Heavy Loads For The .44-40 M92 Winchester

Bryan Austin

Bryan Austin

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Shooting Times, Feb 1973

by C George Charles

READ EVERY SINGLE WORD

Published in 1973, Mr George writes just how powerful the 44-40 can be when used in strong action rifles like the M92' Winchester. He mentions Sharp's 1930's load data, although being old...he references them. He even compares the 44-40 high power loads to the 44 Magnum, the results may surprise you.

In case the photo links fail, they can be seen here: https://sites.google.com/view/44winchester/handloading/heavy-loads-for-the-m92-winchester


yauWy-dRN0Igh1Cm_aJKjXYRzjRc540jU-ZawfTH_9VoF-37sEbjnAkrrvmJooD8nDxawpBIih6_W6CcHKJd4D-gg5Esou5Fll-a3YTuqrP6d9v3_cw=w1280

KfThJcyILe-vE_gUbPkoD5162DRLfkGMzC9hj7NsWkwrZcaFH8RuQOmKMoxtWCdIblZ65SDbG1B81Uo-gmWfKfGYsMhyWFctjkOqgptGG1b1OUo-Tg=w1280

gAmh1vCu8dFZsqptrqJBOLkGIJ3r36Sl7rGp0Kr3TEBrx_gwWcyoYsBmU0KxXehl3HRA1uCoWctPwq33wB7pXJPRD18E1VVEFdsU88RMNLKPLaC9VQ=w1280

gAmh1vCu8dFZsqptrqJBOLkGIJ3r36Sl7rGp0Kr3TEBrx_gwWcyoYsBmU0KxXehl3HRA1uCoWctPwq33wB7pXJPRD18E1VVEFdsU88RMNLKPLaC9VQ=w1280
 
The '92 is certainly a strong action and I love the .44-40 cartridge but some of the old loads were crazy in my opinion. Brass construction is the issue and most of the the old "heavy loads" trashed the brass after just a couple loadings. I like standard velocities and proper bullets in my .44-40 rifles and they are quite effective. I don't have any issue with loads approaching the old high velocity loads either and those speeds can likely be reached today with less pressure than back then however I like my .44-40 loads to function in a variety of rifles as well as revolvers so standard pressures and bullet weights suit me fine against targets, small critters, and deer. As I get older, I think that either a black powder load or a Unique one over a good cast bullet can do anything I would ever ask of a .44-40. If I needed more power from a lever action, I would choose a true rifle cartridge such as the .32 Special, .33 WCF, .348 WCF or .45-70. To each their own though and every generation needs to figure this out for themselves.
 
Bryan Austin said:
Shooting Times, Feb 1973

by C George Charles

READ EVERY SINGLE WORD

Published in 1973, Mr George writes just how powerful the 44-40 can be when used in strong action rifles like the M92' Winchester. He mentions Sharp's 1930's load data, although being old...he references them. He even compares the 44-40 high power loads to the 44 Magnum, the results may surprise you.

In case the photo links fail, they can be seen here: https://sites.google.com/view/44winchester/handloading/heavy-loads-for-the-m92-winchester


yauWy-dRN0Igh1Cm_aJKjXYRzjRc540jU-ZawfTH_9VoF-37sEbjnAkrrvmJooD8nDxawpBIih6_W6CcHKJd4D-gg5Esou5Fll-a3YTuqrP6d9v3_cw=w1280

KfThJcyILe-vE_gUbPkoD5162DRLfkGMzC9hj7NsWkwrZcaFH8RuQOmKMoxtWCdIblZ65SDbG1B81Uo-gmWfKfGYsMhyWFctjkOqgptGG1b1OUo-Tg=w1280

gAmh1vCu8dFZsqptrqJBOLkGIJ3r36Sl7rGp0Kr3TEBrx_gwWcyoYsBmU0KxXehl3HRA1uCoWctPwq33wB7pXJPRD18E1VVEFdsU88RMNLKPLaC9VQ=w1280

gAmh1vCu8dFZsqptrqJBOLkGIJ3r36Sl7rGp0Kr3TEBrx_gwWcyoYsBmU0KxXehl3HRA1uCoWctPwq33wB7pXJPRD18E1VVEFdsU88RMNLKPLaC9VQ=w1280
Click to expand...

Very interresting. Thanks.
 
QueensHorseman said:
The '92 is certainly a strong action and I love the .44-40 cartridge but some of the old loads were crazy in my opinion. Brass construction is the issue and most of the the old "heavy loads" trashed the brass after just a couple loadings. I like standard velocities and proper bullets in my .44-40 rifles and they are quite effective. I don't have any issue with loads approaching the old high velocity loads either and those speeds can likely be reached today with less pressure than back then however I like my .44-40 loads to function in a variety of rifles as well as revolvers so standard pressures and bullet weights suit me fine against targets, small critters, and deer. As I get older, I think that either a black powder load or a Unique one over a good cast bullet can do anything I would ever ask of a .44-40. If I needed more power from a lever action, I would choose a true rifle cartridge such as the .32 Special, .33 WCF, .348 WCF or .45-70. To each their own though and every generation needs to figure this out for themselves.
Click to expand...

That is how I feel with the 45-70. If you need more than a Trapdoor Springfield load, go get something else!

Nah, not really. Folks need to understand that the 44-40 is no different than the 45-70 and even the 45 Colt. As firearms improved, so did the cartridge. As the cartridge improved, so did performance.

I enjoy shooting 900fps Unique loads in my revolvers at 25 yards

I enjoy shooting 1,350fps Reloder 7 loads in my Winchester 73 at 100 yards

I enjoy shooting golf balls at 265 yards with the IMR-4227 high velocity, 1,650fps 44-40 loads out of my Marlin 1894CB (1,900 fps loads were used in the 92')

Yeap, I too like shooting various loads in various firearms.

Then there is the round ball gamegetter, shotshells and even some SWC paper punchers....what a versatile cartridge!

 
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Those Marlin CB .44-40 rifles are sweet! Good shooting. Now try it with black power... the smoke and boom is worth it and a .44-40 rifle shot with black cleans up real easy.
 
One of my favorite cartridges, historic and versatile. I've only ever used modern Starline or W-W brass, and I don't load hot, so in my experience the only weak part about the brass is the neck. The neck is thinner than some other brass. this is one of it'd advantages, the neck will seal the chamber even at low pressure. IOW the crud and junk from the exploding black powder won't enter the action of the rifle. The 44-40 was a rifle cartridge, and handguns were made for it, but it was a rifle cartridge. In it's original chamberings, the '73 Winchester, it was loaded with black powder. The original balloon case held 40 grains of black powder, and the 200 gr lead bullet had a muzzle velocity of 1300 fps.

Therefore, everything below that is technically a light load. This, 200 gr load @ 1300fps, can be duplicated with 10 gr of Unique and a 200 gr cast bullet. The pressure is a bit higher than the black powder loading and in a '73, I would not use 10 grains. I used around 9.5 grains in a Winchester 1894 Commemorative, a Rossi 92 and an original 1892 SRC. My game is target and Cowboy Action, so I never handloaded beyond that.

The road to a higher powered 44 caliber handgun could have followed the the 44-40 path were it not for the thin cylinders of the SAA Colt. Elmer utilized the thicker cylinders of the 44 Special and as they say, the rest is history.

With the availability of new and strong lever guns in 44 Magnum, I don't see any use or need to rebarrel an old original 1892 to 44 Magnum, nor do I think one should load up the 44-40 to try and equal the 44 Magnum. Both the 44-40 and the 45 Colt can be loaded up to near 44 magnum performance, but I don't think you need to, or should.

What we as shooters should be doing is going after SAAMI and the gun makers to have 44 Magnum rifles chambered and rifled to handgun specs, and not to some slow twist overbored Marlin spec.

Back on topic, I have some of the older Lyman books, they loaded the 44-40 to some impressive levels. Lyman 40 lists 26 grains of 2400 and a 429434 gas checked 221 gr bullet for 1850 fps. That is listed in their rifle data, I don't think a SAA would stay together at that loading. That is not a pussy load, you'd be hard pressed to load a 44 Mag to that velocity. BTW: I've used the 429434 bullet in my 44 mags, and it shoots pretty good. It matches the shape of most 240 gr jacketed flat nosed bullets, a coincidence, I think not.

Nitro
 
nitro-express said:
One of my favorite cartridges, historic and versatile. I've only ever used modern Starline or W-W brass, and I don't load hot, so in my experience the only weak part about the brass is the neck. The neck is thinner than some other brass. this is one of it'd advantages, the neck will seal the chamber even at low pressure. IOW the crud and junk from the exploding black powder won't enter the action of the rifle. The 44-40 was a rifle cartridge, and handguns were made for it, but it was a rifle cartridge. In it's original chamberings, the '73 Winchester, it was loaded with black powder. The original balloon case held 40 grains of black powder, and the 200 gr lead bullet had a muzzle velocity of 1300 fps.

