I see load data using 240gr bullets and Reloader 7 powder in the 44-40. Has anybody used this load? And what 240gr bullet have they found that feeds well in an 1873?
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I see load data using 240gr bullets and Reloader 7 powder in the 44-40. Has anybody used this load? And what 240gr bullet have they found that feeds well in an 1873?
Speer 240 SWC feeds in my Winchester '92, but if want to cast your own Accurate has several heavier .44-40 bullets of traditional shape from 230-245 grains which will stabilize in the slower twist:
Attachment 271413Attachment 271414Attachment 271415Attachment 271416
The 43-230E and 43-245C have adequate lube capacity to avoid foulout with Goex powder and SPG lube.
Last edited by Outpost75; 11-14-2020 at 04:03 PM.
The ENEMY is listening.
HE wants to know what YOU know.
Keep it to yourself.
I have used the Lee bullet,which casts around 250gr,and IMHO ,they dont stabilize past 170yds with the slow twist /low velocity from a 73...I get much better result from a 215gr bullet...which the gun was designed for.
In my 44-40 M92 and Ruger vaquero (OM) I use the Lee TL430-240-SWC and the Lyman 429 360, both 240 gr bullets. Both feed fine in the M92 but can't say they would in a M73 lever action. Suggest, if wanting to cast your own the Accurate 43-240A that Outpost 75 posted above would be my choice for a M73. The seating depth to crimp groove is more conducive to the shorter necks of the 44-40 case.
Larry Gibson
“Deficient observation is merely a form of ignorance and responsible for the many morbid notions and foolish ideas prevailing.”
― Nikola Tesla
Thank you all.
I don't know if I never used my 240gr loads in the 73'. I just can't remember right off. I will look it up later.
I did test a few though in the MGM and used them in the Marlin.
1. 25gr/240LRNFP/3D/1,300fps/9,613psi
2. 23.5gr/240SWC/Acme Hi-Tek/1,284fps/9,761psi
3. 26gr/240SWC/GA Arms L44A/1,441fps/14,274psi
4. 25gr/240SWC/Acme Hi-Tek/14,542psi
5. 26.5gr/240LRNFP/43-230G/1,505fps/14,737psi
6. 25gr/240DCHP/Speer 4455/1,350fps/15,248psi
7. 25.3gr/240LRNFP/Lee 3 Crimp?/1,446fps/15,279psi
8. 27.5gr/240SWC/GA Arms L44A/1,541fps/16,743psi
Attachment 271529
Target 187 (24.2gr) Marlin 1894CB. This load should be fine for the 73'
Attachment 271525
Target 220 MGM Barrel
Attachment 271527
Target 223 MGM Barrel
Attachment 271526
Target 225 MGM Barrel
Attachment 271528
Target 232 (Middle Bottom) MGM Barrel
Last edited by Savvy Jack; 11-15-2020 at 11:36 PM.
The late John Kort was the expert on .44-40 hand loading. This is one of his postings that mention that 240 grain hand load.
https://www.marlinowners.com/threads...-44-40.118717/
That loading is from Alliant as far back as 1995:
(240 grain lead bullet / 23.5 grains of RX7 / 1290 FPS (24" BBL.) / 12,100 CUP)
The nice thing about this load is that the low chamber pressure from RX7 makes it usable in any toggle-link replica Winchester.
The main problem with using a 240 grain lead bullet from available Lyman, RCBS, SAECO, LEE molds is that they are designed with .44 magnum in mind, even the cowboy bullets. The bullet nose is too long for the Henry, 1866, 1873 / .44-40 rifles. They usually work in the Marlin 1894 / .44-40 Cowboy rifles that were made though.
So, you need to use a bullet with a SAAMI nose length of .287" or slightly less. (crimp groove to top of bullet) As Outpost75 points out, Accurate Molds is a good source.
IMHO .285" being the ideal .44-40 nose length and .260" being a good metplat.
Last edited by Prairie Cowboy; 11-17-2020 at 04:35 PM.
