(English Version) French 44-40 Two Part Article by John Taylor

March/April-July/August 2014 (John has since changed some ways he hand-loads these cartridges) NOTE: Use caution as some words may not translate very well!

Johannes COUTURIER 

Alias John "Watching Bear" TAYLOR 

SASS Life Member No. 81092

RETURN TO THE RELOADING OF 44-40 Part 1 

One of the very first articles we wrote in 2002 was about reloading one of our favorite cartridges, 44-40 Winchester... Since water passed under the bridge, some powders disappeared, new ones arrived, and new mussels and projectiles, We went on testing, we learned new things, reviewed some of our judgments, and almost twelve years later, it seemed interesting to us to close the loop by putting the cover back one last time with this venerable cartridge. 

We will go to the detailed history of this cartridge, as it was done in our 2002 article (1). On the other hand, and although this was also clarified in this first article, we will discuss in detail the various problems specifically posed by 44-40. 

THE CHOICE OF PROJECTILES. 

The 44-40 cartridge was created in 1873 for the Winchester rifle of the same vintage and originally used a load of 40 grains (2.60 g) of black powder propelling a projectile from 200 grains (13 g) to about 380 m/s. The very first copies of Winchester 1873 had barrels with a stripe-bottom diameter of about .425 inches (10.79 mm), but shortly after production began, and for reasons we do not know, this diameter was increased to .427 inches (10.84 mm). However, given the precision of the tools used at that time, it can still be quite variable on most weapons of the 19th century. These days, things have not changed much, and although the full diameter of the weapons in 44-40 was re-standardized to .429 inches (10.90 mm) in the late 1990s, depending on the date of manufacture and the brand, both in handguns and long guns, it is clear that, in fact, The diameter can be roughly .425 inches (10.79 mm) to .433 inches (10.99 mm)!... So before you even start reloading, the first two things you need to do are to raise the internal diameter of the, or of the guns, of the various weapons for which you are considering recharging and, of course, to choose your projectiles, or your mold with bullets, accordingly, and taking into account that lead bullets usually give the best precision with .00 projectiles 01 to .002 inches (0.025 to 0.050 mm) more than the scratch-bottom diameter. 

Although in principle it looks simple, it’s where everything starts to get complicated! Indeed, the "official" diameter remaining of .427 inch (10.84 mm) means that the majority of bullet mussels produce projectiles between .428 and .429 thumb (10,87 mm to 10,89 mm) out of casting. If your gun is .428 or less problem, but if it is more?... We would, of course, be tempted to use molds designed for the 44 Special or the 44 Magnum (standardized for .429 guns), only these will usually produce heavy projectiles, the ideal weight for the 44-40 being between 200 and 220 grains. In addition, if the projectiles are to be refilled in the form of PSF, they will also have to be fitted with a winding throat. Otherwise, in tube-store weapons, they will sink into the cases as a result of the hindsight, but on the projectiles provided for in the 44 Special or the 44 Magnum, the crushing cany is, in most cases, located too low. not to respect the maximum overall length of the 44-40 (40.44 mm) and may cause power problems in certain types of weapons (2). 

While all of this may seem complex, let’s be reassured, there are at least three mussels that are relatively easy to buy and meet the requirements: Lee 429-200-RF, SAECO #420 and N.E.I. 429-222-HB #246B#246B, these three mussels producing projectiles of good weight, actually fitted with a weaving throat, and sufficient diameter to calibrate them to .430 or even .431 (to be checked). If the projectiles produced by the first two molds are all the more classic, it should be noted that the N.E.I. is, moreover, of the Minié type (hollow-base), and, given this configuration, it will therefore solve all problems of diameter and, or, leakage, which could be found, in both handguns and long-guns (3).

Unfortunately, when we began to recharge 44-40, none of these mussels existed and, of all the other specific mussels we had the opportunity to try at the time (as many as 4), the RCBS 44-200-FN is unquestionably the one that has always yielded the best results. Since most of the weapons we now have guns running around .429 in the background of scratches, we have personally solved the problem of diameter by having it retouch so that the projectiles come out of flow at .432 inches, so that they can calibrate to .430 or .431 inches (4). 

