My .44-40 Black Powder Journey

[Cliff Fendley]

Lay the brass out on a cookie sheet and give them a dash of spray lube and they are good to go. I even lube the 45 colt and schofield cases when using carbide dies. It's so easy and they size so much easier.

[TUCO-the-ratt]

w44wcf,

Your post about loading BP in the 44-40 prompted me to stop procrastinating, and get off my butt, and work up some BP loads for my 44-40 rifle like I had planned to do for awhile now. Thanks for all the information detail. I new the basic process from loading a few 45-70BP for my Sharps rifle a few years ago. I looked through my stash and holy smokes I had some Swiss 2F I had never opened, the perfect stuff from your post so I gave it a go.

What is so cool is that I've been shooting my Uberti 1866 for over 15 years and I had no idea how neutered it was on Smokeless. It's like getting a brand new rifle with the BOOF BOOF sound, smoke and flame. Recoil is noticeable now. It no longer feels like a toy like before. I think a person is completely missing the cowboy gun experience until he tries BP.

I am converted. Thanks. Now I'll have to see if I can develop a working load for my 1873 in 45 Colt, a somewhat more complicated endeavor from what I've read elsewhere on this forum.

[Blackpowder Burn]

+1 What Cliff said.  Lay 'em out on a cookie sheet, give a light spray of lube and run 'em through the progressive press of your choice.  I find the 44-40 and 38-40 no more difficult to load than any straight walled pistol case.

[medic15al]

Im gonna do this. Now just have to decide on which of the two WCF I want,. I would like to find a Cimarron '73 in 38 WCF but I don't believe it is a production item. Ill have to call in the AM.

[medic15al]

I'd call bullet barn FIRST,  if you MUST HAVE carbide dies.

I don't have to have carbide, esp after y'all told me about the spray lube in a pan or bag trick. I was on Bullet Barn's site where I saw the standard 38-40 die set was north of $100 and carbide 44-40 less than $50.

[QueensHorseman]

W44wcf,

Great research and post.  I've shot the .44 wcf in model 92s and a Colt saa for years and really enjoy it.  Your articles are convincing me to get into bullet casting and to pick up a 1873 rifle but I have a couple more questions if you can help me;

- Do you see any meaningful accuracy difference between the 3 Accurate cast bullets you describe using Swiss powder?
- Is there a bullet preference if also shooting the loads in a Colt saa?
- If I buy a new Uberti it may have the 1-20" ROT barrel. What is your thought of these bullets out of the tighter twist barrels?  Seems that the new Winchesters have a 1-26" twist which may be better??

Your willingness to share experiences and knowledge is very much appreciated.

Thanks

[w44wcf]

Guys,
Thank you for the kind words and encouragement. 

DD,
Hope your testing goes well.

QueensHorseman,
In answer to your questions..
All 3 bullets have produced similar accuracy.

I don't have a handgun in 44-40 but I would think that either of them would work ok.

I don't know about the accuracy difference between the slower twist 44-40's and the faster 20" twist but since the .45 Colt (and .44 caliber) handguns have a twist close to 20" and they shoot accurately at 1,200+ f.p.s., I would think that the accuracy from the rifle with the faster twist would be aok.

w44wcf