Buffalo Bore's "Heavy" 44-40

[Savvy Jack]

Hello all.

I just wanted to share that back in December 2017, Buffalo Bore developed a Heavy load 44-40 for all dependable weapons chambered for the 44-40. This load replicates original black powder velocities using smokeless powder......and remain under 13,000cup max pressures. I thought about waiting until after I shot some to share my results but I am eager to inform everyone. I wish I had known earlier but I just noticed today while surfing their website.

As of 12-20-2017

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.ph...uct_list&c=221

Item # 44-40 200 HC, features a 15 BHN hard cast bullet. (Pure lead is 4-5 BHN) This bullet will not expand when impacting living mammalian tissues at 1,300 fps or less. It will act as a “solid” and therefore penetrate quite deeply (at least three feet+, depending on what bones are struck). The flat nose will do a great deal of terminal damage when compared to a round nose bullet.The bullet is sized .428 inch and fits wonderfully into .427 through .429 bores.
We are also using a flash suppressed powder to avoid blinding muzzle flash in the event you are forced to drop the hammer in low light when the criminal element and when wild animals are most active.
We do not intend to make a jacketed bullet load in 44-40 as jacketed bullets, in general, are not as slick as hard cast bullets and raise pressures far too much. We would have to load a jacketed bullet about 200-250 fps slower than a hard cast bullet to stay within the SAAMI max. average pressure spec. of 13,000 CUP.
➤ 1,350 fps -- Winchester model 1892, 20-inch barrel, circa 1916
➤ 1,353 fps -- Uberti model 1873, 19-inch barrel, circa 1997
➤ 1,034 fps -- Ruger Vaquero (large frame), 7.5-inch barrel, circa 2003
➤ 1,036 fps -- Colt New Service, 7.5-inch barrel, circa 1905
➤ 980 fps -- S&W model 544, 5.5-inch barrel, circa 1980’s
➤ fps -- Custom (Brian Pearce made) SAA replica, 5.5-inch barrel, circa 2017
➤ 949 fps -- Ruger converted 357 Mag. flat top (by Jack Huntington), circa 1959, 4.75-inch barrel

Item # 44-40 185 HP utilizes a much softer (hollow nose) bullet than our 200gr. load. This bullet is designed to expand and is roughly 8-9 BHN in hardness. It will expand on impact at handgun velocities on living flesh and bone and will expand radically on such tissues at rifle velocities. Expect about 18 to 24 inches of penetration in living mammalian tissues, depending on impact velocity and what bones, if any, are struck. Again, we are using a flash suppressed powder. This bullet is sized .428 inch and works great in bores of .427 to .430 inch. This bullet is soft enough to “slug up” under pressure, to fill/seal bores as large as .431 inch.
➤ 1,471 fps -- Winchester model 1892, 20-inch barrel, circa 1916
➤ 1,470 fps -- Uberti model 1873, 19-inch barrel, circa 1997
➤ 1,171 fps -- Ruger Vaquero (large frame), 7.5-inch barrel, circa 2003
➤ 1,199 fps -- Colt New Service, 7.5-inch barrel, circa 1905---
➤ 1,073 fps -- S&W Model 544, 5.5-inch barrel, circa 1980’s
➤ fps -- Custom (Brian Pearce made) SAA replica, 5.5-inch barrel, circa 2017
➤ 1,101 fps -- Ruger converted 357 Mag. flat top, (by Jack Huntington) 4.75-inch barrel, circa 1959
I hope you enjoy this powerful and useful 44-40 ammo. I hope that you are responsible and thoughtful about which firearms you choose to fire it in. It will only take one irresponsible user of this ammo, to sue me for their own negligence and I will have to remove it from the market. Good shooting and God bless.
Tim

[ajjohns]

That's interesting someone has done this again, a sort of high powered load for this round. If the pressures are what they say it should be pretty good. Now, if the price is right? That is usually why shooters reload this and other rounds because if you want to use them much it gets expensive.

[oscarflytyer]

I have a Uberti with large cylinder throats. Think I am going to cast some softer than my usual WW+2%, so they will slug up a bit. Accuracy is good now, but bet it would get better. Only use it for a paper puncher, so no need for Buffalo Bore loads, and could always load my own. But def appreciate the info!

[junkbug]

I would be hesitant to fire those in my Navy Arms 44-40 Schofield.

[gpidaho]

^^^^^me too. Gp

[Savvy Jack]

I would be hesitant to fire those in my Navy Arms 44-40 Schofield.

why would you not want to? They are normal pressures

Navy Arms Rep...

Since it is a modern made gun, you should be fine as it is a standard factory load.

[cajun shooter]

With today's metals and I'm sure that Navy Arms have forged frames, you would be at no risk firing any factory rounds. Later David

[Savvy Jack]

Yesterdays range report using the Buffalo Bore ammunition.

The below photograph is targets 177 thru 182 ALL 100 YARDS. Temp 45deg, cloudy and humid, no wind.

Rifle, 24" Marlin 1894CB with a scope, bench rest

Attachment 216211
#177 - Magtech Box 44-40A, Avg. 975fps with 3 1/2" Group, ES 77
#178 - Winchester Super-X, Avg. 1,055fps with 4 1/8" Group, ES 41
#179 - Winchester 200gr JSP/27.5gr RL-7, Avg. 1,436fps, ES 48, 1/34' to 3 3/4" Group....est pressure 16,754psi CIP
#180 - Laser Cast 200gr Hard Cast/28gr RL-7, Avg. 1,500fps, ES 45, 2" Group....est pressure 19,000psi CIP....approx 14,000psi SAAMI
#181 - Buffalo Bore 200gr Hard cast/10.gr of something, Avg. 1,336fps, ES 29, 1 1/4" to 2 1/4" Group....pressure claims to be below 11,000psi SAAMI
#182 - Sierra 210gr JSHP/26gr RL-7, Avg. 1,382fps, ES 53, 1 3/4" Group.....est pressure 18,000psi CIP...approx 13,000PSI SAAMI

It is really nice to finally see factory loaded ammunition that is accurate out to 100 yards and replicates original 1870s velocities at 1870s pressures proving that the Winchester factory ammunition has been neutered for nearly 63 years.

[DaveM]

Thanks for the update, Savvy Jack.

The current Winchester factory load is basically equivalent to .44 Henry rimfire. The Buffalo Bore ammo is roughly equivalent to my BP handloads, or a 200 grain bullet on top of 8.6 grains of Unique when shot from my Cimarron 1873 Sporting Rifle w/24" barrel.

[Savvy Jack]

yeah, I dissected one and it kind of resembled W231 and came in at 10.3 to maybe 10.5gr. In Quickloads, 10.3gr of Herco seems to put it in the ballpark but that is simply for discussion only

http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/te...ml#post7024713

[Savvy Jack]

Just curious if anyone else has tried these yet!