Lever in 40-444?

[andym79]

Hi guys, here I go again, with another idea of mine.

I recently learned that the big bore 94 series was also made in 444 as well as 307, 356 and 375. I have a BB action lying around, but am not sure if I want a .429 rifle in a 94. I do however have a soft spot for 40 cal!

I am considering a wildcat based on the 444, necked down to 40 (from .429 to .409) it would be run through a 40-65 die to taper the case and trimmed to 2.1" rather than 2.2 ". I guess it could be called the 40-444 or the 40-58!

What do you guys think?

[Shawlerbrook]

​You should check out JES(35caliber.com) 405JES.

[missionary5155]

Good morning
The cartridge you are suggesting is another variation of others that have been around a long time. Unique wildcats will get very costly when it is time to buy chamber reamers and dies.
The standard old great cartridge 40-65 is already out there waiting to be enjoyed.
But if you are so inclined to make this "new one" then have at it and do enjoy the whole process. I understand the hankering to have a lever flipper with a cartridge yet untried. Did a 414 Supermag in a Marlin nearing 6 years ago just because I "needed" a lever rifle to go along with the 414 DW revolver.
As Shawlerbrook mentioned JES Reboring is making the 405 Jes. It is a .41 / 444 that gets the best out of the caliber 41 in a 336 frame. Yep we have one and it is a humdinger to go out with. But also the 40-65 is right in there also. One fine powerhouse !
Mike in Peru

[andym79]

​You should check out JES(35caliber.com) 405JES.

Yere the 405 jes is almost the same thing as I described, just a fraction shorter!


Good morning
The cartridge you are suggesting is another variation of others that have been around a long time. Unique wildcats will get very costly when it is time to buy chamber reamers and dies.
The standard old great cartridge 40-65 is already out there waiting to be enjoyed.
But if you are so inclined to make this "new one" then have at it and do enjoy the whole process. I understand the hankering to have a lever flipper with a cartridge yet untried. Did a 414 Supermag in a Marlin nearing 6 years ago just because I "needed" a lever rifle to go along with the 414 DW revolver.
As Shawlerbrook mentioned JES Reboring is making the 405 Jes. It is a .41 / 444 that gets the best out of the caliber 41 in a 336 frame. Yep we have one and it is a humdinger to go out with. But also the 40-65 is right in there also. One fine powerhouse !
Mike in Peru

Thanks for the input Mike.

I hear you and the 40-65 is great, but I think it would be too much for the WIN94, the body is .034 not too much of a problem in itself, but also the rim is thicker and larger. Potentially a big problem with regard to the bolt. Also cartridge guides would be custom, as would the magazine tube, the hole for the magazine tube would need to be opened up, if the action could even cycle it?

If I had a Marlin 1895 then I would probably go for a 40-65, rather than a smaller version!

[missionary5155]

Well the simple solution in my thinking would be to start with a 444 Big Bore and go to your "wildcat".
With just a little hunting about you should be able to scare up a 336 that has a rusty bore / ugly exterior for a reasonable price and get into that wildcat also. Far more 336's out there and the "used ones" the collectors leave alone. Not a sleek little 94 but just as usable.
I am always on the prowl for another 336 or just a rusty barrel hanging about.
Mike in Peru

[BAGTIC]

Not nearly as good a selection of bullets in .400 (10mm) as in .429/.430 and even fewer of them designed to be used at rifle velocities or on big game.

[Blackwater]

IMO, and I have nothing against your plan at all, just think a bit differently, probably, I'd also consider a .375/.444. Would give a little more of a neck, and maybe a little more velocity on top end. And it ought'a still kill just about anything in north America. A bit less recoil, too, probably, but then, I'm gittin' old an' doan cotton to recoil like I once did, so .... those are factors here as well. If you git-r-done, please show us rifle and ctgs. I believe a lot of us would appreciate that. And good luck, whatever you decide to do.

[OlDeuce]

[QUOTE=andym79;3931281]Hi guys, here I go again, with another idea of mine.

I recently learned that the big bore 94 series was also made in 444 as well as 307, 356 and 375. I have a BB action lying around, but am not sure if I want a .429 rifle in a 94. I do however have a soft spot for 40 cal!

You got to get this one done :-) I did the 44-56wc in my old 1894 carbine !!! What a HOOT to shoot!!!!! so much I had a old 38-55 octagon re-lined
to .44 .429 bore 1:18 twist ............Ya do it!!! Ol Deuce
186866

[Groo]

Groo here
Check out the 411 JDJ.
Got a Contender 10 in for it.
Uses 41 mag bullets , helps to crimp, 300 gr cast, and 405 bullets.
PS, CH4D makes dies.

[longbow]

Another option is to use .303 British brass blown out. More readily available than 444 brass and there may even be reamers available as I believe .40-.303 is one of those Aussie wildcats. If not there was the .44 Rhino which was .30-40 brass blown out and shortened some for long cylinder revolvers. That was probably replaced by .44 Supermag.

[bikerbeans]

Hi guys, here I go again, with another idea of mine.

I recently learned that the big bore 94 series was also made in 444 as well as 307, 356 and 375. I have a BB action lying around, but am not sure if I want a .429 rifle in a 94. I do however have a soft spot for 40 cal!

I am considering a wildcat based on the 444, necked down to 40 (from .429 to .409) it would be run through a 40-65 die to taper the case and trimmed to 2.1" rather than 2.2 ". I guess it could be called the 40-444 or the 40-58!

What do you guys think?

If you build your 40-444 and want jacketed bullets in the 250 grain range let me know. I have a source for these bullets and use them in a 40/45 sabot for my smokeless mz. I am not trying to sell bullets, I will get you in touch with manufacturer, who is a CB member.

BTW, I like your idea and hope you do the build.

BB

[Newtire]

We had the pleasure of shooting a .405 JES at last year's Winnemucca shoot. It was done up in a Marlin that was formerly a .444. The owner was real happy towards it. It about destroyed rockshooter's gong target. Perhaps one of my felloe Idahoe-ites remembers the fellow's screen name and you could ask him about it?

[lar45]

I had a thought, how about a 405 Win x 2.1" ? The case holds 62gns H2O
Looking at Quickload looks like you could get a 250gn bullet going 2300fps, or a 300 to 2040fps out of a 20" bbl with a max pressure of 46kpsi
Instead of custom dies, just use 405win dies and cut .5" off the bottom of the seat/crimp and flare dies.

I wonder if you could cut the chamber with a 405Win reamer and just run it in 2.1"?

Here's a dummy round with the NOE 411-251WFN
http://www.lsstuff.com/pics/cblue/405x21.jpg