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Thread: Picked up a Henry 1860 in .44-40

  1. #1
    Boolit Master


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    Picked up a Henry 1860 in .44-40

    Now to start reloading for her. Have a die set on order.. already have a universal expander for the mouth of the brass. Cant wait.

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  2. #2
    Boolit Master smkummer's Avatar
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    I am using Lee’s 44-200RF sized to .429 in my Henry Arms Co. 1860 44-40. Is yours also made by them?

  3. #3
    Boolit Master


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    Yes it is..and I think I have that same mold. I may drop some lead if I get off work early enough.

  4. #4
    Boolit Buddy
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    Watch to see if the cartridges fit the chamber. I friend has a new Moruku (Japanese Winchester) and I had to size the bullets down to .427 to get them to chamber. .429 works fine for the other guys. Both his Revolver and Rifle. So just something to watch for. Go slow when reloading as the mouths are very thin. Only bell the mouth enough to prevent skinning the bullet. Good luck.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master


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    Heard. If I need to get a .427 sizer I will. Hoping .429 will fly though. Ditto on the thin necks.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master Randy Bohannon's Avatar
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    My two Miroku 1873’s in 44-40 WCF requires WW brass ..430”, Rem. brass 429”, Starline brass .429” .If you measure your fired brass’s case mouth it’s more likely closer to spec.than what you have.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master smkummer's Avatar
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    It might have been on this forum but someone called Henry to find out it’s barrel specs and was told Henry used a .428 groove diameter +/- .001. Mine is dead on out to 100 where I am “tinging” steel targets. .429 lee bullets. No doubt, it will ting targets at 200 with the sight raised. Right now I am using a green dot load for 1200 fps and want to get into the 1350 fps range with another powder.
    Last edited by smkummer; 01-10-2023 at 08:50 AM.

  8. #8
    Boolit Master

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    You are going to enjoy that one. Congratulations!
    NRA Benefactor Member NRA Golden Eagle

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
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    I am a wee bit envious!

  10. #10
    Boolit Master


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    I've seen 3 in the last 6mo.. I passed in the first 2 and kicked myself each time. Just paid my truck off so this time could afford a little joy.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master smkummer's Avatar
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    FWIW, I bought my 1860 New Henry 44-40 carbine for almost 1/2 retail. The seller kept coming down price wise on gunbroker with no bids. We worked out a private deal. I truely believe these are currently slow movers because of the ammo situation. If your not a reloader, the 44-40 ammo situation is ridiculous. If it was a 45 colt chambering, it would have sold a long time ago.

  12. #12
    Boolit Master


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    Yep..44-40 is almost unobtainable commercially.

  13. #13
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by smkummer View Post
    FWIW, I bought my 1860 New Henry 44-40 carbine for almost 1/2 retail. The seller kept coming down price wise on gunbroker with no bids. We worked out a private deal. I truely believe these are currently slow movers because of the ammo situation. If your not a reloader, the 44-40 ammo situation is ridiculous. If it was a 45 colt chambering, it would have sold a long time ago.
    I've been searching for .44-40 brass for about 2 years now. It is NOT to be found.

  14. #14
    Boolit Master


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    Quote Originally Posted by Froogal View Post
    I've been searching for .44-40 brass for about 2 years now. It is NOT to be found.
    I had to find mine by buying a 50 and a 20 round box of commercial ammo so that I could reload it. so sad...

  15. #15
    Boolit Master smkummer's Avatar
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    Any update? My Henry seems to have a very light hammer spring. Have you shot some reloads yet?

  16. #16
    Boolit Master
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    Have an Uberti 73 inbound in .44 WCF and was hoping I could use the Lee bullet. Good to see this.

  17. #17
    Boolit Master


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    Sorry.. forgot a range report.

    She fires factory and reloads fine.. she for sure likes a more rounded nose biullet vs a swc design. The hornady factory is swc.. the winchester factory is rnfp. the swc hangs unless you aim the gun at a down angle while cycling. the rnfp runs fine. the lee bullets are rnfp and work great. I'm using cci pistol primers. no problems with strikes.

  18. #18
    Boolit Buddy Pereira's Avatar
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    Nice, I wouldn't mine owning one of those one day, except in 45 colt.
    I surely don't want to add another cal.

    RP


    Monte Walsh "You have No idea how little I care".

  19. #19
    Boolit Master


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    Yup..adding another caliber causes things to happen... Like.. Having to run out and but a revolver in the same caliber to match...like I did...

  20. #20
    Boolit Buddy Pereira's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Soundguy View Post
    Yup..adding another caliber causes things to happen... Like.. Having to run out and but a revolver in the same caliber to match...like I did...
    Lol, I understand, mine actually went the exact opposite.
    Had revolvers, so then added rifles. 357, 41, 44, and 45 colt. I'm at 7 revolvers and 5 rifles, spread out over the 4 calibers.

    RP


    Monte Walsh "You have No idea how little I care".

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check