To conclude on the choice of the bullet mussels, and in case none of the ones mentioned here would suit you, avoid the mussels producing semi-wadcutter type projectiles which, if they do not pose particular problems with handguns, can, once again, cause problems with feeding with certain long weapons. The typical example is the Henry and Winchester 1866 and 1873 rifles, where the projectile is almost perfectly positioned in the center of the chamber, it is very common for the flat part around the nose to hang the back of the chamber, preventing the cartridge from being introduced. 

Finally, for those who already have a bullet mold, and would not like to change it, if the mold produces projectiles that are slightly too small in diameter for the current .429 gun, two solutions: either, as we have done for our RCBS, have it expanded to fit the desired diameter, or pour in a tender lead/tin alloy with a maximum of 1% to 3% tin (and especially no antimony!), and use the casting diameter projectiles by greasing/calibrating them with a diameter matrix immediately above (5). 

Also on the subject of projectiles, it should be noted that the companies Ares, Balistech, Balleurope and MPF all offer greasy and calibrated lead projectiles for the 44-40 available in diameter .427, but also in diameter .429 for Balleurope and MPF.

Since we are talking lead bullets, it should be noted that the only standard tool sets delivered with flares specifically designed for such projectiles are the Cowboy RCBS, the Redding and the Lyman. Knowing that this type of fan is entirely compatible with semi-armored projectiles, it will be in our best interest to choose from one of these three brands and, personally, we use a Lyman toolset. Finally, we will point out that the 44-40 with a narrowed case means that there are no carbide ring tool sets in this caliber, since technically this is only possible for perfectly cylindrical case cartridges. 

THE CHOICE OF ETUIS. 

Let us now turn to the cases because they may also pose some problems. As the 44-40 ribs are not very standardized, and some manufacturers producing weapons whose rooms are particularly narrow, or even of subtly different lengths, it may be difficult, if not impossible, to fit a mounted cartridge with projectiles of more than .428 inch in some weapons with a barrel of .429 inch in the background Pounds! 

What you should know is that the four 44-40 case brands most common in France are CBC, Remington, Starline and Winchester and that the lips thickness varies greatly from one manufacturer to another! The thickest cases are the CBC (~ .009 inches / 0.23 mm), closely followed by the Starlines and Remington (~ .008 inches / 0.20 mm), and the finest cases are Winchester (~ .007 inches / 0.18 mm). Although these differences may seem negligible, they are such that, in most cases, a weapon that cannot accept .429 to .431 inch projectiles with CBC, Starline or Remington cases will generally be able to do so without worrying about Winchester cases, and that is why we personally use only such cases! Another feature of the 44-40 cases (but also of all the Winchester cartridge cases designed for the 1873 model) is that their walls are relatively thin, making them fragile, and it will be necessary to be delicate when recalibrating so as not to damage the lips. In the case of the use of projectiles larger than the standard, we would also recommend adapting the internal calibration to the diameter of the said projectiles and, with the standard set of tools going on press, we would recommend: - Projectiles of .427 or .428 inch: Internal calibration with the standard diameter gage .425 provided with the tool set. - Projectiles from .429 to .431 inch: Internal Calibration with a .427 diameter fan for the 44 Special and 44 Magnum. 

In terms of external calibration, it is noted that on new cases, from one brand to another, the location of the shoulder can vary greatly! As the coasts of the rooms of the various manufacturers today, and the coasts of the reloading tools are equally variable, it is therefore best to adjust the first tool (recalibration/debugger) so that it does not retract the shoulder. Knowing that one also has an interest in calibrating to the minimum, if only because it affects precision, but also the longevity of the cases (especially in knee-jaw-operated rifles that, even if new, often have problems with excessive foliage), there is another option, namely calibrating them with a Lyman 310 tool, since it actually only gage the collar, and the case’s thrust into the tool is adjustable (6). 

