Anyone has a 44-40?

I imagine it would kill a deer or a bear. The oldtimers had to eat too. My father said he killed a black bear with either a 38-40 or a 38-55 when he was a kid. He said it wasn't his first choice but it was what he had at the time. Deer weren't anymore bulletproof then than they are now.
 
I've got one that I used for cowboy silhouette for awhile. Just playing around I'm pretty sure you can keep 2-3 bullets in the air at the same time, firing at 200 meter rams. Holding two rams into the wind isn't unusual. Knocked 'em over though. Some older uncles used them as deer rifles back in the day, but that was more because it was what they had than by choice. A friends father killed a bear with one. Loaded to the "rifle" specs it should be about as good a deer weapon as a .44 mag revolver. That's not saying much, but I'd shoot deer up to 50-75 yards IF I had to to. I can't imagine having to.
 
One gun writer, I forget who it was, wrote that the 44-40 has probably killed more deer than any other rifle in North America, including the 30-30. I raised a similar question on another forum a couple years ago. Lots of fellows there had killed deer and bear with theirs and may of them reported complete penetration on Whitetail deer up to 100 yards. With the Winchester 1873, you'd best stick to original velocities of not much more than 1,300 fps. However with the Winchester Model 1892, you can stoke the load up to be more powerful than the 30-30 with the original high velocity loads.
 
I've got a Gabriel Dumont lever that I shoot black in it would take a deer at 50 to 75 yds but in my opinion is a little under powered for bear in most situations not that I'm saying they haven't killed a bear I'm sure at some time some one killed one with a 22lr but doesn't mean it is a good cal to use for such.
 
I have killed 2 deer with mine and am not impressed with it as a hunting rifle. Advantage is that is light and easy to carry. Disadvantage is that the bullet basically drills a hole in one side and out the other with minimal expansion.

cheers mooncoon
 
mooncoon said:
I have killed 2 deer with mine and am not impressed with it as a hunting rifle. Advantage is that is light and easy to carry. Disadvantage is that the bullet basically drills a hole in one side and out the other with minimal expansion.

cheers mooncoon
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Couldn't that be fixed, with all the choice off bullets we have these days?
 
I think their muzzle velocity is listed as 1300 fps so that unless you handloaded with a hollow point or fragile bullet (assuming one is available) you are stuck with minimal expansion. Compare that with factory loads for the good old 30-30 at roughly 1800 fps and there is quite a difference.

cheers mooncoon
 
I don't think, with the many choices we have in 2008 that a 44-40 should be used for deer. It is minimal at best. If you get within 50 yards....IF you hit where you aim exactly...IF the deer is standing just the right angle....IF the bullet expands....too many IFs. Ihave had to track a few in my day that weren't hit in the proper place by members of my gang. Having a 12 guage slug or a .308 covers up for some error.....44-40, NOT! My thoughts.
 
fair enough.
HOWEVER, if anyone did read Mr. Woodcock's book
'50 years as hunter and trapper',
he/she may change their mind.
also, i do know at least one person that did take one (or more) moose in BC with the 44-40.
i am not intending on doing so, deer and blacky are a diffeent story.
if one of you guys is willing to part with a replica (or shootable original)
please pm me.
 
So all you black powder shooters are ready to tackle most any thing with a 54 cal front stuffer but don't think a 44-40 will do for deer.Strange.
 
DEZ said:
I've got a Gabriel Dumont lever that I shoot black in it would take a deer at 50 to 75 yds but in my opinion is a little under powered for bear in most situations not that I'm saying they haven't killed a bear I'm sure at some time some one killed one with a 22lr but doesn't mean it is a good cal to use for such.
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That did happen. Deer hunter left his wife in camp while he was looking for Bambi. A bear did show up, and all she had was a .22 pistol. Pointed it at the bear, pulled the trigger, and the bear dropped dead. the bullet went into the eye sicket and thence into the brain. Lucky shot.
 
Winchester had a H.V. load for the 44-40 that was to be used in the Model 1892 only, but not the Model 1873. It fired a 200 grain bullet at around 1,650 fps. My copy of an 1896 Winchester catalogue indicated that the 44-40 was loaded with a pure lead bullet. I wonder if pure lead expands a bit better at 1,265 fps.
 
i remember reading somewhere that the HV load was 1850feet/sec.
as for cast bullets: i was tinking of wheele weights.

still waiting to hear if one of you wants to part with his 44 rifle.
 
.44-40

I've used the .44 WCF to take two caribou and some small game as well. Both caribou were one shot kills at 80 yards or less with complete penetration. I used old Dominion loads as they are a little better in my experience than modern Winchester stuff.

I've shot tons of reloads in the .44 using cast bullets and 8.5 grains of Unique. I have experimented a bit with HV loads using Winchester jacketed .44 WCF bullets but can't relay any actual experience with them.

I really like the old round however if you expect it to perform like a modern high velocity round you will be disapointed and miss the entire point. Like a .45-70, .50 caliber, .577, etc these old rounds work by punching a sizeable hole through an animal. The shooter's job is to ensure the hole is in a vital spot. I prefer to use these older rounds for early morning or mid day hunting as if the animal moves after being hit you need to give it some time to lay down before you follow it up. "You can eat right up the the hole" is an old saying for these rounds.

I think the .44 WCF would be a dandy coyote rifle where you are calling them in country where a 100 yard shot or less is expected. It would certainly kill them with little pelt damage.

I believe rounds like the .44 WCF and .30-30 have often gotten a bad rap over the years due to poor marksmanship and using them in a manner they were never intended for. I think most people should use something else however for those who enjoy these old rounds, have the ability to place there shots, and pass an opportunity that is unsuitable I believe they add something to the hunt. Please don't be too critical of things if you have not actually experienced them.

Regards.
 
I once took a Deer with an old Winchester '92 . The dumb thing never took another step. As effective as it was I dont' think I will be trying it again unless I have to.
 
I have a Winchester 92 saddle ring carbine in .44-40. I killed two deer last fall with Winchester Super X loads. (200 grain jacketed softpoint at about 1250 fps) Worked ok. I now shoot handloads with 200 grain winchester jacketed soft points at 1850 fps. Safe load and a whole new way to look at the .44-40 I have not shot any game with this load yet but it is getting to .44 mag rifle class fast.

cheers Darryl
 
.44 load

madtrapper143 said:
I have a Winchester 92 saddle ring carbine in .44-40. I killed two deer last fall with Winchester Super X loads. (200 grain jacketed softpoint at about 1250 fps) Worked ok. I now shoot handloads with 200 grain winchester jacketed soft points at 1850 fps. Safe load and a whole new way to look at the .44-40 I have not shot any game with this load yet but it is getting to .44 mag rifle class fast.

cheers Darryl
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Darryl,

How is the case life with that load? I've never taken the Winchester bullet past 1550 fps so wonder how it will perform at your speed?

I'm not much of an experimenter and prefer to use more traditional loads.

Regards,

Outdoors
 
Hunting with the 44-40 is the same as hunting with ANY rifle...........bullet placement is what counts.

In my younger days (1950's) my Dad's Winy 92 in 44-40 was the only rifle we had. It put a lot of meat on the table (deer, moose, elk) when we had nothing else.

Also, carrys great on horsebacK!!!........................:dancingbanana:
 
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