44-40 bullet dimensions

[BlaiseNSaddles]

I have been looking at an Uberti (I think they make them for EMF) 1875 Remington in 44-40. 

44-40 I have a listing for nominal of a 0.427 inch bullet, but some places are telling me that many newer replicas have the same as 44 special/magnum at 0.429.

My question is if anyone has experience on the bore (I think that is correct) of these revolvers, that is 0.427 or 0.429.

Thanks!

[Flint]

Uberti's bore is .429, but you won't get a cartridge with that diameter bullet to chamber, in my experience.  A .427 will chamber in Remington brass, a .428 will chamber in Winchester brass, sometimes a .429 will push in with Winchester brass.  I haven't tried Starline brass with a larger bullet, but it seems as thick as R-P.  After touching up the chambers in several revolvers with a chambering reamer, both Uberti and Colt, I can get reloads to chamber, usually without a problem, but when I do have more problems it is with R-P brass.

So it is the cylinder you have to deal with, the bore seems irrelevant.  All the guns shoot very well with .427 and .428 bullets.

[Silver Creek Slim]

I size mine to .429. Most of my brass is Starline. I shoot BP in my .44-40's. After a couple cylinders are shot, the rounds have to be pushed in to seat completely because of the BP fouling. Therefore, if you are going to shoot BP in them, I would recommend .428 boolits so they chamber better. BTW, the .429 boolits work all day in my .44-40 Henry.

Slim

[Halfway Creek Charlie]

I run all my 44-40's back thru the sizing die after loading and crimping....just so I know they will load easily. Lead is soft enough to bump up into the grooves. I have loaded Bear Creek Supply Moly .44's (.431 drive band) in my 44-40's and resized and they work. Finally found a way to get rid of some 200 pulled 44's to boot....Shoot'em in my 1873 Winchester.

[Fox Creek Kid]

The best way to tell is to slug a couple of chambers & then the barrel groove diameter. If the chamber mouths are under the groove size it will never shoot well until the chambers are reamed. A lot of Italian guns are nominal 0.432 for .44 cal. groove diam. I had an ASM SAA clone with that barrel diameter once & the chambers were 0.430. It wouldn't keep 5 shots on a garbage can lid. I had the chambers opened up to 0.432 and it became a one holer at 15 yds. 

[BlaiseNSaddles]

Thank you everyone for the replies and great advice and knowledge!