In order to have the net heart, we have tested this solution, but also the partial recalibration with a classic tool rising on the press. For weaving, even as for recalibrating, above all for softness... Given its small thickness the 44-40 case is quick to please, adjust your tool gradually and, if the case looks like it is slumping or a slight buckle appears below the weaving, go back. To avoid any problems, make sure that all your cases are the same length. For information, the cases used in these tests were 32.80 mm long, with the maximum permissible length for the 44-40 being 33.15 mm. This length was not chosen at random because, after a few tests with inert cartridges carried out on cases ranging from 32.50 mm to 33 mm, it was found that, beyond 32.80 mm, they did not systematically field in all the 44-40 caliber weapons we had (7 in total, from 3 different manufacturers), not all of them have the same size. 

To conclude on the subject of cases, it should be noted that in some weapons, a Winchester case cartridge mounted with .430 or .431 inch projectiles may still force very slightly at the end of the chamber, either on the last or the last two millimeters. If this is the case but you really need to use projectiles of these diameters, the solution is: Reseat the cartridge loaded in the first tool (external caliber) after removing the defrosting rod.Watch out! In doing so, the cartridge should not be calibrated to the total height of the collar because it will automatically recalibrate the projectile inside and, usually a recalibration on the first 1 to 2 millimeters of the case is very ample! 

A FEW PRECISIONS ABOUT THE USABLE POWDERS. 

In general, the various reload manuals systematically split the tables devoted to 44-40 into two, and are therefore most often found, either tables adapted to the revolvers and tables adapted to modern long arms, or tables adapted to the so-called "weak" mechanisms and tables adapted to the so-called "resistant" mechanisms, with maximum permissible pressures of 1000 and 150 0 bars. This is due to the fact that, created in 1873, the 44-40 was manufactured without discontinuity until today and that, since the weapons that can house it have evolved with the advances of technology and metallurgy, not all have the same resistance. The latest arrivals, Winchester 1892 and Marlin 1894 for example, are significantly more "solid" than the Winchester 1873 and they are able to cash in 1500 bars without worries. That said, some current 44-40 caliber replicas with brass cases, logically one should create another category that could be called "fragile" mechanism weapons!... (7) From these differences in strength, it follows that the same will not necessarily be recharged for a "fragile" mechanism replica of Henry or Winchester 1866, for a Colt S.A.A., a replica of Winchester 1873 or a "weak" mechanism replica of Colt Lightning, and for a Winchester 18 92 or a Marlin 94 with "resistant" mechanisms. Since we will not reload in the same way, it also means that we will not necessarily use the same powders, and we will so just a little bit of time on the subject because, given what we have read on some forums, it seems that it is not very clear to everyone (8)!... 

The "potentially" powders usable in 44-40 are, in order of decreasing vivacity: 

In Vectan powders: Ba10, As, A1, Ba9, A0 and Sp3. 

In Vihtavuori powders: N310, N320, N32C, N330, N340 and N350 (9). 

What should be known is that, at identical initial speeds, slow powders generate lower pressures, but also that, at the same pressure, the slower the powder, the longer the pressure will last. From this one can infer that critical pressure will be achieved more quickly with a live powder, but also that, at the same pressure, a slow powder will cause more damage to the mechanism than a bright powder. Moreover, given the internal volume of the case, and knowing that, in theory, the best precision is obtained with the quickest powder giving the highest load density, the fastest powders, such as the Ba10 or the N310, are therefore not ideally suited for the 44-40 category cartridges, even if a number of shooters use them regularly , and without any particular concerns. 

At the other end of the range, Ba9 and Sp3 are generally good at high load density and heavy projectiles, and they are even known to cause excess pressure if the load density is too low! Due to the necessary loads, and the weight of the standard projectiles of 44-40, these two powders are not really suitable for this cartridge, and we would advise against their use in brass box and so-called "weak" mechanisms! 

In 44-40, and for weapons of this latter category, the most appropriate powders are, in our view, As, N320, N32C, A1, N330 and A0. The same powders can be used with Henry and Winchester 1866 brass box replicas, but the doses should be reduced. 

Finally, for the subsequent models (Marlin 1894, Winchester 1885 (tested PSF) and 1892, and the replicas of these models) all the above mentioned powders may be used, but N340, N350, Ba9 and Sp3 may also be used. It should be noted, however, that while these last two powders may indeed be able to carry out quite heavy loads, as we said just above, being a little "slow" for lead projectiles of only 200 to 220 grains, their use should be reserved for semi-armored projectiles. 

Johannes COUTURIER 

Alias John "Watching Bear" TAYLOR 

SASS Life Member No. 81092

NOTES: 

1) See this article in "Targets" No. 385. 

2) If you wish to respect this length of 40.44 mm, it is imperative that the nose of the projectile not exceed 7.40 mm, which is very rarely the case on the molds intended for the other calibers 44! 

3) Note that there are still other specific mussels of good diameter in the USA (N.O.E., Big Lube, Magma Engineering, etc. ) and some searches on the Internet should allow you to find them without worries. 

4) With regard to possible modifications on bullet mussels and "custom-made" bullet mussels, see our article in "Action, Weapons and Shooting" No. 350. 

5) The use of a "soft" alloy is essential because it will allow the projectile to shrink slightly at the time of stripping! For more details on casting, alloys and calibration, see our three-part article on this subject in "Action, Weapons and Shooting" Nos. 322, 323 and 325. 

6) About Lyman’s pliers and tools 310 See our article in "Action, Weapons and Shooting" No. 326. 

7) It should be noted that not all the current replicas with brass cases are in fact necessarily made of brass. Indeed, only the Uberti replicas are actually made of this material, whereas the Chaparral 1866 and the Rossi 1892, whose case has this aspect, are actually made of brass plated steel! 

8) Although we say "We will not necessarily reload in the same way for a replica of Winchester 1866, a Colt S.A.A., a replica of Winchester 1873...", it is, of course, possible to use tables for so-called "weak" mechanisms in so-called "resistant" weapons! 

(9) It should be noted that, of all the powders mentioned here, the Vihtavuori N32C (also known as the "Tin Star") was specifically designed to obtain maximum loading density in handgun cartridges such as, for example, 38-40, 44 Russian, 44 Special, 44-40, or 4 5 Long Colt, and this with a lower pressure than that of other neighboring powders of vivacity.

RETURN ON THE RELOADING OF 44-40 

Part 2 

After reviewing all the technical details in Part 1 of this article, we will now focus on the weapons used for these tests and, after reviewing the loads tested, we will proceed to the tests themselves, to finish the results obtained. 

All our tests were carried out with our Uberti replicas of carabin Henry of transition (see our article in AAT No. 336) and Winchester 1873 Sporting Rifle half-store "custom" (1), both equipped with 24" cannons (61.5 cm) with a 36" stripe step (91 cm) 4 mm), the original pitch of the 44-40 weapons produced by Winchester. In terms of their scratch-bottom diameters, these two weapons being recent (2000 for 1873 and 2009 for Henry), it is .429 inches (10.89 mm), which is the standard of the majority of the current manufacturing weapons. In addition to some functional and aesthetic modifications that we will not dwell on here, it is worth noting that both rifles have also been equipped with eyelets. The Henry was equipped with a "home made" model from C.S.A. parts. (Christian Sharps Arms), Marble and Pedersoli, and the 1873 of the excellent Marble model specifically designed for this model, both of which are adjustable both in site and in drift (2). 

LOAD DATA. 

The loads tested were determined to be capable of being used in both handguns and long-guns, and to keep at speeds close to those of the original 44 Henry (about 340 m/s) and 44-40 (about 380 m/s) cartridges (3). In the so-called "resistant" weapons it is possible to carry out more "muscular" loads, but if this is your view, given the relative weakness of the cases and the low weight of the projectiles of 44-40, we would like to advise you to buy a weapon, either in caliber 44 Magnum or caliber 45 Long Colt. 

All our loads were carried out with Winchester-brand cases, and our usual projectiles, either those produced by our mold RCBS 44-200-FN, the said projectiles having been cast in a 95% lead / 5% tin alloy with calibration, either at .430 inch or at .431 inch (diameter that we had not tested to date), and SPG grease. 

