speaking of the Lonesom Dove rifle...

[AtlLaw]

Got me thinking.     I know, that's always a bad thing.   
 
Anyway, I have always liked the Henry and if I ever get one it will probably be in 45 Colt.  I have a '73 in that caliber and it is a great rifle.
 
When I was working up a hunting load for it I happened to read an article in Handloader or Rifle that said the toggle link action was somewhat stronger then people believe and listed some loads that could be used in the rifle.  One of the listed loads was a charge of 2400 behind a 250 gr. XTP.  I found that load to be very accurate in my rifle.  And it also absolutely flattened a nice 6 point that year!   
 
Then I noticed that Uberti started listing a '73 in 44 Mag.     I would have never believed the TL action could stand that pressure!     Matter of fact Bill and I had talked about loading for the '73 and he advised that I get a Rossi M92 if I wanted to hot rod a lever gun and keep the toggle link loads mild.  Still good advice I believe.   
 
But the 44 Mag '73 still makes me wonder.     Since they only offer that cartridge in one model, does that mean the 44 mag gun's action is somehow "beefed" up?  If not, does that mean I can run close to 44 mag pressure loads (case head size and back thrust considered) in my '73 and a Henry if I manage to get one?
 
I could just contact Uberti, I need to anyway to raise Cain about the two 1862 Colt Police model revolvers I had to send back  , but it's more fun, and informative, to bounce this stuff off all y'all!   

[tacklebury]

I really like my Reloader7 load for .45 Colt modern guns.    I use the one in this article for my H&R 45LC Classic Carbine.  Only thing I'd do is jump up to the 300gr. XTP Magnums or if you can find them in stock, the 240gr. XTP Magnums for flatter trajectory.    These two are designed to handle the higher velocities. 
 
http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/45coltlevergun.htm
 

There is a whole world of surprises waiting the reloader using the rifle powder ReL#7 in the 45 long Colt case for rifles. (Rifle powder not #7 pistol powder) With the 260 Keith I start with 25 grains and work up. I want anybody that wants to try it...to work up slowly so I’m not giving the top load..but the top velocity from the Winchester is 1800 to top end 2000 fps. And in the Browning 1892 action it will reach nearly 2200 fps or more and a SK of 82. Go slow with mag/pistol primers, and ReL#7 and because of it’s slow burn rate, it gives great velocities. H4227 is the other really good powder, but obviously not as slow as ReL#7.

[lakota]

...If not, does that mean I can run close to 44 mag pressure loads (case head size and back thrust considered) in my '73 and a Henry if I manage to get one

My Henry is .45 Colt.
I have read that the limiting factor on the Henry is the brass reciever and that if it is fed a steady diet of hot loads that the reciever can actually stretch over time. From what I have read you should limit your handloads to .45 Colt SAA pressures only.
I do 9 grains of Universal under a cast 250 grain Round Nose Flat Point. I havent tried any jacketed bullets in the 10 years I have owned my Henry.
 
Its a great gun. You wouldnt regret buying one if you are a levergun fan. leverguns and flintlocks are my favorites

[Graybeard]

I still would make no such assumptions Richard. I shore do lak the looks of them '73s but man they is spendy for my budget.

I know they have made some '73s in .357 magnum and the way they are loading it and the .44 these days it might take them but I'd not want to find out the hard way it won't. As to what they are doing to allow the .44 mag I dunno. No doubt the improved steels and heat treating today is at least part of it. Is yours the same? Doubt it.

Lakota I think what grasshopper is referring to is a replica of the original Henry which is now offered in .45 Colt as is the 1866 both of which were originally rimfire only rifles.

[lakota]

I actually have an old empty .44 rimfire shell a coworker gave me because he knew what a big Henry fan I am. He said he found it when he lived in Oklahoma. It is head stamped "H". There is no firing pin mark on the rim. We speculated that some indians may have pulled the bullet to get the blackpowder to feed their muzzle loading guns.

[StrawHat]

It is your rifle...
 
My experieince with 44 Magnums and 45 long Colt revovlers has put me firmly in the camp of the 45 long Colt.  Loaded with a 260 grain cast lead bullet over all the black powder the case can hold, the 45 long Colt kills faster than an identical shot with the 44 Magnum.  With less recoil and less noise!  Had I not witnessed it a half dozen times, I would still be shooting the 44 Magnums with loads that would please Elmer Keith.  Now the black powder loads are about all I shoot except for the BP equivalent loads (9 grains of Unique) I use in my S&W M25-5.  What I am trying to say in a roundabout way is if the old ballistics can penetrate stem to stern through a white tailed deer, what is the benefit of upping them?
 
Of course, I do recall EK saying that if all he had were the 45 long Colt and the factory blackpowder loads (Remington?), he could be content.

[coyotejoe]

I've never heard of a '73 in .44 mag and have my doubts but the '73 is a steel frame and inherently stronger than a brass frame Henry. It's not actually the toggle itself but the frame which is the weak point. Remove the side-plates from a '73 or a Henry and you'll see that there are just two thin rails connecting the receiver front to the rear which is where the stress of firing is applied. Certainly both Henry and '73 receivers do stretch from firing even normal loads and warm loads will greatly accelerate the stretching. They really are best with black powder or mild cowboy loads. Not saying warm loads will "blow up" a Henry but it will quickly develop excessive headspace and the internals will become loose. Most old original '73s have excessive headspace from normal factory loads, BP and smokeless. If you want to shoot the old designs it's best to be content with BP loads they were designed for.

[ratdog]

they have one out now real nice 73 45-60 cal a little pricey by uberti. buds sales them.

[StrawHat]

The Italians have a way of coming up with combinations that were never made.  A 73 in 44 Magnum certainly is one of them.  So is the #2 rolling block in 45-70.  Too bad they don't make accurate replicas of what was available.