.44-40 Firearms

EddieCoyle

EddieCoyle

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I recently found over 200 spent .44-40 cases that look to be once-fired.

I don't have a gun chambered in this caliber, so the only logical thing to do is to get one.

I'd like a handgun. Can anybody make a recommendation?
 
Goose will be along shortly. I bet he has a few different types.
That is about as good as any excuse to buy another gun as any I've heard.
I may have a mold for you. Depicts gave me a bunch of oddball molds shortly before he left us. Will dig through the cobwebs in my shack to find them. So.ething Keith I believe. Without looking things up it is most likely the same diameter as .44 Mag. in which case I suspect you are covered.
 
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I think someone has had a S&W revolver in 44/40 for sale in the classifieds for a loooong time. I used to load that caliber a few years back for a Puma 92 I had, fun cartridge to shoot. I think it uses .427 bullets if I recall correctly.
 
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I suggest either a Uberti 1873 rifle or a Ruger New Model Blackhawk ( or both, for an awesome combo). The Ruger is on the EOPS roster, and I don't think you would have any issues with a lever gun ( I've seen some state that a 13 round tube on a lever gun constitutes a high cap rifle).

RiflePistol.jpg


Chris

PS - That is not a Ruger Blackhawk pistol, it is another Uberti (1875). But neither that nor, the Ruger Vaquero, that I have in 44-40 are on the roster.
 
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I think I've seen a .44 magnum revolver with a second cylinder in .44-40. Can't recall if it was a S&W or one of the single action models.
 
The one and only 44/40 I have is a Colt SAA Sheriffs model. I also picked up a second cylinder in 44 Special.

You could also resize them to 38/40 and get a gun for that.
 
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The Ruger original Vaquero was chambered for 44-40 for a while.
The Ruger 44-40s have a reputation for poor accuracy because the chambers are throated for 44-40 bullets , 0.427", while the barrels were standard .429" ( 44 Mag ).
You can make it work with a lot of mucking about, but it won't be easy, fun, or cheap.

Jack
 
EddieCoyle said:
I recently found over 200 spent .44-40 cases that look to be once-fired.

I don't have a gun chambered in this caliber, so the only logical thing to do is to get one.

I'd like a handgun. Can anybody make a recommendation?
Click to expand...

That's a unique thought process. Hard to argue with this logic.
 
jhrosier said:
The Ruger original Vaquero was chambered for 44-40 for a while.
The Ruger 44-40s have a reputation for poor accuracy because the chambers are throated for 44-40 bullets , 0.427", while the barrels were standard .429" ( 44 Mag ).
You can make it work with a lot of mucking about, but it won't be easy, fun, or cheap.

Jack
Click to expand...
That is what I had... a 5 1/2" SS Vaquero, beautiful gun and well balanced. Pie plate accurate at 10 yards "ie. 9 inch groups". The throats in my cylinders slugged out at 0.426, both of them, cylinders that is. I sent the Vaquero back to the factory to have the throats opened up (they said they had the tooling to do this) and the original cylinder somehow got damaged in the process. They fitted a second cylinder to the pistol and sent it back to me after eight weeks. The new one slugged out the same as the original. To say I was upset would have been an understatement. Especially since I had checked with Bowen Custom Guns, ... $75 +shipping with a week turn around would have done it for me, prior to sending it to Ruger.
It was the best and worse gun I have ever had all rolled into one.
 
I have an original winchester 92 made in 1910 in 44WCF

A hand cast RCBS 44-200 lead bullet lubed with SPG and a case full of ffg black powder does the trick quite well!

Great results on targets and a lot of fun to shoot

DOWNWIND
 
If it has to be a handgun I'd look at that N frame S&W but I'd probably find a Colt SAA. I load 32/20 and .44/40 for 1873 rifles. Like all the calibers chambered in the 73, the .44/40 case is very thin and easily crushed during resizing. I have .44/40 bullets in .427 and .429. You can try some of each to see what works best in whatever gun you get.
 

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