44-40 questions
#11
RE: 44-40 questions
Ok, so essentially they are the same except the older 44-40 uses black powder and a slightly smaller bullet, .427 instead of the .429? And the shells arent interchangeable?
#12
RE: 44-40 questions
The .44/40 is the .45 Colt case necked down to fire .427" bullets, but bullets (especially cast ones) up to .430" can be used in one, IF the chamber neck is large enough in diameter that it allows the case neck to easily relaease the bullet on firing. You can check for this, by trying to slide a bullet of a given diameter into the mouth of a case fired in your chamber. If the bullet slides into the casse mouth easily, you can use it.
Inthe old Lyman 46 Edition reloading manual, I find the following MAXIMUM loads:
200 grain Jacketed softpoin bullet-(Remington make)-27.5 grains of Herc. 2400-MV = 2079 FPS
200 grain jacketed softpoint bullet-(Remington make)-29 grains of IMR 4227-MV= 2012 FPS
These loads used R-P cases and REM. 2-1/2 LP primers
These loads were tested in a Model 92 Winchester, so should not strain your new Marlin much - BUT!!
Note that these two are MAXIMUM loads with powders available way back, and I have heard that the new Alliant version of 2400 is faster than the Hercules version of 2400.
You will get close to 1800 FPS using 23.8 to 24 grains of Alliant 2400, or a charge of 25.9-26 grains of IMR4227.
As the 44/40 is based on the 45 Colt case, it has a larger case volume than the 44 Magnum case. Consequently, any powder charge given for the 44 magnum will produce LESS velocity and pressure in the 44/40 thanwhen used in the 44 magnum. In addition, you are using a lighter bullet, so overall, you are going to be pretty safe if you use theseloads in bold type above as a starting point.
IF your chamber dimensions are generous enough to use .429" bullets, I'd use them, as the selection of .429" bullets is much larger than .427" bullets!
Good luck - post your results!
Inthe old Lyman 46 Edition reloading manual, I find the following MAXIMUM loads:
200 grain Jacketed softpoin bullet-(Remington make)-27.5 grains of Herc. 2400-MV = 2079 FPS
200 grain jacketed softpoint bullet-(Remington make)-29 grains of IMR 4227-MV= 2012 FPS
These loads used R-P cases and REM. 2-1/2 LP primers
These loads were tested in a Model 92 Winchester, so should not strain your new Marlin much - BUT!!
Note that these two are MAXIMUM loads with powders available way back, and I have heard that the new Alliant version of 2400 is faster than the Hercules version of 2400.
You will get close to 1800 FPS using 23.8 to 24 grains of Alliant 2400, or a charge of 25.9-26 grains of IMR4227.
As the 44/40 is based on the 45 Colt case, it has a larger case volume than the 44 Magnum case. Consequently, any powder charge given for the 44 magnum will produce LESS velocity and pressure in the 44/40 thanwhen used in the 44 magnum. In addition, you are using a lighter bullet, so overall, you are going to be pretty safe if you use theseloads in bold type above as a starting point.
IF your chamber dimensions are generous enough to use .429" bullets, I'd use them, as the selection of .429" bullets is much larger than .427" bullets!
Good luck - post your results!
#13
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 11
RE: 44-40 questions
Thanks for all the info. I would love to try cast bullets but am new to reloading and don't know anything about them. Don't really want to invest all the money in casting my own. Since I wasn't sure about the bullet diameter I didn't know where to begin.
#14
RE: 44-40 questions
ORIGINAL: bwills1829
Thanks for all the info. I would love to try cast bullets but am new to reloading and don't know anything about them. Don't really want to invest all the money in casting my own. Since I wasn't sure about the bullet diameter I didn't know where to begin.
Thanks for all the info. I would love to try cast bullets but am new to reloading and don't know anything about them. Don't really want to invest all the money in casting my own. Since I wasn't sure about the bullet diameter I didn't know where to begin.
So for the .44/40 rifle, I'd want mine about Brinell 15 (about like Lyman No. 2 alloy unhardened) and .001" OVER whatever your groove diameter turns out to be, if I planned to shoot them at 1800 FPS.
Check out this site for more info- contact The Bull Shop if you need some bullets made to your specs..... http://bullshop.gunloads.comThey make great bullets at reasonable prices.
#15
RE: 44-40 questions
Eldeguello, you have been a wealth of knowledge in just about every post that I have ever read of yours. Thank you for that. It is very interesting to learn about some of these old guns and how some of the older guns morphed into what we now have.
#17
RE: 44-40 questions
ORIGINAL: TUK101
Eldeguello, you have been a wealth of knowledge in just about every post that I have ever read of yours. Thank you for that. It is very interesting to learn about some of these old guns and how some of the older guns morphed into what we now have.
Eldeguello, you have been a wealth of knowledge in just about every post that I have ever read of yours. Thank you for that. It is very interesting to learn about some of these old guns and how some of the older guns morphed into what we now have.
#18
RE: 44-40 questions
ORIGINAL: bwills1829
I agree and thanks for the help. The main reason I bought the gun was because of the caliber. Something old and intresting. I hope to take a deer with it before the season is out here in VA.
I agree and thanks for the help. The main reason I bought the gun was because of the caliber. Something old and intresting. I hope to take a deer with it before the season is out here in VA.
#19
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 11
RE: 44-40 questions
Will do and thanks again. It may be a little while though. The wife and I just had another little girl last week. That's number three. So as you can imagine extra time is a little scarce right now. She thinks I'm spending to much time on the net and asked me yesterday if I was looking up porn. If you've had kids you know how their hormones get.