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Old May 5, 2020, 12:47 PM   #1
Peter R
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44-40 revolver

Looking for a little bit of input. I have a 44–40 Rossi And thanks to some of you who have commented on that post I am successfully reloading for it.
Now I am looking to pick up a Single action cowboy style revolver.
Will most likely be buying new. Any particular makes or manufactures you would suggest I look at, or stay away from.
Thanks.
Peter
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Old May 5, 2020, 01:04 PM   #2
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If you can afford and find one in good to excellent condition, go for a Merwin & Hulbert Frontier:

https://www.gunsinternational.com/gu...n_id=101415311

I would buy one if living in the states!

In case you want a cheaper and still shootable gun, you can buy any of the Taylors and Co. models.

https://www.taylorsfirearms.com/hand...rd-finish.html
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Old May 5, 2020, 03:00 PM   #3
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I've been shooting a Uberti Cattleman in 44-40. I've lost count on how many rounds but has to be well into the thousands and she runs like a top.
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Old May 5, 2020, 03:37 PM   #4
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I have a Uberti/Cimarron in 44-40 and love it.
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Old May 5, 2020, 03:49 PM   #5
Jim Watson
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I have a Cimarron which was then ASM, but they are now made by Uberti.
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Old May 5, 2020, 06:40 PM   #6
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Uberti made SAA's are great revolvers and are sold by Taylor's and Cimarron in many variations. Pietta also makes a nice Colt replica and they are sold by EMF under the Great Western name. Check out their websites, many options as far as grips, finishes and factory tuned actions. Take your pic and have fun.
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Old May 6, 2020, 07:32 AM   #7
44 Dave
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When you get one (or 2) you might want to slug the barrel as there is quite a variation in .44-40. As you may know.
Have herd that early Rugers used the same barrels on their .44 Mag ,they like a .431.
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Old May 6, 2020, 08:55 AM   #8
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I've suggested Taylor's because at a moderate price you can get a tuned revolver. But any other importer or brand could offer you good pieces, too.
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Old May 21, 2020, 05:44 PM   #9
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All importers as well as manufactures seem to have up and down years. Uberti certainly has better quality all the way around. Parts are available.

Taylor's does seem to be the better importer.

Disclaimer: There is a reason why I don't gamble!!!!
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Old May 21, 2020, 05:51 PM   #10
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Another thing to consider when you swap to Rifle/Revolver combination. If you are cowboy shooting, plinking or wanting a load for both, Unique is probably the better of the pistol powders.

If you are looking for rifle accuracy at long distanced backed with original ballistics, better stick to mid-range rifle powders like 2400, IMR4227, Reloder 7.

PDF - VIEW file https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CVN.../view?ths=true

Last edited by Savvy_Jack; May 24, 2020 at 11:26 AM.
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Old June 10, 2020, 11:10 AM   #11
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New, I think your only choices for .44-40 are Uberti and Pietta. Heritage doesn't make one yet, and I think Standard Manufacturing is only in .45 Colt. Colt will probably make you one too, if you have deep pockets and can wait a few months for it. Used USFA's are floating around, but pricey. AWA's too.

I'm pretty sure everybody standardized on .429" barrels several decades ago, even Colt. The problem with the Vaquero is chamber throats tended to be slightly undersize in .44-40, and grossly undersize in .38-40. I rented a throat reamer for my three .38-40's, but the four .44-40's I currently have, I just use a .428" bullet, and they work fine. Actually, I size all my .44-40 cast bullets to .428", so I don't have to keep different bullet sizes on hand, or loaded .44-40 with two different bullets on the shelf.

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Old June 10, 2020, 07:06 PM   #12
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Taylor-Tuned/Uberti Smokewagon is the cat's meow.
IMHO, none better for the money.
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Old June 17, 2020, 01:38 PM   #13
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Quote:
If you can afford and find one in good to excellent condition, go for a Merwin & Hulbert Frontier:

https://www.gunsinternational.com/gu...n_id=101415311

I would buy one if living in the states!
If you lived in the states you would soon realize that Merwin Hulberts are not falling out of trees.

Trust me on this.

