which mould for 44-40 SRC?

[mvintx]

I'm about to venture into reloading for a 1915 SRC, about to be chambered in 44-40. John Taylor will be doing the work and it'll likely be several months before I get it back. I don't have dies or brass yet but I'd like to hear what the crowd likes to shoot in their rifles. I did see a post that recommended a particular NOE mould but I can't find it again. Thanks.

[HWooldridge]

Accurate Molds - 43-215C, developed by the late John Kort as a BP slug but also works quite well with smokeless.

[lightman]

I use a round nose flat point RCBS mold for mine. I think it weighs 210 grains.

[Outpost75]

Accurate 43-215C is well proven.

[mvintx]

OK, so it wasn't a NOE but an Accurate, thanks. Does the throat need to be reamed any deeper to accommodate this boolit? It most likely will be the only mold I get for this gun.

[HWooldridge]

OK, so it wasn't a NOE but an Accurate, thanks. Does the throat need to be reamed any deeper to accommodate this boolit? It most likely will be the only mold I get for this gun.

Probably not, it follows an older profile and will likely work in most rifles - but your mileage may vary. If JT is doing a full reline, you'll probably get a .429-.430 bore, instead of the tighter bores that were more common on original, period rifles.

[Savvy Jack]

OK, so it wasn't a NOE but an Accurate, thanks. Does the throat need to be reamed any deeper to accommodate this boolit? It most likely will be the only mold I get for this gun.

It shouldn't, but some do anyway.

John Kort designed the 43-215C after the Lyman 427098/42798 (of which the 42798 is a descendent of the 1880's Ideal handloading tool mold), but using a large lube grove for black powder. A large lube grove is not needed for black powder use but is preferred for shooting many consecutive rounds without having to wipe the bore. Back in 1874, Doc Pardee claimed to shoot 40 consecutive shots inside a 4" circle without wiping. This was done with Winchester factory swaged small lube groove bullets. Modern black powders seam to foul much worse than the original stuff.

[Walks]

I have the old #42798 and the newer #427666, RCBS #44-200-FN & #44-200-CM. The crimping groove on the newer designs is a plus since We rarely load black powder these days, so there is no powder column to rest a bullets base on. I'm vary fond of all four for the .44-40.
My Dad had an old #42498 that He cast from to load carefully hoarded Ballon head cases in an 1873 Carbine made in 1879.
I also like the John Kort design #43-215C, it's great for either smokeless or BP.

[Wheelgun]

The 43-215c is a great proven design. I’ve only heard good things about it, and Mr. Kort absolutely knew what he was talking about with 44-40s

But I wanted a larger meplat, so I had Accurate make the 43-219A.
Maybe a little heavier than “normal” and probably not enough lube capacity for holy black, but I’ve been getting excellent results in my Taylor’s 1873 SRC and Cimarron for SAA.

[Savvy Jack]

The 43-215c is a great proven design. I’ve only heard good things about it, and Mr. Kort absolutely knew what he was talking about with 44-40s

But I wanted a larger meplat, so I had Accurate make the 43-219A.
Maybe a little heavier than “normal” and probably not enough lube capacity for holy black, but I’ve been getting excellent results in my Taylor’s 1873 SRC and Cimarron for SAA.

Added you to the list!

Here is a list of 44 cal bullet molds by Accurate Molds (https://sites.google.com/view/44winchester/chasing-the-44-40/ballistics-handloading/handloading/bullet-molds/modern-bullet-molds)....of course, you can see them on Accurate's website but I am trying to add the name of the person who designed what and why.

[G W Wade]

I had a different problem. Have 3 molds for 200 gr. 44 cal Every mol throws a great bullet but when crimped in the groove they have OAL of 1.610. The carrier on my Uberti 73 SRC has a carrier that measures 1.59 (standard) Too long for proper function. The nose profile works fine for 44 Mag guns but too much nose for 44/40 Not feeling like buying a 4th mold, do not shoot it enough

GW

[G W Wade]

Savvy Jack is the guru of 44/40 IMHO GW

[Savvy Jack]

Savvy Jack is the guru of 44/40 IMHO GW

I wouldn't go that far at all, but thanks. A lot of my information comes right from Outpost, John Kort and many others in the 44-40 community.

[Randy Bohannon]

Easiest B/P cartridge I have worked with and because I didn’t have to do much to get very satisfying results .J.Kort,Outpost and Jack have done the hard part.

[Wheelgun]

Thanks Savvy Jack, I appreciate it.

GW Wade, That was another reason for having Tom @ Accurate make the 43-219A, I wanted a wider “harder hitting” meplat but it needed a nose length of .300in. Anything longer is too long and would bind-up my ‘73 and Rossi ‘92.

+1 on Savvy Jack being a 44/40 guru…

[mvintx]

Will either of the 43-219A or 43-215C work with PC or do they prefer lube in the grease groove?

[Outpost75]

Both bullets have large grease groove for adequate capacity to prevent foulout with black powder. I haven't fooled with powder coating. I use olive oil and beeswax 50-50 with black and 40-60 with smokeless.

[Wheelgun]

I haven’t used Blk powder so I can’t say, but I’d trust Outpost recommendations.

With the 43-219A & Smokeless I’ve been using both(lube & PC) with great results. Im using powders from Smoke to powder coat some, & I’ve used BAC, Carnauba Red, and a 50/50 of these I mix. Lube was ordered from White Label Lube.

[pworley1]

I like the Lyman 427098.

[missionary5155]

All time down here Elephant Brand (about 3F) was all that was available. Could only buy it in 1/4 pound quantities. Our 1st SRC was a well worn 2nd year 1892. Huge chamber / throat. Had to lap or old 42798 out to .443 cast of 40-1 to get 4" group at 25 yards.
Last 1" at muzzle miked at 436+. So removed 1" of barrel. Now groups were 3". Muzzle was still at .433+ with no rifling.
Took off another 1" and groups were under 2" at 25 yards sitting on the dry desert sand.
That was 25 years ago. Served OK until a Saeco 433 (220 grain) appeared ad dropped rage scrap at .4335. Those 20 grains extra got groups to clover leafs at 25 yards (1.5 inches) ad would penetrate thick cactus bases where wild dogs loved to hide behind.
Sadly 3 years ago that carbine (badly worn) was lost out on the mountains and never found.