Can Anyone Recommend a Good .44-40 BP load for a Henry?

[Dan Chamberlain]

Just bought an iron framed Henry in .44-40!  Never loaded for this round.  Was ordering a .45 but the .44-40 came and you know, since I've no experience with this, I just have a hankerin to experiment!  

Dan C

[howdy doody]

Chances are if you are gonna shoot BP with yer new baby, then you will find the 44-40 a lot nicer do to the bottleneck and you will get far less blowby and less fouling in the receiver,
I don't load for 44-40 personally, but BP isn't rocket science. If you are going to shoot true BP or Pyrodex, I would recommend a well lubed bullet, like one that has adequate lube rings and use SPG or such as a lube for them. Fill the case until you can get a 1/16-1/8" of compression with the bullet seated and try that as a starting point.
I use a lot of American Pioneer and 2f is fine for me. It makes it's own lube and you can use smokeless lubed bullets with it. I have used 777 and no special lubes with it either, but it is more powerful grain for grain and you may like a filler with it.
Maybe this will hold you or get you investigating until someone that loads for that caliber posts with their pet load. Hodgens has load data for 777 and Pyrodex on their website.

[The Shrink]

Dan

I'm gonna start with the original, 40 gr. 3fg.  Load with the MAV bullet, since I got the mold specifically for that purpose, except mine is the Uberti Cattleman (SSA clone) in 4 3/4" & Bird's head grips.  I'd use the same load for a rifle, at least to start.  I'd be looking harder at wads for the rifle, though.  Even waxed paper, like OJ box sides, should be adequate.  Since I have a sheet of veggie fiber, I'll probably use that when I get a rifle.  

I would expect this will be a substantially compressed load.  If you are shooting Swiss you might want to back off the powder to the point that you have less compression.  I'll put compression on Goex with no problem, just being careful not to bulge that thin case.

[Dan Chamberlain]

Thanks for the answers.  Everything I've read says that 40 grains won't fit due to the difference in modern brass.  Because of this, I was going to use 777 perhaps because it has a little more power with less volume.  Cleanup is easier as well.  Mike Venturino uses the .36 caliber wonder wads as they flatten out during the loading process and fill the .44 caliber neck.  There is also a product called spg wax sheets.  You just thumb press the sheet over the casing and add the bullet and seat for a good seal/lubricant.  I'm looking forward to reloading for this rifle.

Dan C

[ButlerFord45]

Dan, unfortunately I can't help with the 44-40 loading, when I went shopping for my first cas rifle, I wanted 44-40 but couldn't find one, so I settled for 45.  While I do enjoy the 45, I've always yerned for the 44-40, just because???  I don't think there's gonna be that much difference in the two.  I really believe the SPG grease cookie is going to be unnecessary to the point of diminishing returns,  one more variable in the load to lead to inconsistancies.  They said that the 45's wouldn't hold 40 grains either, they were mistaken, I know of folks that have gone as far as 43-45 grains just to see if it would hold that much and still seat the bullet.  It will.  I do however recoment the fiber wad, I have never used wonder wads, but I do use a beer carton wad.  I don't know why but it does run cleaner.  My 45 loads are 37.5 grain average, cause that's what my homemade dipper throws and it works well.  The only problem I've ever heard of in loading the 44-40 was that the bottle neck was pretty thin and if you're not careful when sizing and bullet seating, you can easily crunch the neck.   I think a case full of 777 would be a hoot to shoot, infact I had decided to pick up a pound this weekend for that very purpose.

I'm sorry for having rambled, but I'm too lazy to edit.  I'd really like to hear how things go, so If you would, keep us posted

[tommy4toes]

personally I'd recommend 3F Swiss powder and the afore-mentioned SPG lubed bullet. Use a drop tube to get as much powder into the case as possible and compress .100" or so, given your seating depth. These make wonderful hunting rounds also. Large pistol primers work well, dont worry about the mag stuff. If youre shooting for accuracy, decrease the powder charge enough to fit a wad - I prefer Folgers lids (well the old ones anyways) as they are pure LPDE plastic.
t4t

[Rifled Slug]

My load for 44-40 is pretty basic for CAS . I use APP 2F and a Mav bullet lubed with 50/50 alox/beeswax . I load on a 550 . I put in 34 grains by VOLUME so the bullet compresses the powder about .100 and crimp with a Lee Factory crimp . I don't use any wads .  Using 777 you may want to use a over powder card to protect the bullet base cause it might give some leading without one. Being about 25% hotter a full case of 777 3F is a stout load .

[The Shrink]

Dan

My load ended up being 37.6 gr. wt of Goex FFFG with no wad.  This is about the max I can get in the case with a drop tube.  This is compressed to the seating depth of the MAV bullet and the bullet loaded with a slight crimp, just enough to hold up under recoil.  Don't have a way to measure velocity, so I don't kknow it, but I'm pretty sure it's under the 1000fps max at the local Cowboy shoot.  

Wayne

[The Shrink]

Update to my previous post:

I can get 38.5 gr Goex FFFG in the case with the Lyman 55 drop tube and two taps.  Who knows, may get more in with a few more taps.  

Wayne

[Pogue]

Just for cleanliness, I use 777 or Clear Shot for my BPC revolvers and lever rifles, and stick with real black powder in my single shots.  I've always found black powder to be more accurate for long ranges, but not much difference for cowboy action distances.

[Seth Hawkins]

For my .44WCF Henry, I load Goex 2Fg, with a MAV bullet carrying very soft lube, and CCI LP primers (sometimes magnum primers if they are all I can find locally).  I'm using just a tick over 2.2cc of powder - just enough to compress the powder a little when I seat the bullet - and just enough crimp to keep the bullet in place during recoil.  No wads needed - why add a step (and the expense) to the process.  Goex 3Fg could be used if you want a little hotter load.  I believe my 2Fg Goex powder load weighed around 32 grains - but you should measure by volume, not weight.

I don't have any experience with 777, but I've been told to use nothing finer than 2Fg in anything larger than a .32 case since 777 is a little hotter than real BP or the other subs.  I'll think you'll find 777 3Fg in a large volume case like a .44WCF will make for a pretty stout load.  Either way, if I was going to try using 777 3Fg in a .44WCF, I'd work my way up to a full case - not start there. :wink:

Just remember - if you're not going to fill the case with powder, you need to use a filler of some sort to take up the air space in the case.  Leaving an air gap between the powder and bullet can cause pressure spikes, and probably affect accuracy.  While the pressure spike probably isn't enough to cause any damage to a modern gun (depending on the gun you're using), why take the chance?

[TFHARPER]

CCI 350 large pistol primer

33 grains 2F (Shuetzen) (by weight)

Lyman 427098 cast 20:1 (LEAD/TIN)

Size .427

SPG lube

Crimp over ogive