.44-40 Carbine

[50caliber123]

I inherited a good condition levergun in .44-40 with a 20" barrel (sorry no pics, don't have a working camera right now). What are good loads to shoot out of it? About what velocity should I expect with factory ammo from a carbine?

 

[XxWINxX94]

Well what kind of lever gun is it?

An antique Winchester?

Or a modern Uberti?

With the old guns, normally weaker loads should be used. I can't give you exact numbers, but if you buy "cowboy action" cartridges, you should be fine. Velocity will be slow, as the .44-40 is a bulky, somewhat slow cartridge, just as any old cowboy round is.

Here is what Wikipedia has to say about it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.44-40_Winchester

Seems like a 200gr lead bullet at 1,245 FPS would be a pretty quick factory load.

Now, for the newer guns, you can load them much hotter. The metal is of higher quality and designed to chamber higher-power rounds. An example of this is the Model 1886 Winchester. The original gun can handle cowboy style loads, but the Browning reproduction is supposed to be able to handle loads of an additional 10,000 psi. A huge increase in the modern reproduction.

Just don't put too high power loads in the old guns and you should be fine.

 

[50caliber123]

Model 65SRC Interarms .44-40 made in the USA. I can't find any info about it

 

[50caliber123]

Can anyone help me out with some info? The gun was made in Virgina but I haven't been able to find anything other than what markings are on the rifle.

 

[sappyg]

just a hunch but the rifle may well have been made by uberti. i think interarms was an importer and contracted their firearms production out of country. other possibilities could be pietta (italian)? or possibly a spainish maker.

 

[50caliber123]

Any good sources of .44-40 ammo? I'm looking for a deer load.

 

[FredT]

Your rifle is obviously a modern gun, but what must be determined is if it is a replica of a Win 94/92 or an older, weaker style like the Win '66 or '73.

Most/some loading manuals have loading data for Type I or weaker actions like the '66s and '73 and data for Type II stronger actions such as the Win '92s.

Hotter loads in the weaker actions will ruin them. Also remember that .44-40 brass is very thin compared to a .44 Mag case and will not stand up to the same pressures. The .44-40 was designed as a black powder round.

You can always use date for the Type I loads.

Hopes this help until you identify your rifle.

 

[50caliber123]

Its a win 1892 replica forged receiver. I know there's 3 different types of loads. cowboy, HV, and HP. The HP load is only safe in 1894's.