As the pics show it's pretty rough but feels pretty good actually.

So Tuesday morning I took it to an older gunsmith I trust to get some advice on how to proceed with my goals of cleaning it up and shooting it.
Within a few minutes he had it in the soft jaw vice and opened the action checking the firing pin function then ran a patch down the bore, shine a light down it and said it was in good shape for the age and rifling was there.
He patched it a few more times then went in another room and came back with a box of ammo then chambered a round and eased the hammer down on it then handed to me and said "you might as well be the first guy to shoot it" so outside we go and I take aim on a big rock about 150 yards away and squeeze it off.

I'm not even going to try and put into words what taking that shot felt like. I've got some very high end long range Benchrest guns I compete with and have never felt the way I felt sending a round with the old Marlin with all the history it represents.

The shot was true on the windage but fell short 30ish yards elevation. The rounds was a Black Hills 200 grain lead bullet running 800 fps per the box so that likely explains it falling short. The report was more of a crack than a boom and the recoil was almost unnoticed.

Truly a day I hope to never forget.

 

When I ejected the round it tipped out of the port slightly but did not clear the extractor and hung there. On closer inspection it looks like the ejector has been "tinkered with" like maybe the tip was broken off and a new notch was filed into it.
This would be inline with speculation from my dad & uncle as to why it was put away and not shot since the 1950s
I've got a replacement (improved) ejector coming for it.

So with all that being said my main goal is to safely shoot it sparingly and not do it any harm. I'd like to let my 3 sons and my dad shoot it a time or two and take it back to Oklahoma some day and let my uncle, his son and grandson shoot it a time or two then finally next fall I'd like to take a deer with it.
After that put a round or two down it very occasionally and preserve it as is.

I'm a fairly advanced reloader but know nothing of reloading for a gun like this. BP or smokeless?
Soft lead bullets?
Etc?
I'm aware as an 1890 year model it is the softer steel barrel for BP but have read so much contradicting information about the powder and velocities it can safely run I decided to join up and seek advice.

I'm here to learn from knowledgeable people with experience with this rifle.

Thank you, Dave

 

I've had numerous Model 1889's and other old Marlin, and never loaded or fired any of them with BP powder. Smokeless powder is fine as long as you keep loads down to BP levels, and don't hotrod it.
I also only shoot cast lead bullets, and never jacketed. Even in the ones I own with Smokeless steel barrels I still shoot only cast in, although the modern steel can shoot jacketed fine. Just my personal choice.
I use pistol level loads for mine and my cast bullet is a 210 gr. with 8 grains of Unique that's right at 900 fps in my 24" barrel. The velocity is lower, but adjusting the rear sight will make them hit dead on if you do your part.
Glad you're keeping it just as it is with all the family history. IIt's great it's been in the family that long, and nobody before you has messed with it.

 

So I've read about needing to use fillers and wads to run a pistol powder like unique, is that necessary?

The bulk of my reloading is LR Benchrest and we tend to put a pretty high priority on case fill ratio.
Not trying to reinvent the wheel here and not looking to push it hard either.

I'll never part with it and it will go on to one of my sons, the sixth generation when I'm gone. Thanks

 

That is a great piece of family history you have there.

As far as 44-40 loads, no filler should be needed. I realize it's difficult to come by, but if you can find some Trail Boss powder, it will work very well in your rifle. Trail Boss operates at very reasonable pressure, and is bulky enough that you can't hardly put enough powder in a case to overload it. +1 on sticking with cast bullets.

I sincerely hope your plans to let other family members fire it works out for you.

 

What would a starting load for trail boss in this rifle be and what kind of velocities should I expect.

Thanks

 

There is a member called SavvyJack, if I remember correctly, who is about the most knowledgeable 44-40 shooter I've ever come across. He actually has a website dedicated to the 44 wcf round, and has all kinds of loads for differing strengths of rifles. I'm sure you can find him with the search engine here, and maybe a google search for the website.
Slug the bore and the throat of the chamber, size relatively soft cast to be a thousandths or so over those dimensions, and load appropriately. No reason you can't use it to take a whitetail this coming fall, and that would be a hoot!

 

Found his webpage, lots of info. Thanks

 

Trail Boss is 70% of case volume to bullet bottom for starters. I'd "Sooner" have that rifle than a safe queen. Wayne

 

please do not refinish it or make it look new. that patina is honest and shows the years of the gun. quite often on antique guns the patina is the most valuable part. nasty wrist crack there, and it can be fixed by two walnut pegs going from the top down, but it is not a job for the faint of heart. thank you for bringing your toy to show and tell, i think people will like it

 

I'm just going to "preserve" it as is.

 

A few more pics

 

😬the sandpaper scratch marks in that patina..... best way to know what an engraving says is to rub a soft pencil on a piece of thin paper over it.

 

All the engraving is legible or enough that you can tell what it said.

 

Yes. to Marlinman93. Keep your FPS around 900 -1100 fps. I think the BP load was 1100 fps. There is more loading data for Unique, 2400, Bullseye, etc
I think you will have trouble finding loads using Trailboss for 44-40, as it's a newer powder.
You do not need filler or wads for Unique.
Cast bullets only.
I love Unique..... I wish I could find it!
Nice gun!

 

Fantastic old rifle. Can you imagine the stories it could tell if it could talk .

 

A priceless family heirloom! It’s very cool to have been in the family for so long!

 

Replaced the ejector with the improved newer model this morning.
Seems 100% functional!

 

Beautiful rifle! I have a Winchester 1892 in 44-40 made in 1899 handed down from my father. He had it redone in the late 50’s. He was a Hollywood stuntman and part of the original crew for the Universal Stunt tour at Universal Studios. They used a lot of black powder as the puff of smoke is more dramatic but it’s hell on the barrel and he was meticulously cleaning it. So I’d stay away from the black powder. It is my primary deer rife but hunting with cast lead has a plus and a minus. It makes a round hole through everything so the plus is you don’t waste a lot of meat. The minus is unless you hit the heart, spine or head you will have to track and in the west with a lot of deep canyons that can make for one hell of haul. Fortunately the only time that happened I was close enough to the ranch I was living on and just got a horse. Since then I’ve only done head shots. The 44-40 is a great round and even when loaded to rifle specs with 2400, while it feels solid the recoil is still not a shoulder killer. The heavy bullet is very stable in wind and loaded to rifle specs will easily outperform the 30-30. It used to drive my friends crazy. The pistol loads won’t get you the distance but they will still take a deer with in their range. That’s a fantastic rifle you have there and to have all the history too. Wish I knew the first 58 years of my ‘92s history. But at least I know the last 67 years. Enjoy and thanks for sharing.

 

Start a log of every family member who shot it, might have shot and when. New kind of family tree. Enjoy your heritage of freedom!

 

Don't forget to put a good crimp on those lead bullets. I would suggest purchasing the Lee Factory Crimp die. Good luck, and please keep us apprised as you develope a load.

 

... that's one battle scarred old weapon ... time to retire on the wall

 

Congratulations on having such a wonderful old family heirloom. That rifle is worth more than a hundred pounds of gold. Make sure you take good care of her. She needs to stay in your family forever.