An awakening with the 44-40

John Y Cannuck

John Y Cannuck

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Well, I've been telling you guys about the doe I shot, with the 44-40 in my model '92.
I found out something interesting today.
I was in a hurry to find an accurate load for the '92, and had been working at it all year. I fianlly found an acceptable load, but when i went to chronograph the load, the batteries were dead. No matter, the book said it makes 1300fps....

What a load of crap that was!

The deer I shot with the 44-40 fell to a 200 grain bullet, travelling the mind blowing speed of 900 fps! :eek:

I'f id known it was that slow, I'd have been afraid to use it. I now have a strong respect for slow bullets.
The slug I used was not recovered, two holes!
 
I killed a doe at a hair under 100 yards with a .38-55 at a blistering speed of 1200fps. She was facing me and i hit her in the white patch under her throat. The bullet from www.thebulletbarn went straight through and exited just below her anus. No bullet recovery. I love hard cast slugs. People don't realize the devistation and strength of a hard cast at 25 bhn.
 
While it's true that the 44-40 has taken most everything on the continent, you must remember that the normal BLACK POWDER rifle velocity with older weaker brass, is 1200fps.
With todays heavier brass, it's only slightly less.
My load at 900fps, was closer to the normal handgun velocity for the cartridge.
 
SuperCub said:
Blah, blah, blah. Here we go again :rolleyes:

Load a 375 down and whatcha got? ............. a 38/55 ......... SAVY??


.
Click to expand...
A 10lb 38/55 makes sense to me...
 
JYC ....... Sorry for my part in this hijack. :redface:

Now back to regularly scheduled programming ..... Take a look at the classic 175grRN in the 7x57 or the 160grRN in the 6.5x55. Both those loads have a great reputation for penetration on big game. It should be no surprise that your 44/40 performed as it did.


.
 
John Y Cannuck said:
The deer I shot with the 44-40 fell to a 200 grain bullet, travelling the mind blowing speed of 900 fps! :eek:

I'f id known it was that slow, I'd have been afraid to use it. I now have a strong respect for slow bullets.
The slug I used was not recovered, two holes!
Click to expand...

So some handgun are adequate for hunting under the right conditions. I thought Mayor Miller said they are no good for hunting. :rolleyes:
 
Shot a few deer with my 44 mag and a 310 gr. flat point cast in pure lino. Does not need to expand, large metaplat hits em hard and keeps on going. Newer calibers such as 3006 are way to much for deer, until the range gets put up to 200yards +.

Andy
 
My first deer ( 40 years ago ) fell to a 44-40 / Mod. 92 combo with Winchester factory ammo (as did a few more over the years since )

It worked just fine, but not hardly even a "mid-range" option. At it's best at under 75 yards.

I distinctly ( and to this day ) remember hearing that old gun go "bang"
actually seeing the hair on the deer fly and then hearing the impact of the bullet coming back to me !!! As a rookie at the time, I was a little disappointed ( actually a LOT disappointed ) at seeing this buck turn and run over a little rise ... but he only made it about 25 yards when he piled-up.

Have since used a 25-35, 30-30, 38-55, 25-06, 264 Win Mag, 270, 30-06,
35 Whelen, 44 Mag, 45-70, & a 450 Alaskan (Mod. 71 - 45/348 wildcat)
All have worked just fine within their capabilities. I would certainly enjoy a
nice 375 H&H (loaded down somewhat) to hunt deer with ... just as I do know with the 35 Whelen.

There's a pant-load of effective deer cartridges out there.

Each to his own ! Pick a properly constructed bullet & put it where it will
work properly ...
 
prosper said:
The 44-40 was killing deer before any of us was born, this isn't exactly news ;)
Click to expand...

and moose, and buffalo, and horses, and grizzly bears...

The unfortunate part is that to most internet experts, it is news...
 
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But on the other hand, just because something CAN be done doesn't necessarily mean it SHOULD be done. If the old time frontiersmen had 308s and other modern cartridges available, I doubt they'd CHOOSE the 44-40 though
 
prosper said:
But on the other hand, just because something CAN be done doesn't necessarily mean it SHOULD be done. If the old time frontiersmen had 308s and other modern cartridges available, I doubt they'd CHOOSE the 44-40 though
Click to expand...
I have a 308, and I used the 44-40.

Why?
the '92 Winchester is one of the handiest, lightest firearms on the market. Great for bush walking. It's effective at close range. Mine was sighted for 100 yards.
Chances are that when walking, anything I saw would be within 50 yards.
 
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