.44 Henry Cartridge - Some history, effectiveness, & tests @ 1000 paces!

w44wcf · September 13, 2006, 09:09:16 PM

The New Haven Arms Company catalog dated 1865 featuring the Henry Rifle,
shows the caliber as 44-100 with the following cartridge specifications:

Bullet ....... 216 grs.
Powder ..... 25 grs.
Tallow ....... 2 grs.
Case ......... 50 grs.
Fulminate ... 2 grs.

Cartridge complete 295 grs. No velocity is indicated.

(Within a few years the bullet weight was reduced to 200 grs, and the charge of b.p. increased to 28 grs.)

In the back of the catalog is an advertisement for the Henry rifle.
It indicates that the penetration in wood at 100 yards is 8 inches; at 400 yards, 5"; and it carries sufficient force to kill at 1,000 yards.

The testimonials in the catalog are from soldiers who used it in battle and from their accounts it was a very effective rifle, even at extended distances.

Here is an account on its lethality against man in the late 1860's. Very effective to say the least.

Capt. Wilson was an unconditional Union man, living in a strong disloyal section of Kentucky. His neighbors had threatened his life. In consequences of this, Capt. Wilson had put his Henry rifle inside a corn crib across from his house.

One day, while at home dining with his family, seven mounted guerrillas entered his home with the intention of killing him. After a parley, Capt. Wilson convinced them to take him outside to be shot. The moment he reached the front door he ran to his cover with bullets flying around him.

He thus retrieved his Henry rifle, turned upon his foes and with 5 consecutive shots, killed 5 of his enemies. The other 2 sprang for their horses. As the 6th man threw his hand over the pommel of his saddle, the 6th shoot took off four of his fingers. The seventh shot killed him. Then Capt. Wilson fired his 8th shot, killing the 7th and last man.

From a late 1860's Winchester Catalog:
On October 6 and 8, 1866, the Official Swiss Commission at Aarau, Switzerland, tested the Infantry Model of The Winchester Repeating Rifle at extended ranges.

At 300 paces, 30 shots were fired. 28 grouped into about a 12" x 12" area with 1 shot higher and 1 shot lower. All shots would have hit a man sized target with ease.

At 600 paces, 31 shots were fired and fell into an area 5 feet high by 4 3/4 feet wide. 28 of the rounds went into a group measuring 2 1/2 feet high x 2 feet wide.

At 1000 paces, 40 shots were fired at a target 8 feet high and 10 feet wide. 31 bullets connected and impacted into an area 6 1/2 feet high x 7 feet wide. There was a cluster of 21 shots that went through the target within a 3 foot high x 4 foot wide area.

That's some shooting at those distances using the .44 Henry Cartridge!

The angle of the barrel at 1000 paces was shown at 2 degrees, 16 minutes. It was reported that the bullet hit with sufficient force at that distance to penetrate 4" of wood.

Interesting history.
w44wcf

Will Ketchum · September 14, 2006, 09:38:25 AM

Very interesting. Thanks for posting it. It appears that the 44 Russian, as I load it is very close to the original 44 Henry RF.

Will Ketchum

Capt. Augustus · September 14, 2006, 08:57:03 PM

I reckon Gus did make the shot.

Wolfgang · September 16, 2006, 09:20:08 PM

Very interesting. Thanks for posting. Good shootin', . . .

litl rooster · September 17, 2006, 08:15:44 AM

Quote from: Capt. Augustus on September 14, 2006, 08:57:03 PM
I reckon Gus did make the shot.

>>>Didn't you believe it?

Good report.

w44wcf · December 26, 2008, 08:29:16 AM

Quote from: Capt. Augustus on September 14, 2006, 08:57:03 PM
I reckon Gus did make the shot.

Yes, indeed!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23UhypY-pUg&feature=related

w44wcf

Hoof Hearted · December 26, 2008, 03:57:50 PM

VERY COOL!

Sorry I haven't found that pic of the sectioned case yet. Somebody sent me the link and I guess I deleted it.

By this report, I would say that my Henry conversion would be shooting a "44 Henry Long" since I am using a 44 Colt case. My bullet is weighing about 223gr, depending on alloy.

tteng · January 09, 2009, 07:45:50 PM

I've never shot a 44-100 cartridge before, but I'm guessing 44-100 perhaps mean 44-cal bullet (say, 200gr) in front of 100gr BP. A cartridge like that would probably look similar to a 45-70, if not longer, and the lethal reach to 1000 yrds.

Hoof Hearted · January 09, 2009, 10:34:29 PM

Quote from: tteng on January 09, 2009, 07:45:50 PM
I've never shot a 44-100 cartridge before, but I'm guessing 44-100 perhaps mean 44-cal bullet (say, 200gr) in front of 100gr BP. A cartridge like that would probably look similar to a 45-70, if not longer, and the lethal reach to 1000 yrds.

No...........44/100ths of am inch, hence the caliber 44