Savvy Jack
11-06-2020, 11:08 AM
The little known and mostly misunderstood 44-40 "High Velocity" Load from Winchester.
I have really been digging into this HV stuff and this is what I have come up with. I will try to eventually get it in good order. The 44-40 High Velocity load was first seen in catalogs in 1903 and was last reported seen in 1941 although it was reported discontinued in 1938. It was introduced as the .44-40 Model M-92 "Special" ...High Velocity Low-Pressure Smokeless Powder Cartridges, however noted "Not For Pistols" and not to be used in the Winchester 73'. Keep in mind this was a Winchester product catered to Winchester firearms. These HV loads were good for the Marlin 1888 and 1894 as well as many other strong action rifles.
I am sure you have probably already seen this H.V. box label. This is what they probably looked like from 1903 to about 1928. The timeline is difficult to follow and much more difficult to explain. The most important features to note on this box is the "Oct 1909" label date and the "Low Pressure" call-out. I do not know of any earlier examples that would let us know if there are any different features on those earlier labels.This offering was reported to achieve 1,500fps at "low pressures". However, no pressures are listed.
Let's get to the components;
HEADSTAMPS
There are two variants of head stamps reported for the 1903 to 1928 cartridges and are as follows;
Headstamp: 1903-1928
W.R.A. Co. .44W.H.V.M-92
W.R.A. Co. 44W.H.V.M-92
A few things to note here since you can't see the headstamp itself.
Headstamp Variation A
The dot in front of the "44"
The "44" would be in Roman text
There is a dash between the M and 92.
Headstamp Variation B
Same as variation one with the exception that the "44" would be normal text.
There is only one variation for 1929 to 1938
W.R.C. Co. 44 W.H.V.M.92.
Note the dot in front of the 44 is omitted and the dash is changed to a dot between M.92. Also note the gap between the 44 and the W.
CASINGS
All cases were made of brass but had different features. The main feature would be the type of crimp used at the base of the bullet for bullet retention. Between 1903 to 1928 there were four different methods.
No Crimp
Cannelure
Knurled
Stab
The first three are common, the cannelure was usually a thin smooth line while the knurled was a thicker jagged type like the marks an electric kitchen can opener would leave on a can as it was opened. The last..the Stab crimp, was four evenly spaced out short horizontal crimp lines.
These new cases for 1929 to 1938 would use the larger Nickel primers, the No. 111 These primers had two variations, most were Oval but some were flat. Winchester tested flat primers every so often but always reverted back to Oval until 1976.
1929 to 1938 the casing variations were much the same but with only two variations, no crimp and a Knurled crimp.
PRIMERS
There were four different primer variations between 1903 to 1928 f which all were of the small type,
Oval - copper
Oval - copper with the "W"
Oval - brass
Oval - copper with a "W" w/horizontal lines under the "legs"
POWDERS
1903 to 1928 - I do not know what smokeless powders were used in these early cartridges, I will keep searching
1929 to 1938 - Dissected cartridges of this time frame yielded Sharpshooter powder
BULLETS
I hope most of you are already familiar with the bullet types, this will simplify things greatly! However, there are some features I would like to touch on a bit. By now the bullets used were 200gr. These particular 200gr bullets came in two or maybe three variations/options.
Gilding Brass Jackets
SP or Soft Points
FP or Full Patch (full metal jackets for you youngsters)
SP-Belted (not sure but may look like an exposed forward driving band)
These bullets were stamped with a "W" just above the mouth crimp on the Ogive. Those with this "Belt" will have the "W" stamped on the Belt. If you think the Tin has long been gone, check inside this "W" for traces of Tin. (Shuey)
Early on these Gilding brass jackets were plated with either Cupronickel or Tin. It is not clear if Cupronickel was actually used on the 44-40 bullets or just Tin. Tin is easily eroded by constantly polishing while Cupronickel will not come off. I have a few that have withstood the test of time but who knows... Shuey does not list any 44-40 HV loads as using Cupronickel, only Tin. The Cupronickel/Tin was used as a "lube" to prevent the soft Gilding copper from fouling the bore.
One last note. On these later offerings, the very last cartridges did not have Tin coatings on the Gilding jacket bullets.
From 1929 to 1938 the HV loads used 19gr of Sharpshooter. This gave nearly 1,600fps and 22,000cup (18,000ish psi), nearly double that of what is called normal pressures, 13,000cup. However, some late (1930's) offerings yielded only 14gr of Sharpshooter and some earlier offerings (post 1929) only 15.5gr leading one to believe that these HV loads, just like normal loads, were being neutered every year.
Two dissected Remington HV loads yielded (UMC) 18.8gr and (REM-UMV) 19.3gr of Sharpshooter.
Note the omittance of the "Low Pressure" call-out and the addition of the Special Sight Adjustment sticker.
This should be a late variation/offering .
Large Primer, post 1928
Flat primer
Normal "44", post 1928
No dot in front of the "44", post 1928
Not Tin plated
No W stamped on bullet
Gilding Jacket
Sharpshooter powder
Tin coated bullet could be post or pre 1929. This bullet was used to replicate HV loads tested in Clear Ballistics Gel. Performed excellent!
The Gilding SP was removed from the HV case photo'd. Similar in design but shows signs of a newer variation. Note the Tin plated bullet's crimp groove design is much like a lead bullet while the later design is more "U" shaped much like modern Winchester JSP bullets. The "U" shape design should not be trusted in handloads without a case cannelure or an assured resized neck for good neck retention.
The gel test results can be seen below. Impact velocity was 1,157fps and should be the velocity from a rifle at about 200 yards while normal loads would only be 1,035fps @ 100 yards. See Winchester's 1925 catalog.
