Sold: 44-40 cases, .427 bullets.
- Thread starter Number8
- Start date
Fosbery Holster
Well-Known Member
I wonder if Shellhouse castings could possibly help with the bullets, that’s if you were looking for lead bullets ?
I have about 200 GM 0.427 bullets if they are any help?
I load for 44/40. Case mouths are very thin. You will need to crimp an amount to stop the bullets moving back into the cases in an underlever magazine.
Crimp too much and the case will crumple. Expect to lose a few!
As an aside I have a Uberti 1873 that had an awful trigger - they all appear to be that way. I had it Lightened by A&A in Skegness.
It will now shoot a pretty decent group even out to 100m.
Most "pistol" powders will work. I am using Vectan AO for "oomphier" loads and Vectan BA10 for more subdued loads.
I load for 44/40. Case mouths are very thin. You will need to crimp an amount to stop the bullets moving back into the cases in an underlever magazine.
Crimp too much and the case will crumple. Expect to lose a few!
As an aside I have a Uberti 1873 that had an awful trigger - they all appear to be that way. I had it Lightened by A&A in Skegness.
It will now shoot a pretty decent group even out to 100m.
Most "pistol" powders will work. I am using Vectan AO for "oomphier" loads and Vectan BA10 for more subdued loads.
Yes, I've emailed them but no reply yet. The website suggests a 12 week production time though, so I thought I'd ask around. Cheers.
Fosbery Holster
Well-Known Member
They are great at getting back to you, I’ve dealt with them recently, and yes it’s probably a 12 week wait, they are honest and very busy, they supply businesses as well as individuals hence the wait.
I reloaded for a Colt New Service revolver I had in .44-40. A tip is to make haste slowly and use a four stage process rather than a three stage process as you would with a straight wall pistol case such as .44 Magnum or .45 Colt.
Three stage: Full length resize and decap. Flare case case and re-prime. Seat and crimp bullet into the charged case.
Four stage: Full length resize and decap. Flare case mouth and re-prime. Seat Bullet. Crimp bullet into charged case.
So on the four stage you seat all the bullets with the die adjusted to ONLY act as a seating die. When all have been done you then back off the seating stem and adjust the die to crimp only. With which you then crimp those rounds into which you've already seated their bullets.
This way you don't get collapsed shoulders as can occur with .44-40 if using a three stage process. If possible use a bullet with a crimp groove. Always only use a gentle crimp. Just enough, and only just enough, to turn the case mouth into the crimp groove. That's all that's needed.
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Thank you, very helpful indeed.
Remember a slight flare only* (enough to just allow the base of the bullet to enter the case so a little bit more than what'd be called a "slip fit" but not much else more) and a slight crimp only.
* = We are loading ammunition not making bell ends for trumpets!
* = We are loading ammunition not making bell ends for trumpets!
If you can't get any from Shellhouse in the timescales you want, drop me a line and I should be able to help you out. 200gr RNFP sized to .427, polymer coated shouldn't be a problem. I can either post them to you or you could possibly collect from my stand at the Bisley Trafalgar meeting next month if you're there.
Bryan Austin
New Member
Howdy Number8. I can't help ya on where to find bullets on the other side of that great big pond many call an ocean....but here is a link to the 44-40 website. Most of what I have experienced has been published on the site.
Enjoy that 44-40!!!!!
Handloading - Chasing the 44-40 - Handloading Components
Main Page - Chasing the 44-40
They (some claim) said that the .44-40 in America had killed more game, and more men both bad and good than any other cartridge.
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