- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
This story starts off many years ago, when I traded off an old black powder rifle, for a '92 Winchester in 38-40.
Well, parts of one anyways.
I completed the rifle, through much trading, and scrounging.
I damned near blew myself up with a major reloading booboo. I managed to ring the chamber of the rifle quite badly, without damaging the receiver, or myself.
I scoured the country for a barrel, preferably in 44-40. I wanted to hunt with it.
I finally got one through a fellow gunnut, {tiriaq} and, although it was a model 94 barrel, it fit very nicely.
The old barrel in 38-40 just wasn't much of a shooter, even before I wrecked it.
The new barrel was no better.
Early on, I visited Bigredd's range, and DarrylDB watched as the little rifle, fired from a rest, managed 12" groups at 25 yards!
I was sick, but, I was also determined. I've leaned a lot about accurizing '94 Winchesters over the years, and applied this to the '92. I also, consumed vast quantities of lead casting various designs of bullets. I tried a gazzilion powders, at various velocities.
After a few years, I noticed the groups begin to shrink. I got them down to four inches at 50 yards.
Not great, but, if shots are kept within those bounds, not too bad for an 'underpowered' rifle.
I took a nice 100lb doe that season with it, at 50 feet distant. The shot going clean through, and the doe dropping in two bounds, with a couple of kicks.
I continued to work on the rifle.
The size of jacketted bullets for the 44-40, mine anyways, must be close to .427. If it's much larger, they won't chamber.
Now as most 44's are sized for the 44 mag at .430, we have an issue.
I used Winchester bulk .427's at first, and they are not too bad, but I wanted better.
On impulse, I tumble lubed a bunch of Hornady 200 grain .430 bullets with Lee case lube, and ran them through my Lee .427 sizing die. They swelled back to .4275. Looked great, and...
Shoot great too!
Well, parts of one anyways.
I completed the rifle, through much trading, and scrounging.
I damned near blew myself up with a major reloading booboo. I managed to ring the chamber of the rifle quite badly, without damaging the receiver, or myself.
I scoured the country for a barrel, preferably in 44-40. I wanted to hunt with it.
I finally got one through a fellow gunnut, {tiriaq} and, although it was a model 94 barrel, it fit very nicely.
The old barrel in 38-40 just wasn't much of a shooter, even before I wrecked it.
The new barrel was no better.
Early on, I visited Bigredd's range, and DarrylDB watched as the little rifle, fired from a rest, managed 12" groups at 25 yards!
I was sick, but, I was also determined. I've leaned a lot about accurizing '94 Winchesters over the years, and applied this to the '92. I also, consumed vast quantities of lead casting various designs of bullets. I tried a gazzilion powders, at various velocities.
After a few years, I noticed the groups begin to shrink. I got them down to four inches at 50 yards.
Not great, but, if shots are kept within those bounds, not too bad for an 'underpowered' rifle.
I took a nice 100lb doe that season with it, at 50 feet distant. The shot going clean through, and the doe dropping in two bounds, with a couple of kicks.
I continued to work on the rifle.
The size of jacketted bullets for the 44-40, mine anyways, must be close to .427. If it's much larger, they won't chamber.
Now as most 44's are sized for the 44 mag at .430, we have an issue.
I used Winchester bulk .427's at first, and they are not too bad, but I wanted better.
On impulse, I tumble lubed a bunch of Hornady 200 grain .430 bullets with Lee case lube, and ran them through my Lee .427 sizing die. They swelled back to .4275. Looked great, and...
Shoot great too!
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Wish I could do as well with my Marlin .44-40.
