Buying first 73, need advice

[ntex2000]

I've decided to buy a Uberti Model 1873 to use for Cowboy Action Silouhette matches, which y'all probably already know ranges from 40 meters for chickens to 100 meters for rams, but am having trouble deciding which caliber to choose.  I have 100+ year old Winchester Model 1892 chambered for 38-40 and I enjoy shooting that caliber, and in some respects wouldn't mind getting a Uberti 73 in 38-40 so I'm only reloading for one cartridge caliber, but am seriously thinking about the .357 Magnum, .44-40 or the .45 Long Colt.  I'm wondering:
(1) how the .45 Long Colt and .357 Magnum would stack up to .38-40 and .44-40 in terms of range and accuracy?
(2) if anyone favors any particular cartridge over the others and why?, and
(3) which caliber would be less expensive to shoot in the long run, whether buying off the shelf or reloading them myself.

Since I'm new at this type of shooting, I am very grateful for any and all advice you can give me!

[Major 2]

by in large, most will suggest 44/40, I would think... course .357 is cheaper (talking factory loads)

my own is in 44 Spec. I don't reload ...yet
and as a neophyte when I do , I'll find 44 Spec. easier I'm thinking....
and I can then load 44 Colt as well.

[Grizzly Adams]

No flies on the 38-40.   Excellent choice, as is the 44-40.  For the CBS game, those two calibers would be preferable to the 357, IHO.  The 45LC, tends to come up short in terms of accuracy compared to the 38 and 44 WCF - again IMHO, and personal experience.  Since you are already reloading for the 38WCF, why change?

[ntex2000]

I checked the 38-40, 44-40 and 357 on the Winchester website balistics calculator and found that they each have almost the same range and drift, but it wouldn't let me plug in the 45 LC as a rifle cartridge, so it's invaluable to have your advice that the 45 LC comes up short range-wise compared to the others. 

Am not reloading yet, but am researching and pricing reload set up, but will need to figure out what my cost per reloaded round would be compared to my per cartridge cost of commercial ammo before I buy a reload rig. 

Bought a box of 50 Ultramax 38-40 at Cabela's tonight, which at $48 with tax for a box of 50 comes out to $0.97 per round.  Their lowest priced box of 44-40's would come out to about $0.76 per round.  But I just found a place online that sells some HSM brand 38-40's that would come out to only about $0.63 per round, and the 44-40's would come out to about $0.59 per round, and this includes shipping.  So, if I can do reloads on either the 38's or the 44's for less than the 59 or 63 cents per round, then I'm all for it.

[w44wcf]

ntex2000,

Welcome to the forum. As far as reloading, the cost to reload any of the calibers mentioned using your cases would be pretty close to .26 each using smokeless.  

If you cast your own bullets and buy alloy at $1/lb, the bullet cost would be reduced to .03 ea = .09  per cartridge.  

primer.... .035
powder.. .025   (1,000 rounds /lb smokeless)
bullet .... .20     ( 20.00 / 100)
total - .26 ea

I have rifles in 357, 44-40 and 45 Colt, all of which I have fired at 300 meters and couldn't tell any real difference between them running loads producing 1,200 f.p.s., except that the 250 gr .45 Colt bullet  kicked up a bit more dirt.

Personally, since I am somewhat of a history nut, I prefer the 44WCF (44-40) since that would be historically correct as would the 38 WCF (38-40).  The 357 and 45 Colt are fine rifle cartridges as well.

44-40 @ 300 meters


45 Colt @ 300 meters


What distances will you be shooting?

w44wcf

[sail32]

I use a set of Lee Dies with the factory crimp die. I also use a 0.43 compression die from Track of The Wolf.  ( DIE-43-COMPRESSPowder Compression Plug, .43 caliber, to fit our Lee 7/8-14 die )

It allows me to finger seat the bullet in the case before using the bullet seating die, followed by the factory crimp die
The extra step eliminates case loss for me.

[Rowdy Fulcher]

Howdy
Your 38-40 is a good choice ,and having your rifles in the same caliber will SAVE you money . slug your barrels to see if the same size bullet will work for both . Good luck and WELCOME aboard . 

[FriscoCounty]

The only other point of consideration would be what is you pistol cartridge?  I would advise .44/40 if you use .45 Colt pistols.  A .45 Colt round accidentally fed into the rifle will jam it an require some time to extract.