44spl cylinder in 44-40 Colt?

[Martin Luber]

Saw this new frontier at a LGS. 44-40 is, or should be 427 while the Spl is 429.

Would this shoot well or is it a kludge? The reverse wouldn't work because the throats would undersize the bullet.

[Outpost75]

If the cylinder fits in your revolver, times and indexes correctly, as if factory fitted, then this is no issue.

Don't worry about the groove diameter of the barrel. ALWAYS size bullets to fit the cylinder throats!!!!

Colt New Frontier is stronger than older SAs and there is no strength or safety issue with sensible loads.

Throats of my 1905 and 1920 Colt .44-40 cylinders are .4285" and barrels in both .427".

I shoot .430" bullets in both guns. I'd love to have a .44 Special to fit my Frontier Six Shooter.

[salvadore]

Information only Martin my early 3rd gen Colt cylinder throats ran .434-.435 while the groove diameter was .427.

[Outpost75]

Information only Martin my early 3rd gen Colt cylinder throats ran .434-.435 while the groove diameter was .427.

I never realized the Colt Gen3s were that large! Wow!

What diameter bullets to you load and how do they shoot?

As FYI my 1986 S&W Model 544 Texas Wagon Train ALSO has .4285" cylinder throats as measured by pin gages, and .429 groove diameter. It shoots wonderfully with .430" lead bullets cast 1:30 as well as with .430" diameter 200-grain Hornady XTPs. The S&W people that turned these guns out knew EXACTLY what they were doing and these guns are well worth seeking on GunBroker out if you want a modern .44-40 that is accurate! You can get one used for about the same price as a new Uberti or Taylor's.

[salvadore]

I worked with a guy who had a 42798...is that the number for the classic 44/40 bullet? Anyway it cast way oversized. If I used a soft alloy it worked ok. I cast a lot of them. I didn't count, but a lot. While I was busy shooting them up he retired and moved. I hadn't got into buying custom molds and I was tired of fooling with it and had my gunsmith screw on a .45 barrel. Now I have throats that run .455.

[Outpost75]

I worked with a guy who had a 42798...is that the number for the classic 44/40 bullet? Anyway it cast way oversized. If I used a soft alloy it worked ok. I cast a lot of them. I didn't count, but a lot. While I was busy shooting them up he retired and moved. I hadn't got into buying custom molds and I was tired of fooling with it and had my gunsmith screw on a .45 barrel. Now I have throats that run .455.

I have three Colt New Service revolvers in .455 Eley, .45 ACP and .45 Colt, made in 1914, 1918 and 1920, respectively.

ALL THREE have .456" diameter cylinder throats as-pinned. They shoot well with soft bullets that "fit".

Yes, #42798 is the traditional .44-40 bullet. There are better ones today, but it certainly works OK.

I inherited a bunch of them cast of soft, maybe about 1:30 tin-lead alloy which were .4305-.431" as-cast. I tumble lubed them with with Lee Liquid Alox and loaded them unsized with 6 grains of Bullseye and they shot great in my 1905 Colt.

If you still have the pull-off barrel and cylinder from that Colt, is it for sale?

[bob208]

I size all my .44-40 .429. never have a problem of leading

[Silver Jack Hammer]

I size all my .44-40 .429. never have a problem of leading

Right on Bob208. Shoot first and ask questions later. I have Colt’s 3rd gen SAA’s .44 Specials, one with a dual cylinder in .44-40, a .44-40 only Colt’s 3rd gen SAA, a couple Cimarron .44 Special rifles, a new Winchester .44-40, I shoot them all with nary a problem. I’ve slugged bores, mic’d cylinder throats, used my H&I dies in .427”, .429”, .430” and .431” with my cast boolits and purchased boolits.

The only real problem I’ve encountered is buying a .44-40 SAA and fitting a .44 Special cylinder to it for heavy boolits, you may find the front sight isn’t tall enough, and that’s a problem.

[Bent Ramrod]

I bought a Uberti flat-top target Colt clone in .44-40, and ordered a .44 Spl. cylinder and bushing from VTI Gun Parts. After shaving down the fronts of both to fit in the frame window, I found the new cylinder indexed perfectly with the lockwork setup for the .44-40 cylinder.

I “size” all boolits in 0.430-0.431” dies that barely touch the outsides, lubing only. Never slugged the bore or measured the throats, except for making sure the rounds drop in. The gun shoots amazingly well, on both cylinders. However, the two cartridges do not shoot to the same sight setting, either windage or elevationwise. I generally leave it as a .44 Spl., because it’s much easier to reload the shells.

[35 Whelen]

I bought a Uberti flat-top target Colt clone in .44-40, and ordered a .44 Spl. cylinder and bushing from VTI Gun Parts. After shaving down the fronts of both to fit in the frame window, I found the new cylinder indexed perfectly with the lockwork setup for the .44-40 cylinder.

I “size” all boolits in 0.430-0.431” dies that barely touch the outsides, lubing only. Never slugged the bore or measured the throats, except for making sure the rounds drop in. The gun shoots amazingly well, on both cylinders. However, the two cartridges do not shoot to the same sight setting, either windage or elevationwise. I generally leave it as a .44 Spl., because it’s much easier to reload the shells.

Ditto here RamRod. By far the most accurate revolver I have ever fired.

https://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/Uberti%20Flat%20Top%2044%20Special/Uberti%20Flat%20Top%2075%20yds%20edit_zpsqq2ytyaf. jpg (https://s60.photobucket.com/user/308Scout/media/Uberti%20Flat%20Top%2044%20Special/Uberti%20Flat%20Top%2075%20yds%20edit_zpsqq2ytyaf. jpg.html)

35W

[rockrat]

I had a NF 44 spcl. It was a .428" groove barrel with .433 throats. Shot well with .433" lyman 429421 slugs

[MT Gianni]

As a newlywed 40+ years ago I remember Skeeter Skelton's article on the Colts when they first appeared. He liked them. I have never seen one in 45+ years of travel and gun shows.

[Walks]

I have a pair of early 3rd Gen SAA's in .44Spl. Both have .427 bbl's, chamber mouths range from .427 to .429, the forcing cones were recut and lengthened. Get an average of 2.5 inch groups at 25yrds. Used a #429421-250gr for target & #429478-210gr for Cowboy Shooting.
At End of Trail 1999 I bought 2 unfluted. 44-40 cylinders from the Colt booth. Had them fitted, the chamber mouths measured an average of.427dia but ranged from .426 to .429dia, accuracy is about 3-3.5" at 25yrds.

Just makes no sense.

Bought a Uberti .44-40 7.5" from EMF about 15yrs ago. Std .428 bullet shot to POA at 25yrds, had a .44Spl cylinder fitted.
I've never gotten around to slugging it and measuring the chamber mouths. .44Spl cylinder shoots as well as the .44-40 cylinder.

.44-40 is a pain in the neck. But I still Love it.

Don't want to measure at this late date. I'd much rather not know now.

[txbirdman]

Walked into my favorite pawn shop one day on my lunch hour to look at what my buddy (the owner) had on the rack. I ask him “ don’t you ever get anything but junk?” That’s when he pulled out a mint condition 3rd Gen 4 3/4” Colt in .44 Spcl. This was about 1990 and he wanted $400 for it. I didn’t have the money but he said he’d let me pay it out. I’d never paid that much for a gun before and walked out to my truck without it. Then I turned around and went back and got it. I knew I’d forever be sorry if I didn’t. Gave it to my oldest son when he graduated college.