Reloading 44-40 question

[DavidB2]

i am considering the purchase of an Uberti in .44-40 vs .45 LC. This is due to the supposed greater accuracy and increased blowback tendency of .45 LC. Especially if I ever choose to shoot black powder in this Henry. However, I have never reloaded before. I do have a Lee Single Stage press and a casting pot for casting lead bullets. Can someone explain specific challenges/possibilities of reloading 44-40? My biggest concern is the durability of 44-40 brass cases vs the 45LC. I would really prefer shooting .45 LC but want maximum accuracy and limited blow back. Thanks for your valuable advice.

 

[MEHavey]

44-40 handloading is no, I say again, NO more difficult that any other similar pistol-length cartridge.
Simply make sure to expand the case mouth juuuuust enough to start the bullet w/o shaving lead.

`Suggest SAECO's #420 mould, cast Soft (30:1), size .429+, lube with standard 50/50 beeswax/ALOX, 8gr/Unique

 

[MI2600]

I load both calibers. I use more caution with the 44-40 simply because the neck is so much thinner than that of the .45LC. As stated above, you don't want to flex the 44-40 mouth more than necessary.

 

[Crunchy Frog]

If I’m not mistaken there are no carbide dies for the .44-40 so you have to lube your cases.

I’m an admirer of the .44-40 and the .38-40 but I’ve not managed to buy one.

 

[Jimster]

I load for both with black powder. My favorite by far is the 44-40 for my Uberti Henry. Get some Starline brass and you’ll never look back. Seals the chamber and leaves the Henry action clean as a freakin’ whistle. I kid you not.

 

[243winxb]

Starline brass and RCBS Cowboy dies for cast bullets look good to me . Non-carbide die needs lube.

Seat the bullet and crimp in separate operations , may help the thin brass walls.

 

[wbbh]

I reload 44-40, I use RCBS Cowboy die set, Hornady sizing lube and load Oregon Trail 200 grain RNFP bullets in Starline Brass with TiteGroup powder. You do need to work carefully as has already been said, the brass is quite thin. With the right amount of flaring the reloading goes pretty easy. I load for my Henry original and a Navy Arms 44-40 single action Bisley model pistol. (Another Uberti made clone.) I started out with a mixed lot of brass I picked up in an auction. Trimming is not needed, IMO, however I trimmed the brass to same dimension to aid with reloading.

In my experience the 44-40 works better with low pressure loads sealing much better than the .45 Colt. This means fired brass comes out cleaner and lever guns stay cleaner longer.

I like the Oregon Trail (Laser Cast) bullets, they are well made and are not prone to living lead behind.

 

[Curator]

Just about everything the other posters offered is true about the .44-40 working better in the Uberti Henry lever action at low pressures. It also feeds better than the .45 Colt. Yes, you'll need to lube your brass when full-length sizing and neck expanding. Be sure to clean your cases AFTER sizing and expanding but before priming. If you are considering casting your own bullets for this gun, be sure to slug your bore. I have slugged several Uberti .44-40 rifles with .431-.433 groove diameters. It may be difficult to find an off-the-shelf bullet mould for this diameter. Original .44-40 was .427." Modern standard is .429"-.430." Soft bullets loaded with black powder may not mind being somewhat under size, but will produce bore leading like crazy with smokeless powder loads. With smokeless powder, even low pressure loads will require bullets at least .001 over groove diameter and harder bullet alloy to shoot well.

 

[MEHavey]

Y'all have seen this before, but every element is there for
the `73 Uberti: bullet/diameter/powder/load/alloy/lube

Never had any leading w/ 0.429"/30:1(Soft)/standard 50/50
BP-velocity smokeless.

Leaves an absolute mirror bore.


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