Unless the rifle is a family heirloom then I would sell it to a non shooting collector and buy a new Uberti 73. It's said that they are better than the original. I just love my 44-40. The original 44-40 rifles where a bit on the small side. They usually slugged out at 424 or 425 not the 427 that todays rifles are.The best way to have a truer reading of your bore is to soak the bbl with oil and use a egg shaped fishing sinker and drive it through the bore. Then you can measure both the lands and grooves.You can always have a special mold made if you so desire to spend the hundreds of dollars.

Shooter ot the Holy Black,Warthog,Bold,Deadwood Marshal,Border Vigilante,So that his place will never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat