What bullet is best in my 1873 ?

[black panther]

Hi all, I have a circa 1892 dated 1873 in 44-40.
It slugs at .431 groove and lands .425
It wont chamber a bullet more than .430.
I use a .430 hollowbase bullet with blackpowder and wondering if there is a better bullet to use ?

Thanks in advance

[Professor Marvel]

Greetings My Good Black Panther -

Welcome to CASCITY
Why don't you stop over here
    http://www.cascity.com/forumhall

to check out the rules etc,

then introduce yourself ? 

I am quite sure the moreknowledgable folks will stop by shortly, but in the meantime I can safely relate that
the old, original 44-40's were designed for the smaller .427 bullet old style hollowbase pure lead bullet.

Your lands and grooves dimensions sound pretty darn good for an original and I sincerrely hope it WON'T chamber anything larger than .430

The big question is , what sort of accuracy are you getting now?


just afew threads down in this child forum you can find Bryan Austins excellent 265 yard results with the 43-214A bullet ( A custom mold I believe) seen here



hopefeully more folks will stop in and reply in between holiday "doings"


yhs
prof marvel

[Cliff Fendley]

I'd like to try the 43-214A. I've shot the 43-210B sized to .427 in my originals and I've also used the 43-215C also sized to .427.

[Coffinmaker]

My suggestion would be a 200Gr Big Lube MAV 44.  You can look it up on Mark Wythe's site.  His is mywytheleatherworks.  Click on "Big Lubes."  I don't know how to post a Hyperlink.  Based on your groove measurement, I'd also suggest a .430 bullet

[Cliff Fendley]

My suggestion would be a 200Gr Big Lube MAV 44.  You can look it up on Mark Wythe's site.  His is mywytheleatherworks.  Click on "Big Lubes."  I don't know how to post a Hyperlink.  Based on your groove measurement, I'd also suggest a .430 bullet

You can't beat the big lubes for CAS and I've actually had some impressive results out past 200 yards with them. That said they don't group as tight (at least for me) as some others mentioned. The 215C combines the nose profile similar to that of the original Winchester and Lyman molds of the early days of the cartridge with the large lube groove and a crimp groove added. John Kort designed it sort of combining the best of both worlds. The 210B is essentially the old Lyman 427098 mold.

For those interested I worked with John Kort in designing a 32 caliber bullet that resembles the 215C for use in 32-20. It's in Accurate catalog as 31-115D and seating with starline brass it's max COL for the 32wcf in the Uberti rifles and cycles smooth as silk since there is no pushing the cartridges back into the magazine as the lifter raises and pack plenty of lube to keep the small bore running with black powder.

[Abilene]

...For those interested I worked with John Kort in designing a 32 caliber bullet that resembles the 215C for use in 32-20. It's in Accurate catalog as 31-115D and seating with starline brass it's max COL for the 32wcf in the Uberti rifles and cycles smooth as silk since there is no pushing the cartridges back into the magazine as the lifter raises and pack plenty of lube to keep the small bore running with black powder.

Cliff, you wouldn't know of any vendor who sells those bullets for us non-casters, would you?

[Cliff Fendley]

Cliff, you wouldn't know of any vendor who sells those bullets for us non-casters, would you?

No I sure don't however Mark did offer to pour me some if I sent him my mold.

[Bryan Austin]

Hi all, I have a circa 1892 dated 1873 in 44-40.
It slugs at .431 groove and lands .425
It wont chamber a bullet more than .430.
I use a .430 hollowbase bullet with blackpowder and wondering if there is a better bullet to use ?

Thanks in advance

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Those dimensions can be rather typical for some of the old rifles. Accurate Molds builds custom molds and several folks around here have had a few made. One in particular was design just for your situation although others should work.

Outpost's 43-200Q and 200QL was designed for large bores and small chambers but it can take a few minutes to get used to loading it to get it where you want. 


Here is an article Outpost wrote about his 43-200Q (smokeless) and 43-200QL (black powder) bullets
https://sites.google.com/view/44winchester/contributors/ed-harris/over-sized-bullet-for-over-sizes-bores-original-winchester-73-bores


Professor Marvel, thanks for the words, I really do like the 43-214A with a load of Reloder 7!!!

Mark Wytte "Leatherworks" casts bullets for lots of folks to include myself. I sent him my 43-214A mold and he cast me up those awesome bullets for the 265 yard shots. My cast bullets were very close but his grouped the best!!!

http://www.whyteleatherworks.com/BigLube.html

More Accurate Molds information with photos.
https://sites.google.com/view/44winchester/bullet-molds/modern-bullet-molds