Loading blackpowder .44-40

[leverboy]

I just acquired a Uberti 1866 repro, and I plan to feed it primarily bp cartridges. Having run a few through already, I can tell you that .44-40 is a sweet shooting bp round, and easy cleanup as well since the thin necked-down brass seals at the mouth and there is no blowback of fouling into the chamber or action.
I haven't slugged the bore or shot for accuracy, but by all accounts the Italian guns in .44WCF use the same barrels as the 44mags...so .429ish, as opposed to originals which were closer to .426? At any rate, I watched Duelist1954's youtube video on this topic and I can vouch for his tip for Lee dies. If you try to load .430 cast with the stock expander die the cases will crinkle. (I did two just to make sure) Putting a 44mag expander plug in your .44-40 powder through expander die solves this perfectly. Thank you Mike! One question I have is regarding bullet lube for bp cartridge. A common theory around blackpowder lube is that it keeps the fouling soft... Is this of any real importance in a cartridge gun, as opposed to a muzzleloader (where softer fouling means easier loading)? Is the lube more to keep the leading in check, same as smokeless cast shooting? Wondering if folks could share their favorite bullet lube for bp cartridge... Does Lee tumble lube work?

 

[Mean Steak]

No lee tumble lube contains petroleum products. If you use any petroleum based bullet lubes you will transform the BP fouling in to a nasty sticky tar.
My recipe for my BP cartridge lube is a 50-50 mix of crisco and bee's wax. And it works wonders on all my BP cartridge guns.
Hope this helps

 

[fingers284]

The short answer to your question is that BP lube has all the same benefits weather in a muzzle loader or cartridge gun...fowling easier to clean, more consecutive reloads without swabbing (cartridge guns with hard fowling at the neck can become impossible to chamber), accuracy lasts for more consecutive rounds without swabbing. Hard wax "smokeless lube" will help with the leading issue only, nothing else.

 

[vagrantviking]

Good lube is worth the small effort.

The 50/50 (or something similar) is a good starting point or you can look up dozens of more complicated recipes online.
I got tired of the monkeying around and just ordered some from Dragon Bullet Lube. Seems as good as anything else I've tried.