Loads for an Original 1873 .44-40

[srk]

Hi Everyone.
My dad just got an original model 1873 Winchester in .44-40.
The factory cowboy loads shoot well from Winchester.
He has tried some other reloads from Lyman catalogue but none seem to shoot as well as the Winchester factory.
Anyone have any loads that come close to the factory or any suggestions on some loads?
Thanks
Srk

[srk]

Thanks Bill

[missionary5155]

Good morning
What I found to be of most importance is to be sure that the Boolit is fat enough for the throat especially with smokeles. Unique is what I use in 1873´s and I found a fat 40-1 lead boolit would shoot fine with 6 grains. .432 diameter boolits were needed. My 38.40´s are the same. Get a fat enough boolit and accuracy improves with smokeless.
BP explodes and bumps up soft boolits. Smokless may depending on the load.
Mike in Peru

[rollmyown]

Are any of these rifles pre 1900 blackpowder rifles? I'm not saying they should not be loaded with smokeless, as I know many do (load older guns with smokeless). I'm just curious.

[9.3X62AL]

Mine is 1897-made. I run low-pressure smokeless loads (13.5 grains of 2400/SAECO #446) without issues.

[Range Gypsy]

I have 3 Marlin 1894's ranging in age 1904 - 1997 Their favorite load to date is 5.5 gr of Trail Boss and a 200 gr RCBS bullet . This load narrowly beat out my previous favorite of 7.2 of Unique and the same bullet . All of my guns have bores on the large side. I size my bullets .429 and .430
This is not a hunting load but makes the tightest groups out to 100 yrds.

Range Gypsy

[JMtoolman]

I have settled on the standard load that is supposed to be the same as the black powder load. 8 grains of unique, with a 200 to a 215 grain bullet. I also size mine at .230. Shot a deer with mine a couple of years ago. Best regards, the toolman

[405]

Hi Everyone.
My dad just got an original model 1873 Winchester in .44-40.
The factory cowboy loads shoot well from Winchester.
He has tried some other reloads from Lyman catalogue but none seem to shoot as well as the Winchester factory.
Anyone have any loads that come close to the factory or any suggestions on some loads?
Thanks
Srk

Just curious. What is the Winchester "Cowboy" factory ammo you are referring to?

[Range Gypsy]

Winchester makes a cowboy version of ammo for popular SASS calibers . They have factory correct dimensions and much lower velocities . In the 700 fps range and lead bullets .

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/113244ee72f70663ff.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=2989)

I find the bullets are on the small side for my guns as is all their ammo .

Range Gypsy

[405]

gypsy,
Thanks. I haven't shot factory loads in any of my guns for years including original Colts, 73s and 92s (the Colts are early smokeless 1st gen, not BP types). As to your question, seems like duplicating the bullet and velocity of the Winchester ammo would be a place to start since that is what seems to give you good accuracy. I don't know the powder Win uses but I'm sure it yields fairly low pressure for 700fps?. That factory bullet they're using sure looks a lot like the old standard 200 grain .44 RFN. So, you might start by slugging your bore and sizing accordingly to about .001" over groove diameter.

I get the best accuracy in the low pressure, low vel BP type loads for all my 44-40 originals using that bullet at 9-10 BHN sized to .430-1 using either 5744 with dacron filler or Trailboss without filler. Both loads to 800-850 fps out of an original 73 musket- slightly lower out of an original 92 rifle. I'm sure there are other powders that would also work.

[w30wcf]

The velocity of the Winchester Cowboy ammo is out of a revolver.
In a rifle the ballistics are close to 1,000 f.p.s.

There is a relatively new website for 1873 Winchester enthusiasts.
There are currently active threads on smokeless, cowboy and b.p. loads.
http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php?board=109.0

w30wcf