Photos can be seen here;
https://sites.google.com/view/44winchester/contributors/bryan-austin/understanding-winchesters-44-40-high-velocity-loads
I have really been digging into this HV stuff and this is what I have come up with. I will try to eventually get it in good order. The 44-40 High Velocity load was first seen in catalogs in 1903 and was last reported seen in 1941 although it was reported discontinued in 1938. It was introduced as the .44-40 Model M-92 "Special" ...High Velocity Low-Pressure Smokeless Powder Cartridges, however noted "Not For Pistols" and not to be used in the Winchester 73'. Keep in mind this was a Winchester product catered to Winchester firearms. These HV loads were good for the Marlin 1888 and 1894 as well as many other strong action rifles.
I am sure you have probably already seen this H.V. box label. This is what they probably looked like from 1903 to about 1928. The timeline is difficult to follow and much more difficult to explain. The most important features to note on this box is the "Oct 1909" label date and the "Low Pressure" call-out. I do not know of any earlier examples that would let us know if there are any different features on those earlier labels.This offering was reported to achieve 1,500fps at "low pressures". However, no pressures are listed.
Let's get to the components;
HEADSTAMPS
There are two variants of head stamps reported for the 1903 to 1928 cartridges and are as follows;
Headstamp: 1903-1928
W.R.A. Co. .44W.H.V.M-92
W.R.A. Co. 44W.H.V.M-92
A few things to note here since you can't see the headstamp itself.
Headstamp Variation A
The dot in front of the "44"
The "44" would be in Roman text
There is a dash between the M and 92.
Headstamp Variation B
Same as variation one with the exception that the "44" would be normal text.
There is only one variation for 1929 to 1938
W.R.C. Co. 44 W.H.V.M.92.
Note the dot in front of the 44 is omitted and the dash is changed to a dot between M.92. Also note the gap between the 44 and the W.
CASINGS
All cases were made of brass but had different features. The main feature would be the type of crimp used at the base of the bullet for bullet retention. Between 1903 to 1928 there were four different methods.
No Crimp
Cannelure
Knurled
Stab
The first three are common, the cannelure was usually a thin smooth line while the knurled was a thicker jagged type like the marks an electric kitchen can opener would leave on a can as it was opened. The last..the Stab crimp, was four evenly spaced out short horizontal crimp lines.
These new cases for 1929 to 1938 would use the larger Nickel primers, the No. 111 These primers had two variations, most were Oval but some were flat. Winchester tested flat primers every so often but always reverted back to Oval until 1976.
1929 to 1938 the casing variations were much the same but with only two variations, no crimp and a Knurled crimp.
PRIMERS
There were four different primer variations between 1903 to 1928 f which all were of the small type,
Oval - copper
Oval - copper with the "W"
Oval - brass
Oval - copper with a "W" w/horizontal lines under the "legs"
POWDERS
1903 to 1928 - I do not know what smokeless powders were used in these early cartridges, I will keep searching
1929 to 1938 - Dissected cartridges of this time frame yielded Sharpshooter powder
BULLETS
I hope most of you are already familiar with the bullet types, this will simplify things greatly! However, there are some features I would like to touch on a bit. By now the bullets used were 200gr. These particular 200gr bullets came in two or maybe three variations/options.
Gilding Brass Jackets
SP or Soft Points
FP or Full Patch (full metal jackets for you youngsters)
SP-Belted (not sure but may look like an exposed forward driving band)
These bullets were stamped with a "W" just above the mouth crimp on the Ogive. Those with this "Belt" will have the "W" stamped on the Belt. If you think the Tin has long been gone, check inside this "W" for traces of Tin. (Shuey)
Early on these Gilding brass jackets were plated with either Cupronickel or Tin. It is not clear if Cupronickel was actually used on the 44-40 bullets or just Tin. Tin is easily eroded by constantly polishing while Cupronickel will not come off. I have a few that have withstood the test of time but who knows... Shuey does not list any 44-40 HV loads as using Cupronickel, only Tin. The Cupronickel/Tin was used as a "lube" to prevent the soft Gilding copper from fouling the bore.
One last note. On these later offerings, the very last cartridges did not have Tin coatings on the Gilding jacket bullets.
From 1929 to 1938 the HV loads used 19gr of Sharpshooter. This gave nearly 1,600fps and 22,000cup (18,000ish psi), nearly double that of what is called normal pressures, 13,000cup. However, some late (1930's) offerings yielded only 14gr of Sharpshooter and some earlier offerings (post 1929) only 15.5gr leading one to believe that these HV loads, just like normal loads, were being neutered every year.
Two dissected Remington HV loads yielded (UMC) 18.8gr and (REM-UMV) 19.3gr of Sharpshooter.
Note the omittance of the "Low Pressure" call-out and the addition of the Special Sight Adjustment sticker.
This should be a late variation/offering .
Large Primer, post 1928
Flat primer
Normal "44", post 1928
No dot in front of the "44", post 1928
Not Tin plated
No W stamped on bullet
Gilding Jacket
Sharpshooter powder
Tin coated bullet could be post or pre 1929. This bullet was used to replicate HV loads tested in Clear Ballistics Gel. Performed excellent!
The Gilding SP was removed from the HV case photo'd. Similar in design but shows signs of a newer variation. Note the Tin plated bullet's crimp groove design is much like a lead bullet while the later design is more "U" shaped much like modern Winchester JSP bullets. The "U" shape design should not be trusted in handloads without a case cannelure or an assured resized neck for good neck retention.
The gel test results can be seen below. Impact velocity was 1,157fps and should be the velocity from a rifle at about 200 yards while normal loads would only be 1,035fps @ 100 yards. See Winchester's 1925 catalog.
Photos can be seen here;
https://sites.google.com/view/44winchester/contributors/bryan-austin/understanding-winchesters-44-40-high-velocity-loads