Shooting Uberti's .44-40 1873 carbine with black powder

duelist1954 · March 18, 2013, 08:29 AM

I recently wrote an article on the rifles used by the Texas Rangers for the summer issue of Guns of the Old West magazine. I hadn't shot my .44-40 1873 carbine much in the last few years because I've been shooting .45 Colt guns in CAS matches. But writing the article inspired me to get the .44-40 out for a range session.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHqmw7eSKRc

Bishop Creek · March 18, 2013, 09:59 AM

Thanks for the video Mike. I have an 1873 .44-40 rifle with a 30" barrel that I normally shoot with smokeless rounds. I'm going to shoot black powder cartridges with it soon.

Doc Hoy · March 19, 2013, 10:14 AM

You are forcing me to get started loading another caliber.

Anybody got any 44-40 brass?

.

.
. . . ;o)

Chowmif16 · March 23, 2013, 01:20 PM

Doc,
I don't have any 44-40 brass anymore, but I do have some 44-40 loading dies. You might do my checkbook a huge favor and take the dies from me. I don't have a 44-40 gun anymore and was thinking just today about how it might be nice to find something in 44-40. I watched Mike's video on the 1873, and the Remington New Model Army.
Addiction is a terrible thing....

Mike, thanks for the video, and all the others,
Cheers,
Chowmi

Hawg · March 23, 2013, 05:12 PM

Reloading the 44-40 is a learning experience.

Bishop Creek · March 23, 2013, 06:02 PM

That's what I've heard Hawg. I reload .45 Long Colt, .45 Schofield, .38 Special and .38 S&W, but haven't tried .44-40 yet, though I do have the brass.

Hawg · March 23, 2013, 06:32 PM

If you use RCBS cowboy dies it's not so bad. Originally the 44-40 was sized to .427. Modern 44-40's are sized to 429. Most reloading dies still size to .427. Trying to shove a .430 bullet down a thin .427 case neck results in a crushed case. The cowboy dies size to .429. If you have dies from another maker you can use a .44 mag expander plug or what I do is use a wad punch to bell the case mouth a little more.

Bishop Creek · March 23, 2013, 06:42 PM

Thanks for the tips! Can I use RCBS dies in my Lee Turret press?

Hawg · March 23, 2013, 07:11 PM

Yes. RCBS make standard 44-40 dies too, so you want to make sure you get cowboy dies unless you're reloading for a vintage gun or a Ruger.

Bishop Creek · March 23, 2013, 07:24 PM

Thanks Hawg! It is for a Uberti 1873 lever rifle.

44 Dave · March 23, 2013, 10:46 PM

Cowboy dies?, shouldn't the 44-40 be sized to the same dimensions?
When I first started reloading 44-40 was using .427 jacketed. now cast .429. My sizing die will not allow .431 to to be loaded. I suggest using a factory crimp die if loading for use in a rifle and not try to set the bullet and get a tight crimp with out squashing the brass.

Hawg · March 23, 2013, 11:49 PM

Most modern guns have .429 bores making the .429 jacketed bullet or .430 cast bullet pretty much a necessity. One of my revolvers is a convertible, 44 special and 44-40 so you know it has the larger bore. I use home cast .430's but my dies won't expand the case enough. Cowboy dies will. I've used the same loads in two revolvers and a rifle. I have a FCD but I don't use it. I crushed a few cases early on before I found out about the size difference. I don't crush any now.

March 18, 2013, 08:29 AM	#1
duelist1954 Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2011 Location: Central Pennsylvania Posts: 567	Shooting Uberti's .44-40 1873 carbine with black powder I recently wrote an article on the rifles used by the Texas Rangers for the summer issue of Guns of the Old West magazine. I hadn't shot my .44-40 1873 carbine much in the last few years because I've been shooting .45 Colt guns in CAS matches. But writing the article inspired me to get the .44-40 out for a range session. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHqmw7eSKRc

March 19, 2013, 10:14 AM	#3
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	Dog gonnit Mike... You are forcing me to get started loading another caliber. Anybody got any 44-40 brass? . . . . . ;o) __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

March 23, 2013, 01:20 PM	#4
Chowmif16 Senior Member Join Date: April 22, 2012 Location: Huntsville, Utah Posts: 106	No brass, but loading dies Doc, I don't have any 44-40 brass anymore, but I do have some 44-40 loading dies. You might do my checkbook a huge favor and take the dies from me. I don't have a 44-40 gun anymore and was thinking just today about how it might be nice to find something in 44-40. I watched Mike's video on the 1873, and the Remington New Model Army. Addiction is a terrible thing.... Mike, thanks for the video, and all the others, Cheers, Chowmi __________________ Chowmi

March 23, 2013, 07:24 PM	#10
Bishop Creek Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Posts: 566	Thanks Hawg! It is for a Uberti 1873 lever rifle. Last edited by Bishop Creek; March 23, 2013 at 08:15 PM.

March 18, 2013, 09:59 AM	#2
Bishop Creek Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Posts: 566	Thanks for the video Mike. I have an 1873 .44-40 rifle with a 30" barrel that I normally shoot with smokeless rounds. I'm going to shoot black powder cartridges with it soon.

March 23, 2013, 05:12 PM	#5
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	Reloading the 44-40 is a learning experience.

March 23, 2013, 06:02 PM	#6
Bishop Creek Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Posts: 566	That's what I've heard Hawg. I reload .45 Long Colt, .45 Schofield, .38 Special and .38 S&W, but haven't tried .44-40 yet, though I do have the brass.

March 23, 2013, 06:32 PM	#7
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	If you use RCBS cowboy dies it's not so bad. Originally the 44-40 was sized to .427. Modern 44-40's are sized to 429. Most reloading dies still size to .427. Trying to shove a .430 bullet down a thin .427 case neck results in a crushed case. The cowboy dies size to .429. If you have dies from another maker you can use a .44 mag expander plug or what I do is use a wad punch to bell the case mouth a little more.

March 23, 2013, 06:42 PM	#8
Bishop Creek Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Posts: 566	Thanks for the tips! Can I use RCBS dies in my Lee Turret press?

March 23, 2013, 07:11 PM	#9
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	Yes. RCBS make standard 44-40 dies too, so you want to make sure you get cowboy dies unless you're reloading for a vintage gun or a Ruger.

March 23, 2013, 10:46 PM	#11
44 Dave Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2013 Posts: 584	Cowboy dies?, shouldn't the 44-40 be sized to the same dimensions? When I first started reloading 44-40 was using .427 jacketed. now cast .429. My sizing die will not allow .431 to to be loaded. I suggest using a factory crimp die if loading for use in a rifle and not try to set the bullet and get a tight crimp with out squashing the brass.

March 23, 2013, 11:49 PM	#12
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	Most modern guns have .429 bores making the .429 jacketed bullet or .430 cast bullet pretty much a necessity. One of my revolvers is a convertible, 44 special and 44-40 so you know it has the larger bore. I use home cast .430's but my dies won't expand the case enough. Cowboy dies will. I've used the same loads in two revolvers and a rifle. I have a FCD but I don't use it. I crushed a few cases early on before I found out about the size difference. I don't crush any now.