Prairie Cowboy, you hit the nail on the head. This will be used in a 73 replica. I've found a good looking bullet with .28" nose length, but the meplat is .3". I'd like that fine unless you think there will be feeding problems with the wider meplat in the 73
Great info guys, thanks! I went back and looked and can't find any data were I used any of the 23.5gr 240gr loads in my 73'....and I certainly don't remember....means I probably didn't!!
Ballard,
One load I did use in my Marlin to harvest a deer was the Hornady 240gr SWC HP. Excellent performance. I will load some dummy rounds with various bullets I have and see if they will feed in the 73'.
I suspect that it would work, but I have no experience with wide metplat bullets in toggle link rifles, so I can't really say for sure.Originally Posted by Ballard
Here, made a video of the 43-230G. http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_...=43-230G-D.png
VIDEO -
Outstanding!~ That's my multi-purpose .44 boolit design Tom made for the .44 Russian, .44 Special, .44 Magnum, .44-40 WCF.
The double-crimp-grooves enable using the rear crimp groove to seat boolits out long for maximum powder capacity in the .44 Russian or .44 Special, and also in the .44-40 and .44 Mag. Ruger original Vaqueros having longer cylinders, whereas the front crimp groove maintains correct cartridge OAL for magazine feeding in the lever-actions and also to fit the cylinder of Gen1 Colt SAs and the New Service.
Tom made for another customer the 43-230G2 with a smaller meplat. The two drawings compared:
Attachment 271702Attachment 271703
The ENEMY is listening.
HE wants to know what YOU know.
Keep it to yourself.
Excellent Outpost, I will add it to the 44-40 website!!
https://sites.google.com/view/44winc...n-bullet-molds
Last edited by Savvy Jack; 11-18-2020 at 09:39 PM.
We've been shooting a CBE boolit designed for the toggle guns for years - meplat is .310, crimp groove to nose .258 -.260
has worked fine in two 66's, an original 73, two 92's - mostly blackpowder but the crimp groove is located right for smokeless loads in the toggle guns .
Weighs 225 grains - I am a non starter for heavy boolits in the 44/40 - we had keyhole problems with this one ages ago - 35 grain load of wano powder - lacked velocity - I load black and in a toggle gun the extra lead takes up powder space - 200grainer kills a piece of paper just as dead anyways.
Now if you wanna turn a Rossi 92 into a shoulder deconstruction implement - big loads and heavy boolits - proly help that along
You more likely to have problems (in a 92) with a semi wadcutter, the little ridge or step whatever you call it can snarl on the bottom edge of the chamber in some guns.
Last edited by indian joe; 11-19-2020 at 12:00 AM.
Using 240 grs boolits from a Lyman 429667 (they drop out with 252 grs) out of the mould and tumbled with lox work great in my Hege-Uberti 1873 for cowboy-action and target shooting at 50 yard/Meter.
Load is 5,8 grs Trail Boss (or 6,0 grs Unique).
OAL exact 40,0 mm, if longer you get trouble as they won´t feed....
Reloaders be carefull and use load data at your own danger!
fffft tink, and 50 yards is fine!, our problem was at 200yards with a combo that was well tried in close.
Quite true. In the slower twist rifle with loads that just barely stabilize the loads giving a semblance of accuracy at close range are poor performers as the bullet stability drops off at longer ranges as the velocity slows down. With short bullets having FNs of meplats there is a point where stability is lost.
Larry Gibson
“Deficient observation is merely a form of ignorance and responsible for the many morbid notions and foolish ideas prevailing.”
― Nikola Tesla
My MGM testing barrel is a 1:20 twist
Not a problem with that twist, it's the slower 1 in 30 somethings that give stability problems with the heavier bullets.
Larry Gibson
“Deficient observation is merely a form of ignorance and responsible for the many morbid notions and foolish ideas prevailing.”
― Nikola Tesla
100 Yards
Marlin 1894CB 1:36" twist
240gr Acme Hi-Tek
24.2gr Reloder 7
20 shots
4" Circle
Attachment 271529
Last edited by Savvy Jack; 11-20-2020 at 02:43 PM.
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