I recently discovered the .44-40. While an experienced reloader and caster, working with this classic cartridge has been an education! I have been working with a Marlin 1894S with Microgroove barrel and a Ruger revolver. Both guns have larger groove diameters of .44 Magnum dimensions and while the Marlin chamber is large enough to accept bullets which “fit", the Ruger revolver required custom chambering a cylinder.
I have loads worked out which perform well in my modern guns with smokeless powder and have no intention of using black powder. I will share my findings in an upcoming Fouling Shot article, but would like to start a .44-40 thread here to give others a chance to sound off and share their experiences and tips.
What I found of particular interest that the #2400 and 4227 powders often recommended for the Winchester 92 gave extremely erratic velocities. Accuracy was far inferior to what I could get with Bullseye or RL7.
RL7 isn't thought of as a revolver powder, but gave acceptable velocity with good accuracy, producing only a moderate amount of unburned powder, when testing the “rifle rounds” which gave me best accuracy, but firing them in my revolver. These would not be the first choice handgun ammunition, but could be used as a hunting expedient.
Bullseye and Red Dot gave excellent accuracy in both rifle and revolver, producing velocities similar to black powder ammunition, HOWEVER, the best loads with those powders exceed factory pressure and should NOT be used in Colt single-actions or link-locked lever actions designed for black powder ammunition.
There are the loads I use successfully, please talk about yours!
Group 1 loads - safe in any .44-40 rifle or revolver: 200-grain (Accurate 43-200Q, wheeweights, .430") 15.4 grains #2400 1178 fps Marlin 1894S 20” 6.5 grains Bullseye 1142 fps Marlin 1894S 20” 5.0 grains Red Dot 894 fps Marlin 1894S 20” - Do Not Reduce 7.4 grains Red Dot 1203 fps Marlin 1894S 20” - Max.,Colts and link- locked levers 24.5 grains RL7 1359 fps Marlin 1894S 20", 901 fps Ruger 5-1/2” - based on old Hercules Data “should not” exceed SAAMI pressure and is believed safe in older guns
Group 2 LOADS ”€œ Win. 92, Marlin 1894S and RUGERs only:
200-grain Remington JSP .427", Starline cases, Rem. 2-1/2 primers, OAL 1.60" 8.4 grains Bullseye 1264 fps Marlin 20", 1000 fps 5-1/2” Ruger
200-grain Hornady XTP .430", Starline cases, Rem.2-1/2 primers, OAL 1.60" 8.4 grains Bullseye 1197 fps Marlin 20", 1036 fps Ruger 5-1/2"
200-grain cast lead bullet (Accurate 43-200Q Wheelweights, .430", OAL 1.60") 7.2 grains Bullseye 1284 fps Marlin 20", 967 fps Ruger 5-1/2" 7.8 grains Red Dot 1248 fps Marlin 20", 1023 fps Ruger 5-1/2" 8.3 grains Red Dot 1317 fps Marlin 20", 1073 fps Ruger 5-1/2" 26 grains Alliant RL7 1420 fps Marlin 20", 1050 fps Ruger 5-1/2"
230-grain cast lead bullet, (Accurate 43-230G, wheelweights, .430", OAL 1.61") 8.3 grains Red Dot 1254 fps Marlin 20", 1027 fps Ruger 5-1/2" 24.5 grains Alliant RL7 1323 fps Marlin 20", 957 fps Ruger 5-1/2"
These loads were safe in my Marlin rifle and Ruger revolver. Use at your own risk.
73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia
