44-40 and Heavy Bullets

[Capt. Montgomery Little]

What is the heaviest bullet any of you have loaded into the  toggle-link rifles using BP or a sub in 44-40? Have opportunity to get a mold in 265 gr. and need some help.  What were your finding concerning velocity and felt recoil/pressures? Any noticeable wear on gun and, if so, how much?

Thanks, in advance, for all the help.

[litl rooster]

  With out see'n the bullet, I would think that bullet is pretty long.   I am using the big lube bullet from Springfield Slim and with out causing a debate I believe is 210 grain. Seated over a full case of FFg takes a bit of compression to seat to OAL that chambers and cycles decent...Yeah I know I could back off the powder.  I like fueling the economy and tend to use more. Keeping folks employed.
 This is a good load for me it's shoots well for SASS matches and is good load for 100 yard plinking.


I tried some 220 over heathen powder but wasn't impressed, like Seth I never cronied either

[Capt. Montgomery Little]

Guys,  The bullet is a custom 265 gr with the same specs at the nose as the Lee 200gr so chambering should not be an issueas the nose won't be any longer. I can also use this bullet in 44mag as a hunting bullet. Just wondered if anyone had tried anything this big in 44-40. My only real concern is battering in the 66. Guess I'll just have to take some measurements and see what happens.

[Dick Dastardly]

Loaded with black powder, I'm talkin' Genuine Powder here, pressures with that bullet won't exceed the design limits of the 66.  But, if you shove it up to 44 Mag pressures in a 66 it'll ruin the gun.  Recoil may be a consideration for SASS match shooting and if the design doesn't carry enough lube, foul out problems may become a question.

Before you jump in and buy a mold, try some of the bullets first.  That's one of the things I like to do for my customers with the Big Lube™ product line.  Shooters can buy a bullet sampler populated with the Big Lube™ bullets of their choice.  Then, if they like them and buy a mold within 90 days, I rebate the price of the sampler off the mold price.

Ask the vendor to sell you some sample bullets to try first maybe.

DD-DLoS