Heavy Bullets in 44-40

[Roundsworth]

Hello, everybody! I have a chance to buy a slightly used Uberti Low Wall in 44-40, and was wondering if any data exists for heavier bullets from 240 to 250 grains. The Uberti rifles are made to accomodate bullets at .429" and .430", which would greatly increase the choices from commercial casting outfits. I would imagine that most data available for lighter, flat nose bullets is intended for tubular magazine fed repeaters. Cheers!

[76 WARLOCK]

44/40 twists are usually to slow for heavy boolits,.

[Roundsworth]

That makes sense! I never thought of that. Otherwise, I bet there would be plenty o' data out there.

[Bent Ramrod]

The crimp groove for the .44 Special/Magnum type boolits is in the wrong place for the proper cartridge length, but in a single shot rifle you probably wouldn't have to worry much. I recannelured a box of .44 Mag semiwadcutter jacketed bullets and fired them without problems in both a Low Wall and a revolver. The cartridges looked kind of weird, but they were free and the .44-40 was the only .44 I had at the time. I didn't notice any tipping or instability. The .44-40 isn't a long range cartridge anyway.

A better bet might be to get hold of the obsolete Ideal 429434, which is a slightly lengthened, gas checked version of the Ideal 42498. This is what I use in my .44-40's when I want more weight. It casts about 50 grains heavier than the 42498 but the profile that sticks out of the case is the same. Crimping can be done with the Lee Factory Crimp, the same as 42498, and the overall cartridge length isn't changed. Of course, the powder charge might have to be cut slightly, to make up for the added boolit weight and reduced case capacity.

[Roundsworth]

Here is some intel I gathered at the Cimarron website....Uberti revolvers have a twist of 1 turn in 20" and the rifles have 1 turn in 36". My No. 5 Ideal Handbook shows Winchester as using the 1 in 36 twist and Colt using a 1 in 28 twist.

[Larry Gibson]

Measure the twist of your rifle. If quick enough there is no reason not to use 240 - 250 gr cast bullets, perhaps even 270 GC'd.

Consider the 44-40 has 8 - 10% more capacity that the 44 Magnum. Use top end 44 SPL loads as "starting" and work up accoringly if using new modern made cases. If the low wall you have is also chambered in magnum cartridges then top end 44 magnum loads could be a useful "max". I shoot 240 & 250 gr cast in my Ruger Vaquero (old Mdl) 44-40 using 44 Magnum max loads. With PB's cast in rifles you will find accuracy goes south before magnum max loads are reached so they should be safe if the Low Wall is up to it(?).

Larry Gibson

[MT Chambers]

Quite a few rifles will not feed the .44 wcf with even slightly longer nosed bullets (leverguns).

[L Ross]

While not a lot heavier, about 225 gr with WW, I have had good luck, (decent accuracy and 3 one shot kills on deer), with the Lyman 429215 in a Rossi Model 92.

Duke

[woody1]

Roundsworth, you asked for data. The Alliant 1995 loading guide listed 12.0 grains of 2400 and 9.9 grains of Blue Dot with 240 grain lead in the 44-40 for about 1125-30 fps. They also listed 23.5 grains of Reloader 7 for 1290 fps, also with 240 grain lead. These loads are listed as from 26" barrel and are at or less than 12,500 c.u.p. Regards, Woody

[Roundsworth]

Wow! Lotsa good info. Thanks, everybody. I appreciate it.

[chambers]

For my Winchester 1892 44-40, I run about a 240 grain bullet with 2400, sized .429" works great with Starline brass.