Range Report: My 'new' 123 year-old Winchester 1873

budman said:
Thanks again guys.

I was looking through Wikipedia on Winchesters but could not find that caliber.

I really like the 44-40, but as a handgun it's limited to the range.

I would not be able to enjoy the one round two gun theme.

Looks like two rounds, two guns.
Click to expand...

What kind of range are you expecting from a handgun ?

Or do you mean "it's a handgun (restricted), so range-use only" ?

:confused:
 
budman said:
Yes my friend,I did see those awesome guns,The reason I asked is,the 44-40
handgun is restricted unlike the 44spl, so I would not be able to use it here on
the farm legally. If I am correct,the 44-40 is a 44cal case necked down to a
40cal round. But the title says 44wcf (aka 44-40) with his measurements at
QUOTE "I pounded a .4305 diameter soft lead bullet down the bore, thinking that would be wide enough. Upon exiting, I could see that the lead slug had not even touched the bottoms of the grooves. This old 44-40 has a groove diameter of at least .431 if not even bigger."
Click to expand...

OK I get it...yes you are totally right 44-40 would be restricted as opposed to a 44sp. *****only if the gun is pre-1898 it would be antique though!
 
okcorral1881 said:
OK I get it...yes you are totally right 44-40 would be restricted as opposed to a 44sp. *****only if the gun is pre-1898 it would be antique though!
Click to expand...

Even if it was pre-1898, it is on the no go caliber list,just like the 38wcf
1st gen Colt JDC has in the EE are restricted due to caliber.:(
 
The 44-40 in a rifle is quite a bit more powerful than the same cartridge in a handgun, due to the difference in barrel length. For six guns made before 1898, the 44 spl is a legal antique but not the 44-40, so I understand why you would prefer a 44 spl. The bullet diameter of a 44 sp is usually around .430. The bullet diameter for a 44-40 is usually around .429. Not much difference there unless you are using jacketed bullets.
 
budman said:
If I am correct,the 44-40 is a 44cal case necked down to a 40cal round. But the title says 44wcf (aka 44-40) with his measurements at QUOTE "I pounded a .4305 diameter soft lead bullet down the bore, thinking that would be wide enough. Upon exiting, I could see that the lead slug had not even touched the bottoms of the grooves. This old 44-40 has a groove diameter of at least .431 if not even bigger."
Click to expand...

Nope, the first number is the caliber (.44), the next number refers to the charge weight in grains of black powder. it's probably more correct to say that this round is a necked-down .45 colt.

Want to make it more confusing? the .38-40 is actually a .40 caliber round, and shares no dimensions at all with other .38's. Both rounds were chambered in '73 Winchesters.

Then there's the whole British nomenclature thing (.577/450, etc.)
 
Oh I am confused when it comes to these two numbered rounds,I should make
a visual list of these rounds and why they are different. I have been using this
picture for reference.

69442c7208.jpg
 
I would be interested in the accuracy of your black powder loading for the
.44-40. I have a Uberti Henry, an 1873 Winchester and a Pietta Colt in .44-40.
A load of 34 grains of GOEX FFg compressed behind a Big Lube bullet of 200 grains, allows for about 10 to 15 accurate rounds, before they start to go all over the place.
 
budman said:
Oh I am confused when it comes to these two numbered rounds,I should make
a visual list of these rounds and why they are different. I have been using this
picture for reference.

69442c7208.jpg
Click to expand...

You're still missing .44 Webley in there! Also an antique cartridge... a tad shorter than .44 Russian.

:p
 
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