Reloading For Uberti 1866 Yellowboy In 44-40

[Max Owner]

Hey all.

Bought this gun new maybe 17 years ago and never shot it. Got it shipped to where I am now and thought about factory ammo. Found its expensive and really expensive for copper jacketed bullets. So am gonna reload for it.

Read in the seventh edition of Hornadys manual about bullet diameters. And a little research on the internet.....

There seems to be discussions about .427 and .429 diameter bullets.....

Do any of you guys have any thoughts on diameter sizes?

 

[spooksar]

I used e .429 cast for mine

 

[Max Owner]

Thanx Spooksar.

Gonna look for something with a copper wash or jacket. If not will settle on lead.

 

[bat119]

I use .429 cast in mine

 

[Max Owner]

Thanx Bat119.

Still looking at bullet options but .429 is my diameter.

 

[horseman]

I have a Pietta 1873 in 44-40. My first box of factory rounds were .427. They all keyholed at 10 - 25 m and most, but not all, hit the target backing (4' x 2'). I tried a second box, more expensive, from a different manufacturer, but still .427. Same results. Ive been reloading .429 lead ever since with much greater accuracy.

 

[Max Owner]

I tried a box of Winchester 200 grain cowboy action loads and it shot well.

Google or anything else won't tell me what diameter they were. But reading on the net suggests the new rifles are suited for .429.

Also looking at some bullets used for 44 magnum.

 

[cosmic]

The Winchester Super X Power Point 200 gr copper jacket are 0.427. See my thread in the reloading forum about varying 44-40 bore diameters, etc.

 

[Max Owner]

Thanx Cosmic.

Will look for it.

 

[Max Owner]

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1610638-Winchester-44-40-Issues

 

[freddyfour]

I have loaded .427 cast MT Chamber bullets for my Uberti '73, '66 And '60 and have found reasonable accuracy at 50yrds. No key holeing or anything suspicious.

I have never slugged any of the bores, just loaded some rounds and headed to the range

 

[Max Owner]

The couple of manuals I have looked at seem to say .427.........

Would like to try a handful of .427 and .429 and see what happens. Seems like they have to be bought by the 500 count.

 

[MustangFrank]

Without looking up your bullet size, budget shooting supply sells 100 count bags of plated bullets.

 

[Max Owner]

Thanx MustangFrank.

Did a Google and they did come up. But outta stock right now.

 

[sail32]

I shoot black powder in my .44-40 and use a Big Lube gang mold. = http://www.biglube.com/BulletMolds.a...4-192b1f1c0db4

See CasCity for general information on western guns and ammunition. = https://www.cascity.com/forumhall/

You may find information here. = https://sassnet.com/

 

[vagrantviking]

No one has mentioned it yet so I will. Measure it instead of guessing.

If in doubt, I would slug the bore or throat with a soft lead bullet, ball or fishing sinker (are those still made of lead?). If you can't find lead it might be possible with wax.

I'm guessing modern reproductions are the same as 44mag but slugging it will tell you for sure what your particular gun has.

 

[mbogo3]

Groove size is all over the map maker to maker ,measure it and load 2 thou over cast GC.When you get something that shoots buy bulk.

 

[slowfire]

When I started loading for Uberti 44-40 guns I was using Bullet Barn .429's . They worked ok in the rifles but were impossible or at least hard to chamber in the stampedes. If I ordered a decent lot, Bullet Barn would size them .427 for me . They then worked good in the pistols and the rifles as well, I could get about a 2 or 21/2" group at 50yds with the 1860 ,plenty good for cowboy shooting.

 

[hatman1793]

The references I consulted range from .427 diameter right up to .430. I think slugging the barrel might provide the info you seek.

Copper wash, copper plated & FMJ bullets in that caliber are probably worth ten to thirteen cents each. Cast bullets seem always to be cheaper. Don't shun cast bullets. Powder coated cast 44-40 buulets is the way to go.

Looks like 44-40 shines with fast burning powders like RedDot, Win231, ClayDot, TiteGroup.

 

[Max Owner]

Thanx guys.