As a matter of fact, because we were unable to obtain the N330, our choice was based on the ones we had at hand: The As, N320, N32C, A1, and A0, and the attached table will give you the test load ranges, as well as the lowest and highest average speeds obtained. It should be noted that these loads were carried out from 0.02 g to 0.02 g, without any jam or protective washer.

(English version of table above) (Use caution with lack of grain charge translation) (Convert Meters to feet per second HERE) 313m/s = 1,027fps 400m/s = 1,340fps

RCBS Mold 44-200-FN Replica - Uberti Replica Uberti Weight 215 grains Henry "Transition" Winchester 1873 Rifle" 95% Pb / 5% Sn "½ Mag Sporting"

Vectan As From 0.36 g to 0.44 g From 0.40 g to 0.48 g 

VFrom 315 m/s to 358 m/s V: From 332 m/s to 371 m/s 

Vihtavuori N320 From 0.40 g to 0.50 g From 0.42 g to 0.54 g 

V:From 322 m/s to 363 m/s V: From 330 m/s to 384 m/s

Vihtavuori N32C (Tin Star) From 0.50 g to 0.58 g From 0.54 g to 0.68 g V:From 314 m/s to 356 m/s V: From 335 m/s to 393 m/s

Vectan A1 From 0.42 g to 0.50 g From 0.46 g to 0.56 g V:From 315 m/s to 362 m/s V: From 336 m/s to 394 m/s

Vectan A0 From 0.46 g to 0.52 g From 0.54 g to 0.62 g V:From 313 m/s to 352 m/s V:From 360 m/s to 408 m/s 

ATTENTION: 

THE HIGHEST LOADS GIVEN IN THIS TABLE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED CLOSE TO THE MAXIMUM FOR THE CORRESPONDING WEAPONS (brass boxes and so-called "weak" mechanisms). WE THEREFORE RECOMMEND APPROACHING THEM CAREFULLY, AND WE WOULD SAY WE WOULD GO TO DELA, ESPECIALLY WITH THE MOST LIVELY POWDERS (AS AND N320) BECAUSE PRESSURE CAN RISE VERY QUICKLY! (4). Of course, these charges are only usable in proven weapons for shooting in PSF, so in any case, we are not responsible for misinterpretations or misuse of the data published here. 

TESTS, RESULTS AND COMMENTS. All our tests were carried out at a distance of 50 meters on support and 10-stroke series. The first series were systematically performed with 1873 Uberti to measure speeds, determine minimum and maximum loads, check if we had signs of overpressure with them, and identify maximum doses to be used in Henry. 

From these initial sessions we were able to draw the following conclusions:

- Depending on the type of powder, for an increase of 0,02 g of load, the initial speed increases on average from 10 to 12 m/s. 

- The fastest powders give the most regular speeds, but not necessarily the most regular groupings. - All the powders tested are, say, correct, the best consistently obtained with As, N320, and especially A1, and the least good with N32C and A0. 

- As the Ace is relatively bright, with it, it is not possible to arrive at the original speed without having signs of overpressure. However, it is able to produce very tight clusters, but the results are somewhat irregular. 

- The N320 produces results of the same type as the As. - The A1 gives groupings that may be a little less good than the As and the N320 but the results are more constant. 

- The N32C requires loads that are high enough to produce correct results, but even in this case, the pressure remains low because of the lack of sufficient leakage, the cases exit relatively crowded outside. It is also noted that even with these high loads, the accuracy is lower than with the As, N320 and A1. 

- The A0 (which is still a bit slow for projectiles of only 200 grains) gives the most irregular initial speeds, and the target results are affected. 

- The .431 inch calibrated projectiles give slightly tighter groupings. 

- The 310 recalibrated case cartridges yield "subtly" better results, but, as the cases are inflating at the base, after 2 or 3 refills, some cartridges sometimes become somewhat recalcitrant at the chamber. These first sessions were completed, we recalculated our loads to achieve a maximum speed of about 360 to 370 m/s, and we repeated the entire process with the transition Henry. With this weapon, and thus with reduced charges, we could notice that: - The best results were, again, obtained with the As, the N320 but, especially with the A1, which gives more constant results. 

