Need some load help

ibdecent · February 17, 2010, 07:19 PM

Me and my wife's grandfather are working up a couple loads for him.
the calibers are:
.44-40 wcf out of a ruger vaquero 6" and a 1892 winchester lever (i believe it's a '92):

200 gr lead rnfp
5.9 gr Unique

and .45 Colt (LC):
200 gr lead RN
6.5 gr Unique

For the .44-40 my hornady manual lists 5.5-7.0 gr for 205 gr. bullets (in both pistol and rifle). I can only get my hands on 200 gr and I also read in the manual that "factory and fired cases have a strong cannelure to keep the factory loaded 200 gr bullet from beeing pushed too deep. Heavier bullets caused this cannelure to bulge out, producing chambering problems. The .44-40 is at its best with 200 gr bullets."

the cases I will be using are once fired from his guns. is the above quip from the hornady reloading manual 7th edition spot on or is it bogus?

will there be any issues with that load out of both guns that anyone can see off the top of their head?

just for plinking and thats all. thanks in advance,
brandon decent

Hawg · February 17, 2010, 10:13 PM

Those are good loads if you like Unique(I don't)but a little on the light side. I use 6.0 grs of W231 in my SAA clone and 92. The rifle will handle loads equal to 44 magnum and if the pistol is an old vaq it will too, the new vaq wont. The 44-40 can be loaded to those pressures but the thin cases won't last long

bubba15301 · February 18, 2010, 08:46 PM

I LOAD 9.0 gr unique and a 205 gr bullet in my vaquero - did you measure the cylinder throats- mine was way undersized measured .424 instead of.427 to match the barrel

ibdecent · February 19, 2010, 09:31 PM

i read an article about ruger having undersized throats and oversized barrels on their 44-40s. the only reason I chose unique is because it will work for both the .45 and 44-40. I appreciate the info guys, thanks!

Hawg · February 20, 2010, 05:31 AM

So will W231 and it's a lot cleaner. Unique is some dirty stuff.

February 17, 2010, 07:19 PM	#1
ibdecent Member Join Date: June 1, 2009 Location: Brainerd MN Posts: 82	Need some load help Me and my wife's grandfather are working up a couple loads for him. the calibers are: .44-40 wcf out of a ruger vaquero 6" and a 1892 winchester lever (i believe it's a '92): 200 gr lead rnfp 5.9 gr Unique and .45 Colt (LC): 200 gr lead RN 6.5 gr Unique For the .44-40 my hornady manual lists 5.5-7.0 gr for 205 gr. bullets (in both pistol and rifle). I can only get my hands on 200 gr and I also read in the manual that "factory and fired cases have a strong cannelure to keep the factory loaded 200 gr bullet from beeing pushed too deep. Heavier bullets caused this cannelure to bulge out, producing chambering problems. The .44-40 is at its best with 200 gr bullets." the cases I will be using are once fired from his guns. is the above quip from the hornady reloading manual 7th edition spot on or is it bogus? will there be any issues with that load out of both guns that anyone can see off the top of their head? just for plinking and thats all. thanks in advance, brandon decent __________________ There's no substitution for caliber GLOBAL WARMING? What temperature is it supposed to be? Machinists do it with precision

February 18, 2010, 08:46 PM	#3
bubba15301 Member Join Date: May 10, 2009 Location: pa Posts: 75	44/40 I LOAD 9.0 gr unique and a 205 gr bullet in my vaquero - did you measure the cylinder throats- mine was way undersized measured .424 instead of.427 to match the barrel

February 19, 2010, 09:31 PM	#4
ibdecent Member Join Date: June 1, 2009 Location: Brainerd MN Posts: 82	i read an article about ruger having undersized throats and oversized barrels on their 44-40s. the only reason I chose unique is because it will work for both the .45 and 44-40. I appreciate the info guys, thanks! __________________ There's no substitution for caliber GLOBAL WARMING? What temperature is it supposed to be? Machinists do it with precision

February 17, 2010, 10:13 PM	#2
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	Those are good loads if you like Unique(I don't)but a little on the light side. I use 6.0 grs of W231 in my SAA clone and 92. The rifle will handle loads equal to 44 magnum and if the pistol is an old vaq it will too, the new vaq wont. The 44-40 can be loaded to those pressures but the thin cases won't last long

February 20, 2010, 05:31 AM	#5
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	So will W231 and it's a lot cleaner. Unique is some dirty stuff.