Winchester 92 with .424 bore??

[Remmy4477]

Looking at a winchester 92 in 44-40.
Bore has been slugged and shows .424. It is a second year production rifle.

I believe the reason its still sitting on the shelf is due to the .424 bore size?
So was wondering what boolits one would use in this rifle, seems surfing the web not much is said about the early 44-40's with the smaller bore reloading wise?

Maybe some soft .427 boolits??

Just looking for some input on this??

[ericandelaine1975]

You could look and maybe find a .424 sizing die. Granted you'd be limited to cast only bullets but you could shoot it.

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[Chill Wills]

Looking at a winchester 92 in 44-40.
Bore has been slugged and shows .424. It is a second year production rifle.

I believe the reason its still sitting on the shelf is due to the .424 bore size?
So was wondering what boolits one would use in this rifle, seems surfing the web not much is said about the early 44-40's with the smaller bore reloading wise?

Maybe some soft .427 boolits??

Just looking for some input on this??

I think you got it. Fit the throat, not the barrel.
I have a first year 1892 with a tight barrel. BUT, bullets from my Ideal tong loading tool cast 0.427-0.429" (not round) and load and chamber fine. A four cavity 42798 cast on the soft side and unsized average 0.429" - they chamber and work just fine too.

[Outpost75]

The jacketed bullets in factory .44-40 ammo are not .427, but generally .425 so they will shoot fine.

If you buy cast lead bullets, then the .427 diameter is correct for the tight bore.

With soft bullets and mild loads as you would use in an 1873 Winchester or Colt SA, up to .430 will do no harm if they chamber without effort. If loading smokeless powder you want a bullet having a crimp groove, to prevent bullets from telescoping back into the case under compression of the magazine spring.

[pietro]

Looking at a winchester 92 in 44-40.

Bore has been slugged and shows .424.

I believe the reason its still sitting on the shelf is due to the .424 bore size ?

I don't think that's the reason it's been sitting, as (maybe) 1 in 100 buyers don't measure the bore size before purchase.


.

[ndnchf]

You say bore size is .424", what is the groove size? That is just as important.

[35 Whelen]

You say bore size is .424", what is the groove size? That is just as important.

Exactly. Groove size what matters. Drive a slug through the barrel and measure the largest diameter of the slug.

Et

35W

[Shawlerbrook]

Maybe it’s sitting because it’s not priced to sell ?

[Walks]

Early 1892's had small bore's. IDEAL/LYMAN used to make a #42498 mold.
My DAD had one. It was a bit of a pain casting/sizing/loading bullets from a single cavity mold. Just for that one carbine. Had to pan lube and size in a LYMAN 310 Die.
My DAD thought it would be a great way for his Boy's to learn and appreciate "modern" reloading tools.
He sold the Carbine & it's mold & tong tool set when I was in H.S.

[Chill Wills]

Exactly. Groove size what matters. Drive a slug through the barrel and measure the largest diameter of the slug.

Et

35W

I just took it he meant groove as sometimes bore is what is said. If the BORE is 0.424" there are a lot of choices for bullet molds. Getting the exact bore and groove in a gunshop setting takes a little talking with the sales staff and does not happen often. Mostly in my experience you get a dusty, dirty hole to look through and some shop staff won't want to go through the bother of cleaning and driving a soft slug through.

[Texas by God]

I would start out with softish .427" boolits booted to BPlevel with Unique. If you buy it, that is.

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[Remmy4477]

I would start out with softish .427" boolits booted to BPlevel with Unique. If you buy it, that is.

I wanted too, but found a marlin 1894 in 44 mag, half the price as the 92 and probably a better deal all around.

[Outpost75]

I wanted too, but found a marlin 1894 in 44 mag, half the price as the 92 and probably a better deal all around.

Unless you are "into" the .44-40 for the pure nostalgia and history, for the volume shooter and hunter the .44 Magnum is a better choice. I have an 1894S Microgroove in .44 Magnum also and it is my Go-To woods rifle.

Attachment 229170

Some .44 Mag. cast bullet load data:

Side-by-Side comparisons fired same day with .44 Magnum “Medium Velocity” loads
fired in two Vaqueros using the same .44 Magnum cylinder, 20" Marlin 1894S for comparison:

Ammunition all assembled in Remington New Factory Primed brass with Remington 2-1/2 primers.

Load Description_________Ruger 5-1/2"______Ruger 7-1/2"____Marlin 20”__Remarks

----------------------------------Cyl.Gap 0.008"-------Cyl.Gap 0.008"------Solid barrel

43-230G 1:30Sn/Pb 7.2BE_____978, 18Sd________1044, 21Sd_______1178, 7Sd___1.59” OAL

43-230G 1:30Sn/Pb 24.5RL7___1022, 18Sd_______1151, 21Sd_______1432, 26Sd__1.59”OAL

Saeco#441-WW 16#2400_____1137, 40Sd_______1243, 20Sd____1363, 24Sd__1.66” OAL 265-gr. Keith

Attachment 229171

[indian joe]

[QUOTE=Outpost75;4482815]Unless you are "into" the .44-40 for the pure nostalgia and history, for the volume shooter and hunter the .44 Magnum is a better choice.

Given the same frame to contain it and the same twist to spin it the 44/40 will do anything the 44mag will do - 44/40 has a smidge more case capacity - it cycles better in some guns - its a superior blackpowder round, (seals better and holds a couple grains more powder) 44 mag cases are a little cheaper -- the choice is purely one of individual taste - of course if the 44/40 was called magnum that would make it way much better - bigger - more ..............................