44 diameter...?

[Dr. strangelove]

i have a cattleman in 44 spc and one in 44/40...

is the inside diameter/caliber identical in both?

and second, what diam. should i use in lead bullets, 427, 428 or 429?

[englishbob]

Dr Strangelove,

Strictly speaking, .44/40 is a .427 bullet and .44 spl is a .429 bullet. However, I believe that Uberti cut their .44/40 barrels for .429.

This is, again I'm led to believe, is that the availabilty and selection of modern .44 bullets is far greater in the .429 diameter than .427. My shooting buddy now loads his .44/40 Henry with .429 and the results are fantastic, where as he got keyholing and terrible accuracy with .427 when he first loaded for it.

It would make perfect sense that the same would be for their revolvers. Especially as the same calibre revolver and rifle is what it is all about!!

I hope this helps!

Bob.

[ 06-19-2005, 08:04 PM: Message edited by: englishbob ]

[Dr. strangelove]

Englishbob...

that was a great help...

I was told that Uberti only used one diam. in all their 44's... exept 44 Colt...

This makes it easyer to select bulletmolds...

in the first place, the reason for the choice of 44/40 and the 44 spcl, was that it would be easy reloading both, with bullets from the same mould...

is it possible to be in possession of a real handgun in great brittain?

afterall... airguns are FAC required, when the 12fbs line has been crossed... so therefore i could imagine that a real firearm is even worse to get...

[Gatofeo]

I have an Uberti-made copy of the 73 Winchester, in .44-40.
I've never slugged the bore, but I was told shortly after I bought it to go with .429 inch lead bullets. They have proven the most accurate for me.
I tried some .427 inch bullets and the accuracy dropped off.
I've never found this rifle particularly accurate with lead bullets; even worse with soft lead bullets, a black powder lubricant and FFFG blackpowder.
The rifling is rather shallow in my rifle. However, with the factory jacketed softpoint, or if I reload using jacketed bullets, it's very accurate.
My most accurate lead bullet load is:
Winchester case
Winchester Large Pistol primer (all .44-40 brass is made for Large Pistol primers, not Large Rifle)
Hodgdon HP-38 --- 6.8 grains
200 gr. flatpoint, .429 inch, made by Rimrock Bullets.
Firm but not heavy crimp

At 50 yards this load will shoot into a 4" circle. Not outstanding accuracy but okay for plinking.
The jacketed bullet will, however, group into a 2" circle at 50 yards, from a benchrest when my 50-year-old eyes clarify for a moment.

The shallow-grooved rifling is the difference.