Is a 44-40 Worth the Hassle?

dak47

dak47

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Summerwood/Bridge City TX & Okanagan BC
I have found a beautiful 1892 Deluxe Oct for the right price but the damn thing is in 44-40. Just a cursory search for ammo of the usual sources reveal nada besides sold out and even handloading seems to be a pain with finding brass and how it needs the kid glove treatment. Time is tight for us some times, I have my traditional Dec/Jan sabbatical (why the shopping) but the rest of the year tends to be hair straight back so reloading tends to take a backseat........ Find the rifle in 44RM or 45LC is probably the answer eh? Or what am I missing as a source for ammo?
 
I never had a problem finding reloding components. Starline brass is easy to come by. I was using hornday projectiles when I was loading for it they were also easy to come by. Casting your own projectiles is another option. Factory rounds were fairly easy to find at my local stores . The steep price on them were the main draw back.
 
I used to shoot 45 Colt, have switch over to 44-40 with no regrets. Absolutely no issues with finding components or with loading. I mostly use Starline brass which is a lot stronger then the Winchester brass you usually find. But that said I have never had a problem with the hundred or so Winchester pieces I have either.

Double tap has a lot of starline brass

https://www.doubletapsports.com/starline-brass/starline-44-40?limit=100

Also x reloading


https://x-reload.com/starline-brass-44-40-win-unprimed-per-100.html

For projectiles I was ordering 200gr cast from MT Chambers. You can find him over on the Cast Boolits forum. Used to be a member here but was banned because he didn't pay for dealer membership.

Plus the 44-40 is more authentic to the old west.
 
Just got a Henry in 44-40 and have been looking at reloading. Shouldn’t be too bad. Starline brass is available. Going with Campro projectiles.
 
I have a box of 1000 campro 240gr 44mag bullets that i use in my 44-40 and bought starline brass from rustywood.

One could always run the 44mag bullets though a sizer to make them .427" they chamber fine for me at .430" so i run em.
 
Yes, I think it's worth the hassle ! Shot my first deer with one, then a few after that.

A fairly simple conversion to 44 Mag, if you don't care about collector value. I didn't and had my gunsmith carry out the work,

Loved carrying that ol' girl out to the stand. It was "butter smooth" after many years of use.
 
Fantastic calibre and very easy to reload for. I have some nice light cowboy loads using Trail Boss that are wickedly accurate. Of course, you can load 44-40 up to some pretty stout levels. Nice small game calibre too. I use Starline brass that is super easy to find.
 
Evanguy said:
I have a box of 1000 campro 240gr 44mag bullets that i use in my 44-40 and bought starline brass from rustywood.

One could always run the 44mag bullets though a sizer to make them .427" they chamber fine for me at .430" so i run em.
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I couldn't get 240gr to feed in my 1873. Might be different in a 92 action.
 
RE#7 is your friend along with Jet Bullets 220gr GC cast out of a Win 92 clover leafing at 50 yards with irons.Decapped a couple grouse but never had it in hand on BG yet.
 
Thank Y’all for helping a fellow addict! But.....
Down the rabbit hole we go, a beautiful 1873 has been located. I get it, the 92 is stronger and still an option, but it wasn’t the rifle that one the West truly. Any thought process that says stay with the 92? My hand loads will be at CAS levels, just for killing cans and perhaps a dumbass raccoon or some such varmit......
 
dak47 said:
Thank Y’all for helping a fellow addict! But.....
Down the rabbit hole we go, a beautiful 1873 has been located. I get it, the 92 is stronger and still an option, but it wasn’t the rifle that one the West truly. Any thought process that says stay with the 92? My hand loads will be at CAS levels, just for killing cans and perhaps a dumbass raccoon or some such varmit......
Click to expand...

RE #7 can be used in the 73 as well it is like BP in the fact it fills the case without causing unsafe pressures.I'll see if I can find the article.
 
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It's won, nawt one.

Git the 92 so you won't arf any regrets.
 
dak47 said:
Thank Y’all for helping a fellow addict! But.....
Down the rabbit hole we go, a beautiful 1873 has been located. I get it, the 92 is stronger and still an option, but it wasn’t the rifle that one the West truly. Any thought process that says stay with the 92? My hand loads will be at CAS levels, just for killing cans and perhaps a dumbass raccoon or some such varmit......
Click to expand...

No thought process that will steer you one way or the other, they are all sh!t tones of fun! What you really need to do is get them all, 1860, 1866, 1873 and the 92!
 
Well, if you are new to reloading...44 magnum or 45 LC is gonna be easier. I haven't had one yet...but I have played with 32-20. The slight taper doesn't make things easier.
Everyone who posted means well...but they also come across as fans...something that you are not yet.
This from a Cowboy action member...First, loading 44-40 is just about the most complicated and problem prone cartridge that we load in SASS. It can be done, but it usually takes a fair amount of fiddling. And, since it sounds like you are kinda new to reloading, there are going to be lots of things you will need to check. All of this fiddling will go faster if you find a local pard who loads 44-40 and have him (or her) sit with you while you figure this out!
In truth it's not going as easy as 44 Rem Mag I'd wager...Starline brass be darned.
 
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