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[Seth Hawkins]

 

[Papa Bear]

My .44wcf CAS loads.

Winchester brass

Winchester LP primer

30 grains Goex 2fg

200 grain Mav Dutchman bullet (30 to 1 lead) with SPG lube

OAL 1.555

no fillers or wads

This gives me a good solid hit on any CAS distance targets.  For any distance beyond 100 yards I would increase the load to 35 grains

[Kid Sopris]

7.2 grains of PB, WLP Primer, either WW brass, R-P brasss or Staline. 200 gr. Oregon Trail bullet.

[Dakota Dan from OZ]

R/P Cases any L/Pistol primers 5 grains AS 30 or as known in the US "Clays" 200 grain local made projectile.

And Blackpowder 25 grains Wano, Lee dipper 5cc of filler.wad 200 grain projectile lubed with SPG. Plenty of smoke.

D D

[Kid Sopris]

Seth, IMR PB is Named for the porous base structure of its grains by which the burning rate is controlled, PB is an extremely clean-burning single-base powder. It gives very low pressure in 12 and 20 ga. shotshell target loads and performs well in a wide variety of handgun loads.  

[Montana Slim]

200 gr. MAV
31 gr. FF Schuetzen 
1200 fps (approximate)

[Kid Sopris]

YES, IMR PB! I was introduced to it by a prior champion from Camp Perry, who had his groups cut in half. Yes I know we don't shoot bulls-eye, but it helps tighten the margin when your speed picks up, and I like the clean up later. I have been using it for approximately 20 years in my handgun and shotgun reloading.

But Caution THERE IS NO LOADS LISTED for .44-40 in the area in which I work. I have had my loads validated and it does not exceed any pressure indications. If you shoot 45 Colt you will find  the loads listed. I have asked Mike Daly from Hodgdon to update their reloading manuals, since they now own the IMR line of powders.

[Silver Creek Slim]

Starline brass
200 gr MAV WW boolit sized to .429"
34 gr FFFg Goex
Federal LP primer

Slim

[Chance]

WW brass
Any large pistol primer
8.5 grains Unique
200 grain lead RNFP bullet

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Great long distance load:

35 grn volume Hodgdon's Triple Seven (777), CCI magnum pistol, Starline brass, and a 200 grain Lazer Cast or Lymann swedged bullet.  ABout 1350 fps!, though no signs of excessive preasure (primer flattening or split or stuck cases).  It will really ring the gongs!

[Lars]

Used many excellent 44-40 loads over the years, nearly all directly from loading data by powder manufactures. Those loads include:

1) This one is Hodgdon's recomended load for 777 FFG in 44-40. 777 FFG 30,0 grains volume (22,0 grains weight), Remington case, CCI350 primer, one of the following bullets (Meister 200 grain, 0,429: Meister 180 grain, 0,430: Laser Cast 180 grain, 0,431). This is my current 44-40 load for routine BP shooting.

2) Pyrodex-P, 24,0 grains by weight, Lyman 427098, 20:1 Pb:Sn sized to 0,429 and lubed with SPG, Remington case, CCI350 primer. For those with strong guns (Rossi, Marlin, Ruger), when used with 240 grain SWC 0,429  and 20:1 alloy this is perhaps the best grouping load I ever found. Unfortunately, I never comparied it directly with loads #3 and #4 and #5. All gave sub 4,0 inch 5-shot groups at 100 yards.

3) Swiss FFG, 33 or 34 grains by weight, bullet, case and primer as above. Same load is available from Republic Metallic Cartridge Co. and is my preferred BP load when smallest groups are needed.

4) This one is directly from Alliant's loading manual. Blue Dot, Remington 2 1/2 primer, Starline case, 205 grain Black Bullet (MoS coated) 0,429. Gives same excellent groups as #3. This load is near SAAMI recommened max chamber pressures -- DO NOT USE in guns not suited to full SAAMI chamber pressures.

5) Alliant's load for 2400 and 200 grain Speer Jacketed HP 0,429 also gives best groups.

At times I have used and gotten quite good results with Unique, Red Dot, Green Dot, IMR800X, IMR SR7625 with any good commercial hardcast 0,429-0,430 bullet or the 200 grain Speer Jackted HP. Currently Green Dot is our standard powder for nitro loads in 44-40 -- loads are directly from IMR loading data.

Winchester Cowboy 44-40 ammo always gave good groups in my guns.

I have always found 44-40 to be among the very easiest of cartridges to load. Where I have found chrono data, the above loads give very close to 1.200 fps from 20 inch barrels.

Lars

[Dakota Widowmaker]

Lars posted some very solid performing 44-40 loads to use with your Henry or other toggle link rifles.

I personally prefer GOEX FFFg or Pyrodex P.

[w44wcf]

Black powder:
W.R.A. CO headstamped brass / Lyman 427098 - SPG / 40 grs. Swiss FFG / 7 1/2  Remington small rifle copper primers
(looks just like the  cartridges from the 1880's)

Winchester headstamped brass / Lyman 427098  - SPG / 36 grs. Swiss FFFG / 2 1/2  Remington primers

Both loads go 1,270 f.p.s. with great accuracy - just like the originals

Long live the .44-40.
w44wcf

[Dakota Widowmaker]

Great long distance load:

35 grn volume Hodgdon's Triple Seven (777), CCI magnum pistol, Starline brass, and a 200 grain Lazer Cast or Lymann swedged bullet.  ABout 1350 fps!, though no signs of excessive preasure (primer flattening or split or stuck cases).  It will really ring the gongs!

Darn right this will ring your gong!!!

I shot one of these with a bp lubed 200gr soft cast bullet and my wrist could feel it from a SAA.

The pressure is well under 15K, so, no problem.

Remember, 30gr of 777 for 250gr bullets, no more than 35gr for 200gr bullets.

[Grapeshot]

Then loads I've been using for the past four months are vaiationson a theme.

2.2cc's (Lee Dipper) of 777 and a cast Lyman Cowboy 200 grain RNFP.
.............................................................swaged Hornady 205 grain RNFP
.......................................................home swaged 225 grain RNFP with Copper Disc Wiper

2.2 cc's (Lee Dipper) of Goex FFg and a cast Lyman Cowboy 200 grain RNFP.
.............................................................swaged Hornady 205 grain RNFP
.......................................................home swaged 225 grain RNFP with Copper Disc Wiper

2.2 cc's (Lee Dipper) of Pyrodex P and a cast Lyman Cowboy 200 grain RNFP.
.............................................................swaged Hornady 205 grain RNFP
.......................................................home swaged 225 grain RNFP with Copper Disc Wiper

2.2 cc's (Lee Dipper) of APP and a cast Lyman Cowboy 200 grain RNFP.
.............................................................swaged Hornady 205 grain RNFP
.......................................................home swaged 225 grain RNFP with Copper Disc Wiper

All of the above are used with both Remington and Starline .44/40 prass with their flash holes opened up with a 3/32nd inch drill bit and a CCI 350 Large Pistol Magnum Primer.

The Goex and Prodex give a more spectacular display and fireworks.