifle...by all means get it. But a reproduction... hold out for a 38 spl / 45 LC. 38 for ease of reloading, 45 LC for hitting like the 'Hand of God' as well.
 
Can't tell you how many 32-20 cases I've crunched over the years. Not tricky to reload, but I figure I lose about 5% of my brass each reloading session. Thankfully, 32-20 brass is easy to source.
 
dan belisle said:
I load for the 44-40, 38-40, and the 32-20. Brass is thin, so you must be careful. But it really isn't difficult to reload, other than that. - dan
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It isn't an ideal case for beginners, we might agree on that?
Sort of like; " I learned to drive with a manual transmission, anyone can do it!". And yes they can, but an automatic is much easier for a beginner.
 
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