44-40 sizing diameter

[barnabus]

i understand that this round is originally .427-428 in diameter.However have modern guns been enlarged to accept .429-430 size bullets? I know slugging the barrel will tell someone what they want to know but thats not what im asking.for those who cast for this round what do you size to?

[CamoWhamo]

I have 2 modern rifles with .430 and .431 bores.

Once you get the bullets that large the next issue becomes the size of the chamber neck and whether or not you can chamber bullets that are sized that large or 1-2 thou over bore diameter.

Eg. My 1873 with a .430 will chamber rounds loaded with .430 bullets but will not take those with a .431 bullet.
My Winchester 92 which has a .431 bore will take rounds loaded with .432 bullets just fine.

If you do want to use the larger bullets you'll also have to find dies that will work. The seating die on some brands i have found will not take cases with the necks sized for .430 or .431.

[barnabus]

I have 2 modern rifles with .430 and .431 bores.

Once you get the bullets that large the next issue becomes the size of the chamber neck and whether or not you can chamber bullets that are sized that large or 1-2 thou over bore diameter.

Eg. My 1873 with a .430 will chamber rounds loaded with .430 bullets but will not take those with a .431 bullet.
My Winchester 92 which has a .431 bore will take rounds loaded with .432 bullets just fine.

If you do want to use the larger bullets you'll also have to find dies that will work. The seating die on some brands i have found will not take cases with the necks sized for .430 or .431.

i just bought a set of rcbs 44-40 cowboys dies for a Uberti 44-40 revolver i just bought.i ordered a Lee push through .430 sizing die since im powder coating.Do you think ill run into any bullet seating problems?i will be using Starline Brass

[Larry Gibson]

Don't know about the Uberti revolver but in my Ruger old model Vaquero 44-40 I can chamber .430 sized Lee TL 240 gr bullets seated to the 1st lube groove. If seated out to the 2nd groove they have to be sized .429 to fit further in the throats. Lyman 240 gr 429360s front drive band is not full diameter so it also can be sized .430 and chamber. Both are with Winchester cases sized in RCBS dies. I size both at .429 for use in the Vaquero and don't worry about the extra .001 because both sizes are equally accurate. The cylinder throats pin measure at .430 and taper to .429 and the and the barrel groove diameter is .429.

Short stubby 200/205 gr RF bullets can be sized .430, seated and crimped in their crimp groove and they chamber fine. I prefer the 240s though because the sights are regulated for them with the load I use.

[fourarmed]

The problem of chambering loads with boolits large enough to fit the bore goes back to the 73 Winchester. It wasn't a problem then because boolits were dead soft, and black powder was used. It can be a problem now. I had my 73 relined by Redman, who advertised his bores as .428", but they were more like .431". I have honed my chamber neck a little, but loads with .431 boolits still fit tighter than I like. I don't shoot it much because of that. Too bad, too, because Redman's liner is very nice, and nicely installed. With a proper chamber, I think it would shoot very well.

[Cast_outlaw]

I just slugged the bore on my new win 92 at 427 so will be sizing 428 or 429 my lee 429 200 rf drops pure lead at 429 but I cast coww they drop 431