.44-40 question

wiking · July 9, 2008, 05:27 PM

I just bought a SAA copy chambered for .44-40, and am really looking forward to test-firing it. But i've run across a wee temporary problem.

When i bought it there was only two boxes of Winchester 200 grs Jacketed SP loads available (not exactly every day stuff this caliber) and the boxes are marked Express Rifle on the box. It raised some doubt in my mind wether this would be loaded to a safe velocity for use in a revolver, or if this is hot rifle loads. Anyone got any experience with these loads?

It ain't the greatest problem, i can wait for bullets and brass to arrive so i can load my own (allready have a die set), but it would be nice to know if i'm going to blow my fingers off (or atleast the top-strap) if the wait becomes to long.

GNLaFrance · July 9, 2008, 05:54 PM

Heisann, Wiking! My daughter and her new husband are in Trondheim.

The .44-40 or .44 Winchester Center Fire (WCF) was developed in 1873. It was first used in the 1873 Winchester lever-action rifle. Because it started out as a black powder cartridge for a rifle with a relatively weak action, it never was intended as a high-pressure round. It was adopted for single action revolvers because it made sense to have a rifle and revolver that fired the same round.

You don't mention your revolver's maker, but I assume it's a good, well-made one. Modern steels are much superior to those of the 19th century. Even so, the best advice I can give is to call the people who made the revolver and ask them if you can fire the rounds safely, then call Winchester and ask them if you can fire their rounds safely in that revolver.

If both makers say it's okay, then have a ball.

Hawg · July 9, 2008, 06:11 PM

It should be safe to use. I didn't find anything on Winchester ammo but I found this on Remington 44-40 express rifle. It has a muzzle velocity of 1190 fps,
muzzle energy: 629 ft. lbs. That's within the bounds of a SAA. I load my own and that's a little hotter than I like to run through one but should be fine.

wiking · July 10, 2008, 01:30 AM

That's a typo in the first post, it is those Remington rounds.

The gun is a new Pietta SAA.

on another note, anyone got any nice and mild CAS\training loads they'd like to share.

Hawg · July 10, 2008, 07:06 AM

When I shoot smokeless I use 7 grs. of W231 with a 200 gr. bullet but it's got a lil kick to it. I suppose if you want it mild you could load it down to 5 or so. Just be careful not to double charge a case. A full case of bp is much mo funner tho.

Fingers McGee · July 10, 2008, 06:45 PM

28 grains of BP or Pinnacle sub works pretty good. IIRC I used about 5 gr of Accurate N100 when I loaded smokeless. It was a moderate load.

wiking · July 11, 2008, 06:26 PM

Thanks for the replys, i'll be testing it now on saturday or sunday. (that's today or tomorrow by Norwegian time zones actually, it's getting late)

American brand powders are a bitch to get a hold off here in Norway, most people use Vihtavuori or Norma. But we've got a couple of cans at work (i'm helping out at the aforementioned gun store) so i'll look into what we have.

July 9, 2008, 05:27 PM	#1
wiking Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: Norway Posts: 29	.44-40 question I just bought a SAA copy chambered for .44-40, and am really looking forward to test-firing it. But i've run across a wee temporary problem. When i bought it there was only two boxes of Winchester 200 grs Jacketed SP loads available (not exactly every day stuff this caliber) and the boxes are marked Express Rifle on the box. It raised some doubt in my mind wether this would be loaded to a safe velocity for use in a revolver, or if this is hot rifle loads. Anyone got any experience with these loads? It ain't the greatest problem, i can wait for bullets and brass to arrive so i can load my own (allready have a die set), but it would be nice to know if i'm going to blow my fingers off (or atleast the top-strap) if the wait becomes to long.

July 9, 2008, 05:54 PM	#2
GNLaFrance Member Join Date: June 29, 2008 Location: Near Baltimore, the Soviet Socialist Democratic People's Republic of Maryland Posts: 81	Heisann, Wiking! My daughter and her new husband are in Trondheim. The .44-40 or .44 Winchester Center Fire (WCF) was developed in 1873. It was first used in the 1873 Winchester lever-action rifle. Because it started out as a black powder cartridge for a rifle with a relatively weak action, it never was intended as a high-pressure round. It was adopted for single action revolvers because it made sense to have a rifle and revolver that fired the same round. You don't mention your revolver's maker, but I assume it's a good, well-made one. Modern steels are much superior to those of the 19th century. Even so, the best advice I can give is to call the people who made the revolver and ask them if you can fire the rounds safely, then call Winchester and ask them if you can fire their rounds safely in that revolver. If both makers say it's okay, then have a ball. __________________ Guy N. LaFrance Collector of Curios & Relics, Maryland Designated Collector Maryland Shall Issue, GOA, NRA, SAF, JPFO Grand Army of the Frontier, National Congress of Old West Shootists

July 10, 2008, 06:45 PM	#6
Fingers McGee Senior Member Join Date: March 19, 2008 Location: High & Dry in Missouri Ozarks Posts: 2,113	28 grains of BP or Pinnacle sub works pretty good. IIRC I used about 5 gr of Accurate N100 when I loaded smokeless. It was a moderate load. __________________ Fingers (Show Me MO smoke) McGee - AKA Man of Many Colts - Alter ego of Diabolical Ken; SASS Regulator 28564-L-TG; Rangemaster and stage writer extraordinaire; Frontiersman, Pistoleer, NRA Endowment Life, NMLRA, SAF, CCRKBA, STORM 327, SV115; Charter member, Central Ozarks Western Shooters Cynic: A blackguard whose faulty vision see things as they are, not as they should be. Ambrose Bierce

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July 9, 2008, 06:11 PM	#3
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	It should be safe to use. I didn't find anything on Winchester ammo but I found this on Remington 44-40 express rifle. It has a muzzle velocity of 1190 fps, muzzle energy: 629 ft. lbs. That's within the bounds of a SAA. I load my own and that's a little hotter than I like to run through one but should be fine.

July 10, 2008, 01:30 AM	#4
wiking Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: Norway Posts: 29	That's a typo in the first post, it is those Remington rounds. The gun is a new Pietta SAA. on another note, anyone got any nice and mild CAS\training loads they'd like to share.

July 10, 2008, 07:06 AM	#5
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	When I shoot smokeless I use 7 grs. of W231 with a 200 gr. bullet but it's got a lil kick to it. I suppose if you want it mild you could load it down to 5 or so. Just be careful not to double charge a case. A full case of bp is much mo funner tho.

July 11, 2008, 06:26 PM	#7
wiking Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: Norway Posts: 29	Thanks for the replys, i'll be testing it now on saturday or sunday. (that's today or tomorrow by Norwegian time zones actually, it's getting late) American brand powders are a bitch to get a hold off here in Norway, most people use Vihtavuori or Norma. But we've got a couple of cans at work (i'm helping out at the aforementioned gun store) so i'll look into what we have.