Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General 44-40 loads for Henry 1860????

Anyone?

I have used 8 grains of Unique and a cast 200 to 225 RNFP grain cast bullet in Winchester cases and a large Pistol primer. This load is listed as a moderate load in the various loading manuals and is considered safe in Winchester 1873 pattern smokeless powder vintage rifles.

I got this load from CF members here about 6 years ago, you can use the search function for the discussion. This load seems to be a sweet spot for fun shooting and after trying loads hotter and milder see no reason to change.

so cast 44-40 bullets (.427) are ok?

Hello Fotis, I shot 12 grs of AA#7 powder in my original '73 Winchester in 44-40, yes, .427" cast bullets are what I used too, sized down from 44 mag bullets at 240 grs and .430"

Velocities were in the 1200 fps range in the rifle, shot through both shoulders of a doe so fast at 55 yards she didn't know what hit her, she stumbled then trotted 35 yards and crashed in the leaves.

Edit to add, loads were developed in new Starline cases, and WLR primers, also, the bullets were of the round nosed flat point variety.

I tried commercial cast .427 and .428 with equal success, I bought the RCBS .44-40 RNFP mold and size it .428 with good results.

Everything that I have read about the .44-40 indicates that the primer pocket was cut for large pistol primers. I believe that the LR primers are taller and could cause issues in a tube magazine.

I never had any trouble in my rifle 30, but good to know nonetheless.

Would you consider the 20-22.0 gain load a safe load?????





Cartridge : .44-40 Win. CF
Bullet : .427, 205, Hornady Cowboy 11208
Useable Case Capaci: 28.898 grain H2O = 1.876 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 1.590 inch = 40.39 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder : Hodgdon Lil'Gun


Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !


Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms


-10.0 72 19.80 1472 986 11013 1459 77.8 2.084
-09.0 72 20.02 1490 1010 11328 1486 78.6 2.058
-08.0 73 20.24 1508 1035 11654 1512 79.3 2.032
-07.0 74 20.46 1526 1059 11988 1538 80.1 2.006
-06.0 75 20.68 1543 1084 12331 1563 80.8 1.980
-05.0 76 20.90 1561 1110 12684 1589 81.5 1.954
-04.0 76 21.12 1579 1135 13046 1614 82.2 1.928
-03.0 77 21.34 1597 1161 13419 1639 82.9 1.903
-02.0 78 21.56 1615 1188 13802 1664 83.6 1.878 ! Near Maximum !
-01.0 79 21.78 1633 1214 14196 1689 84.2 1.854 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 79 22.00 1651 1241 14601 1713 84.9 1.830 ! Near Maximum !
+01.0 80 22.22 1669 1268 15018 1737 85.5 1.807 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 81 22.44 1687 1296 15446 1761 86.1 1.784 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+03.0 82 22.66 1705 1323 15887 1784 86.7 1.762 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 83 22.88 1723 1351 16340 1807 87.3 1.740 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.0 83 23.10 1741 1379 16807 1830 87.9 1.718 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!


Results caused by ± 3% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 3% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 79 22.00 1696 1309 15554 1756 87.9 1.775 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 3% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 79 22.00 1604 1171 13696 1660 81.5 1.890 ! Near Maximum !

Lil'gun is the last powder that I would use in that rifle/cartridge combination.

It proved inconsistent for me in the .22 Hornet Savage 23D.

I finally went with the latest Winchester 1873 in 44-40