Modern 44-40 Profile Bullets

The Bullet "Profile" refers to the bullet design outside of the case mouth. It should have a constant curving o'give from the case mouth to the flat point meplat. Some bullets have an external forward driving band and might not work when used with the Redding 44-40 "Profile" crimp die if larger than .429".

The Winchester factory only offers two cartridge options, Reduced "Cowboy" loads and Super-X "Hunting" loads. 

• Winchester's Super-X hunting JSP's are actually .4255" in diameter and has been since it's inception in 1895. Since 1978 they contain 7.5gr to 8.0gr of a disk powder (often referred to as a "flake" powder) and barely achieve 44 Henry ballistics. 

• Winchester Cowboy loads are nothing more than reduced loads that contain 4.9grs of a flake powder. The bullets are .429" swaged bullets, no lube grooves. Reduced Load, Competition Mouse Farts 

The true "original" 44-40 bullet has a diameter of .427ish for lead and .4255" for Jacketed with some original dissected lead bullets coming in at .424". Barrel bores do range from reported  .424" to .433" for some "original" rifles.

Most modern bores are .429" but Winchester still seams to use .427" bores. Most claim that modern barrels by some manufactures are simply 44 Magnum barrels but that is not necessarily true. Most 44 Special/Magnum's barrels have a 1:20" twist for 240gr bullets while the 44 Mag/Special rifle is or may be 1:38" and the 44-40 barrel is typically 1:36" for 200gr bullets.

Today's most popular lead bullet used in the 44-40, not a 44-40 "Profile" bullet, is typically cast commercially from a Magma Engineering mold. They have two bullet base design options, bevel and flat and both have an exposed forward driving band. These two options are broken down into three more options, bullet weights. Commercial casters like Oregon Trail call them by their custom name.

Original 44-40 lead bullets are pretty much what Winchester manufactures today but the lead bullets are not offered as reloading components. Their lead bullets are swaged bullets, not cast. Even Winchester's early handloading components were swaged bullets but did offer casting tools. Winchester's 1875 catalog reviles the following:

"Where it is desired to have a more perfect cartridge than can be made with a simple cast bullet, the best course is, if practicable, to purchase the machine swaged bullets, having grooves to receive the lubricating compound, from the manufactures; but, where this can not be done, a very perfect bullet can be made in hand swages, furnished to order. For ordinary use, however, it is found that the cast bullet will answer."

• Lyman basically replicated early Winchester profile bullets but the design changed slightly to what we today call the 427098. Perhaps it better replicates Remington's 217gr bullet.

• An acquired Bridgeport mold drops a perfect original style bullet.

• With the different barrel bores and custom molds available....customizing your loads is also an option.

• Crimping for each bullet can also be testy but rewarding when done properly. It is best to crimp the bullet per crimp design.

• If someone is having problems with roll crimping...that too is covered later

Chambering Issues