44-40 questions

bwills1829 · 11-25-2006, 06:52 PM

I'm new to reloading and want to get started on the 44-40 i picked up a couple of months ago. It's a marlin 1894CL. I'm confused about the bullet diameter. I have seen several different sizes shown. Is there anyway to know without slugging the barrell? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

alsaqr · 11-26-2006, 04:21 PM

Am sure that your rifle uses .429 bullets. Some of the older rifles use .427 bullets.

alsaqr · 11-26-2006, 04:26 PM

Sorry, I got it backwards. The .44-40 ammo made after about WWII use .427 bullets.

bwills1829 · 12-02-2006, 07:48 PM

Thanks for the help. Any idea where to get current load info? Everything I have seen has been pretty weak. I have read you can load it to about 1800 fps with 200 grain bullets but haven't seen any data on that.

alsaqr · 12-03-2006, 06:56 AM

Used to own a Model 1892 Winchester takedown in .44-40. Gave it to my son. Years ago Winchester offered a loadingin excess of1800 fps with the 200 grain bullet. It was a juch better close range deer killer than the .30-30. There was a warning on the box not to fire that round in the 1873 rifle or in revolvers. People ignored the warnings, got hurt, sued Winchester and that was the end of a very good deer load.

i cannot find any high velocity loading data for the .44-40 rifle. If you have a chronograph and are an experienced reloader you couldlook at .44 Magnum rifle reloading data, reduce the load by about 20 percent work it up slowly while being on the lookout for high pressure signs. If you are not an experienced reloader do not do this. Do not use any powder faster than 2400 or IMR 4227. Keep in mind that the .44-40 is a thin case. Use only modern cases that have not been previously re-loaded.

"The .44-40 has killed more game, large and small, and more people, good amd bad, than any other commercial cartridge ever developed."

Good luck.

TUK101 · 12-03-2006, 12:07 PM

Could somebody please explain to me the difference between a 44-40 and a 44 magnum? I take it the 44-40 is the older version?

alsaqr · 12-03-2006, 02:27 PM

The .44-40 was developed for use in the 1873 Winchester rifle.It was the most popular caliber chambered for that rifle. It was used in some Marlin rifles. It was also used in pump rifles made by Colt, and Remington.

The .44-40 case is slightly bottlenecked and is larger in diameter than the .44 Magnum: The .44 Magnum case is straight.

TUK101 · 12-03-2006, 03:27 PM

So is it a 44 necked down to a 40? Do they use the same caliber of bullet?

bwills1829 · 12-03-2006, 08:10 PM

originally it was called the 44 WCF. they started chambering it in marlin and other rifles and started calling it the 44-40. a 44 caliber bullet over 40 grains of black powder. same cartrige just a couple of different names.

bwills1829 · 12-03-2006, 08:12 PM

i was also trying to find out about the bullet diameter but evidently they are different. the 44 magnum uses .429 bullets but the 44-40 uses .427.