Therefore, everything below that is technically a light load. This, 200 gr load @ 1300fps, can be duplicated with 10 gr of Unique and a 200 gr cast bullet. The pressure is a bit higher than the black powder loading and in a '73, I would not use 10 grains. I used around 9.5 grains in a Winchester 1894 Commemorative, a Rossi 92 and an original 1892 SRC. My game is target and Cowboy Action, so I never handloaded beyond that.

The road to a higher powered 44 caliber handgun could have followed the the 44-40 path were it not for the thin cylinders of the SAA Colt. Elmer utilized the thicker cylinders of the 44 Special and as they say, the rest is history.

With the availability of new and strong lever guns in 44 Magnum, I don't see any use or need to rebarrel an old original 1892 to 44 Magnum, nor do I think one should load up the 44-40 to try and equal the 44 Magnum. Both the 44-40 and the 45 Colt can be loaded up to near 44 magnum performance, but I don't think you need to, or should.

What we as shooters should be doing is going after SAAMI and the gun makers to have 44 Magnum rifles chambered and rifled to handgun specs, and not to some slow twist overbored Marlin spec.

Back on topic, I have some of the older Lyman books, they loaded the 44-40 to some impressive levels. Lyman 40 lists 26 grains of 2400 and a 429434 gas checked 221 gr bullet for 1850 fps. That is listed in their rifle data, I don't think a SAA would stay together at that loading. That is not a pussy load, you'd be hard pressed to load a 44 Mag to that velocity. BTW: I've used the 429434 bullet in my 44 mags, and it shoots pretty good. It matches the shape of most 240 gr jacketed flat nosed bullets, a coincidence, I think not.

Nitro
Click to expand...

You got that right!!!!

The only problems I have had with the necks is when using the LFCD, once I switched to a true 44-40 profile bullet and started using the Redding Profile Crimp, I have had no problems with anything. However, HV loads will stretch and continues to thin the brass. Still, though, after many reloads.....no problems. I am keeping an eye on the heads for separations but so far all is good.

The 44-40 can be loaded hot just like the 45-70 and the 45 Colt. There is absolutely no reason not to, if one chooses to do so. Winchester made factory high velocity loads from 1903 to 1945....42 years worth, until the 44-40 was basically no longer profitable to manufacture and SAAMI pushed new "regulations" for lawyers.

The 45-70 can be loaded hot, and is for several rifles. So much so there are three categories

1. 1873 Trapdoor Springfield
2. 1886, 1895 Lever Actions
3. Rugers No1 and No3

The 44-40 is loaded in the same way,

1. Group I (Winchester 73' types)
2. Group II (Winchester 92', Marlin 88' and 94' types)
 
nitro-express said:
This, 200 gr load @ 1300fps, can be duplicated with 10 gr of Unique and a 200 gr cast bullet. The pressure is a bit higher than the black powder loading and in a '73, I would not use 10 grains. I used around 9.5 grains in a Winchester 1894 Commemorative, a Rossi 92 and an original 1892 SRC. My game is target and Cowboy Action, so I never handloaded beyond that.


Nitro
Click to expand...

Unique is a great powder but accuracy out to 265 yards can plummet! For longer distances, the 44-40 needs a slower burning rifle powder. Trailboss (fast burning pistol powder) lobs a 200gr bullet out to 200 yards but it really lobs at only 900fps velocity. Plinking is fun but when it gets time to be serious, I'll take the 200gr IMR-4227 1,650fps loads in the Marlin all day long.

My absolute favorite load is 26.5gr of Reloder 7 with a 220gr 43-214A (Lyman 427098 modified) @ 100 yards using my Winchester 73' 30-40 shot group all inside 4". Replicates Doc Pardee's black powder loads back in 1875.

https://sites.google.com/view/44winchester/accuracy
 
I load 24gr RE#7 in Starline cases behind a 220gr GC Jet Bullet and it shoots .680" at 50 yards. Win 1892 24" hex .De-capped several grouse no big game yet.There is enough meat on a Win 73 to re-line but not on a Win 92 FWIW.
 
In my 20 inch Winchester 94 little bighorn commemorative 44 40 I use.430 200gr. Hornady xtp with 23 grains of n110 it gives me about 1860 fps with lots of reloads on the brass. I have an old marlin94 I use .427 plated 44 40 bullets with 22 gr. Of n110 its quite accurate.
 
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