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Old June 17, 2020, 05:05 PM   #14
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Quote:
'm pretty sure everybody standardized on .429" barrels several decades ago, even Colt.
Factory ammo has "always" used .427" bullets, so it would be kind of weird for them to standardize on a non-standard spec.
Colt actually used the same .427" barrels on their .44 Russian and .44 Special sixguns.
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Old June 17, 2020, 05:10 PM   #15
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Quote:
Factory ammo has "always" used .427" bullets, so it would be kind of weird for them to standardize on a non-standard spec.
I've had three modern 44-40 repros and they all had .429 bores. One came with a 44-40 cylinder and a .44 special cylinder.
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Old June 17, 2020, 05:39 PM   #16
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Of my 34 modern .44-40's, all but one slugged .429", give or take half a thousandth. One, a Navy Arms imported Uberti 1875 Remington, measures about .4315". In all fairness, I've never pulled a factory .44-40 bullet and mic'd it, so they could very well be .427", I suppose.

Ruger did a really weird thing with the .38-40's they made for Lipsey's, and no one really has a definitive answer why. They used a proper forty cal barrel, but made the chamber mouths way undersize at about .396". One story I've heard is the only jacketed factory ammo available at the time was a Winchester offering that used a .396" bullet, so that's how they cut the cylinders. Who knows.
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Old June 18, 2020, 03:01 PM   #17
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I rummaged around in the back room, found a box of Remington 200 grain jacketed soft points (R4440W), and pulled three of them...

... they actually measure only .426". Interesting.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg R4440W.jpg (141.8 KB, 55 views)
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Old June 18, 2020, 08:20 PM   #18
44 Dave
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Guess the ammo. manufactures figure if the bullet rattles down the barrel it won't build enough pressure to blow up those old .44s.
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Old June 18, 2020, 09:39 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Driftwood Johnson View Post
If you lived in the states you would soon realize that Merwin Hulberts are not falling out of trees.

Trust me on this.

Totally trust you. But trust me it is even harder to find one here in South America. I didn't buy one at a local auction a couple of years ago, action damaged but capable of being fixed, for a hundred bucks, and I'm still crying for it...
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Old February 3, 2022, 08:36 PM   #20
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I have had a Cimarron 1873 catteman for one year, biggest POS I ever bought...in 44-40... Full cock position, it won't lock up . Hits off center on the primers. Miss fires. Cimarron refuses to give an RA number. 2 licensed gunsmiths have worked on it. Still mis-fires.. A range embarrassment. Do not depend on these guns to save your life. Especially the Cattleman 2. Waste of money. !!! Gun still won't fire a full cylinder without misfires with any ammo. !! Cimarron says a 5 year year warranty , Good luck getting them to fix it !! Email, or phone calls don't work !!! Warranty is a joke !!
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Old February 3, 2022, 11:46 PM   #21
44 Dave
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I think You ca get the original type hammer, but that would cost you money.
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Old March 28, 2022, 07:45 PM   #22
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send me a PM, I will send you my address and I will properly dispose of it for you.
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Old April 5, 2022, 09:49 PM   #23
Driftwood Johnson
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Howdy Again

I have about five rifles at last count chambered for 44-40. Antiques and modern. Originally the bullet diameter for 44-40 was .427, but it could vary widely. Most (but not all) modern manufacturers are using the same .429 diameter barrels that they use for 44 Special/44 Mag. I have slugged all my 44-40 rifles. Interestingly enough, the groove diameter of my Uberti replica Winchester Model 1873 is the original diameter, .427. My Uberti replica Henry has a groove diameter of .429. Some of my antiques are .427, but a couple are .429.

Other than that Merwin Hulbert I posted a photo of, the only other revolver I have chambered for 44-40 is a double action Colt New Service.




Regarding bullet diameter, I have compromised on .428 for all my 44-40 loads. My Black Powder bullets are soft enough that the .428 bullets probably bump up enough to fill the grooves of my .429 Henry, and they also work fine in my rifles with .427 groove diameters. I have never been able to get an accurate measurement on the groove diameter of the Merwin Hulbert because the rifling has five grooves. But the .428 bullets work just fine in it.
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Old April 6, 2022, 08:27 AM   #24
Jim Watson
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Not commonly seen, largely because it doesn't fit CAS, the Remington 14 1/2 pump is a nice little .44-40. It has been reported to have a smaller groove diameter than other makes, down around .425".
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