Author Topic: 44-40 sizing (Read 881 times)

Ron LeClear · « **on:** February 28, 2003, 01:31:07 PM »

All
I have a Marlin rifle on the way and it is in 44-40 cal.
This rifle was made in 1993 as a special run for Jerry's Sporting Goods.
What I need to know is, what sizer die do I need to buy for my Lyman 450 sizer to make this fit this rifle.
I know I can slug the bore when the rifle arrives but would like to get a jump on the loading process and have the correct size slugs loaded and ready for the range.
I know there must be someone on this board that has a new marlin rifle in this caliber.....PLEASE help.
Thanks

Ron

HWooldridge · « **Reply #1 on:** February 28, 2003, 03:17:40 PM »

I don't have a Marlin 44-40 but do have a Colt and a Winchester. I have found one should stick to a bullet diameter of .425 to a max of .427. Any larger and you risk the danger of not being able to chamber the round. I personally size .427 and have not had any problems...H

Gatofeo · « **Reply #2 on:** February 28, 2003, 07:25:26 PM »

I have a reproduction of the 1873 Winchester rifle made by Uberti and marketed by Dixie Gun Works. I began reloading for it two years ago, using .427 inch bullets.
Accuracy with cast bullets was so-so, about 4" at 50 yards from a benchrest.
Then I read on a website about better accuracy using .429 inch bullets in the Italian-made .44-40 rifles.
So, I purchased some 200 gr. lead bullets of .429 inch. The improvement was immediate and apparent: from 4" to 1-1/2 to two-inch groups at 50 yards.
My favorite load is:
Winchester cases
HP-38 - 6.8 grains
Winchester WLP primer (yes, that's correct, a Pistol primer. .44-40 cases are made for pistol primers, not rifle primers).
200 gr. lead flatpoint bullet made by Rimrock Bullets, formerly of Utah and now in Montana, I hear.
A good load but near maximum in the Winchester 1873 design.
Unfortunately, my Uberti-made 1873 has comparatively shallow rifling. It doesn't shoot nearly as accurately with black powder loads, using the Lyman 427098 bullet of about 217 grains.
I don't know if the Marlin has a bore as large as my Uberti, but it's something to keep in mind.

EDG · « **Reply #3 on:** March 01, 2003, 05:52:00 PM »

Knowing what I do about manufacturing you will get the same bore as a .44 Magnum so it will be .429 to .431. I have a Marlin .375. Its bore is the same size as a .38/55 or .378. They are not going to use another lot of barrels just .002 larger for a small production run.
Ed

Rifled Slug · « **Reply #4 on:** March 04, 2003, 02:17:35 PM »

I have a Uberti 66 Yellowboy in 44-40 and was loading .429 dia. but was having chambering problems so droped down to .428 dia. You may also run into crimping problems where the round won't chamber . The Lee Factory Crimp die will cure that problem . :wink:

Ron LeClear · « **Reply #5 on:** March 04, 2003, 02:20:17 PM »

Thanks to all..........The gun should be here the end of the week and we will see what works the best.........

Thanks again

Ron

Ron LeClear · « **Reply #6 on:** March 07, 2003, 01:03:14 PM »

Just to let you all know...the Marlin 44-40 barrel is the same size as my 44 Mag. barrel.
EDG was correct they didn't make a special barrel just use what they had on hand.
This is an 1894 S with Micro-Groove barrel...They even used the same instruction sheet as the 44 Mag. just put a sticker to say that some parts may have a different number in 44-40 cal than the 44 Mag.

Ron

T W · « **Reply #7 on:** July 31, 2003, 08:06:06 AM »

You may have a problem with the micro groove rifling using cast bullets, however, my 73 clone is shooting beautifully with .429" soft cast bullets (BP loads) and the same load is just as good in my Colt clone pistols.