.44/40 from .44?

[.41Dave]

I hve an S&W model 544 in .44/40 that I'd like to reload for, but there seems to be only 2 crappy choices of bullet in the .426-.427 range, either a 200gr. lead FP, or a 200gr. JSP.

Is there any reason I could not just buy a Lee sizer and squish any of the vast array of .430 bullets down to size?

 

[Old Fuff]

Before you do anything, slug the chamber throats and bore in your particular revolver. The bore could be .428" - .430". Not sure about the chamber throats, but if they are undersized they should be reamed or polished to match the bore. You might also have to change the inside neck sizing plug in your die set to use larger .429" bullets.

Hard-cast lead bullets could be downsized .0015" to the side without problems, but soft-core jacketed bullets might be distorted.

 

[BruceB]

I would first seat one of those bullets in a sized .44-40 case, and try to chamber it. You'll need a pretty good flare on the case mouth. If it does in fact chamber, then your problem is solved and you can just go ahead and shoot them.

If a .430 bullet won't chamber as above, then yes, you certainly can size them down to suit. I've sized jacketed Sierra 300-grain .44s (.430") down to .424" for plinking bullets in my .404 Jeffery rifle, but that required the use of case lube on the bullets and was really quite a strain on everything involved. If sizing down, I'd only do it with the lead bullets. Jackets tend to "spring back" a bit after sizing, leaving the cores somewhat loose inside the bullet.

Sounds like a nice gun. I dearly love S&W revolvers.