44-40 questions

[Lunarphase]

I'm looking at getting a 44-40 cowboy limited, but have never shot or reloaded the cal. before.

Is it a good hunting cal.? (Deer & Hogs)
What is the general opinion of the rifle and cal.?
How is reloading for it? Are the components readily available (Brass & Bullets)?

Thanks for any help & opinions.

Lunarphase

[riflerick]

The 44-40 is not a long range cardridge by any means. I have a 1873 Win that was handed down. I use only bulk cast bullets with reduced powder charge. Extremely fun to shoot and lethal on deer at closer ranges.

riflerick

[Elmer Keith]

The 44 Magnum would be the better choice for a hunting caliber especiall when going for deer.

But the 44-40 is sweet and nice and easy to reload. But you have to lube the cases a bit but very very thin. Otherwise you would get these ugly lube dents. The brass is very thin on the 44-40-cases.

If using lead bullets you should try to find out the correct diameter of the barrel. In my Cowboy Ltd. I once had I used 427 bullets. They worked fine with Starline brass. The die set was from RCBS.

Recoil is low and sound is great.

[44-40 Willy]

I haven't killed any hogs with it as they're scarce around here, but my Grandpa did with his 44-40 back in the day. My G-Grandpa bought it for him because of the wild razorbacks in SW Arkansas when Grandpa was a teenager. I've killed several deer with mine along with a few other critters that were needing some holes in their hides. I think it was said that the 30-30 didn't catch up to the 44-40 in deer killed until just before WWII.

Obviously, I like the old 44-40. I originally bought my 1894 CCL because of the connection back to my Grandpa and didn't really intend for it to become my main rifle. The idea was to kill a deer or two with it and then let it become a safe queen and go back to my 357. That was 11 years ago and I've still been using it.

I answered your questions about reloading for it in the Reloading forum here.

Willy

[Lunarphase]

Thanks for the input guys.

Lunarphase