- The N32C and A0 yielded quite disappointing results, due to the fact that, due to the lack of optimum combustion due to reduced loads, the initial speeds were much more irregular. 

- The .431-inch calibrated projectiles gave groups tighter and more regular than those obtained with .430-inch calibrated projectiles. 

- The pressure was lower, and the cases were lower, unlike the observation made for 1873, we had no feeding problems. In all cases, the two weapons performed perfectly well and we had no particular concern, except for the few minor chamber concerns mentioned just before with the 1873. 

After having fired almost 1400 cartridges for these tests alone, it was clear that the best results were systematically obtained with the screws calibrated 310 The .431 inch projectiles and the A1, so we have definitively focused our choice on this type of calibration, this diameter for projectiles, and this powder, both for low-power loads for our brass-box rifles (at 0.46g), for standard power loads for our replica Winchester 1873 (at 0.52 g). As mentioned earlier, we were unable to test the Vihtavuori N330 because we were unable to obtain it. Its vivacity between the A1 and A0, it should therefore also be quite well adapted. However, the results obtained in N320 are no better than those obtained in A1, those in A0 are somewhat irregular, and given that Vectan A series powders are about 25 to 30% cheaper than the Vihtavuori, from an economic point of view, in this caliber, we do not really see any point in wanting to use powders of this kind at all brand, except that they are better in the dosing... 

AS A CONCLUSION. 

As you will have probably understood, without any real standardization, the 44-40 is not a very easy cartridge to recharge if you want to make the most of it. Given the large differences in ratings that can be encountered on such weapons, we would therefore strongly recommend, after checking the background diameter of the scratches, that systematic testing be carried out for each new weapon acquired. This cartridge remains, in our view, one of the most emblematic and representative of the American West, far ahead of all the other cartridges of the same type of the time, including 45 Long Colt, especially if one refers to the number of weapons produced then in these various calibers!... However, when the load is correct, we can only see that this cartridge is relatively accurate and, in our opinion, the current replicas that use it are particularly nice, so all this adds to its interest!... We will conclude by saying that, even if we understand very well the technical and financial requirements that have led the majority of current manufacturers to opt for the use of .42 guns. 9 inches, it must be admitted that this idea only made life difficult for fans of this caliber, especially since manufacturers of reloading equipment and balls generally did not follow the movement!... 

Johannes COUTURIER 

Alias John "Watching Bear" TAYLOR 

SASS Life Member N° 81092 

Acknowledgements: To the friends and all the members of our club "Tir Cible Montalieu" and the various French and American forums consulted who have kindly shared their experiences and reloads with us.

NOTES: 

1) As far as we know, Uberti no longer offers this replica of Winchester 1873 in a half-store.

2) These Marble Oilletons are unfortunately not imported into France, but they can be ordered directly from the USA, for example from Buffalo Arms Co. www.buffaloarms.com 

3) Note that, in a 24 ¼ inch gun, the current 44-40 Winchester cartridges with half-armored projectiles give a speed of approximately 345 m/s, This means that, in terms of performance, they are actually closer to 44 Henry than to 44-40. 

4) For example, at 0.50 Aces (load tested but not given in the table) we had head break primers that made the cases unusable! (see photo).

LIBRARY:

RELOAD MANUAL. René MALFATTI 

Editions Crépin-Leblond (Various editions).

THE ABC’S OF RELOADING. Dean A. GRENNELL 

DBI BOOKS Inc. 1980 

LYMAN CAST BULLET HANDBOOK. 

LYMAN PRODUCTS Co. (Various editions).

SHOOOTING SIXGUNS OF THE OLD WEST. Mike VENTURINO 

MLV ENTERPRISES 1997.

SHOOOTING LEVER GUNS OF THE OLD WEST. Mike VENTURINO 

MLV ENTERPRISES 1999.