Alliant Reloader 7 .44-40

[Outpost75]

Back when Hercules tested the RL7 load they used the radial copper method and the maximum average pressure per SAAMI specification of that era was 14,000 cup, which is safe in the original Winchester 1873 and in smokeless frame Colt SAAs. The late John Kort shot lots of that load in his original rifles,as have others here.

[BobInAus]

I don’t mean to change direction of this subject, it is so interesting, I’m just making a little detour while all you gents are present. In post # 10 bigted mentioned that the 26grns RL7 mentioned by Outpost75 in post # 9 could go well in the 38WCF.

I would think that these loads would do well in the 38 WCF also. As a matter of fact, I bet that the 38 WCF, 44 WCF, 45 Colt, 41 mag and 44 mag should all benefit from the low pressure full case loads of RL-7. Seems logical anyway to me?

I have an 1892 Winchester chambered in 38WCF that I normally load with BP and the 180grn straight lead bullet cast from a Winchester mould. After reading all on this subject I’m interested in using the RL 7 in the 38WCF. I suspect there are no problems with pressure in the ’92 but would 26grns fit in the case considering the shape of the case at the shoulder and neck?
Keep going with this I look forward to opening the site each day.
Thanks again Gents
Bob.

[Outpost75]

I have no experience with the .38-40, but a compressed caseful of RL7 works great in the .32-20 model 1873!

[BobInAus]

Carrying on with the smokeless powder RL7 for the 44-40, I saw an article by John Kort ‘Two Peas in a Pod’ where in he mentions in 1895 Winchester introduced its first smokeless powder for the 44WCF cartridge. He also mentions that the powder was a ‘bulk’ smokeless powder designed to be loaded in bulk measure just like black powder. The charge / powder used was 17 grains of DuPont No. 2. Is RL 7 or any other powder anywhere near the equivalent of DuPont No. 2 today?
Regards
Bob

[Outpost75]

No modern equivalent.