BP in a .44-40

[Oldtimer]

I took two small deer on Saturday, using a Model 92 in .44-40.  The range was quite close and the cartridge worked as advertised---in 1873.  I had loaded it with black powder, and decided to try it out.  
Now, on to a curious thing.  I noticed years ago when hunting with a muzzleloader, that game does not seem to be spooked by the report of black powder like it is by smokeless.  My experience on Saturday was no different.  After I shot the first deer, the second one did not run until I put a bullet into it, too.  Several other shooters I have discussed it with have also had similar experiences.  I guess it adds up to another case of that white powder being a lot of trouble for a little less smoke  :wink: .

[Shorty]

Oldtimer,
Maybe it has something to do with a sub-sonic report.  Or maybe they just can't figure out where that noise came from and don't know which way to run.  :roll:
You realize, of course, that you can't stuff the original 40 grns. of powder into a solid head cartridge case, and therefore can only approach the original load that was in a balloon head case.

[Oldtimer]

As you mentioned, the .44-40 is subsonic, but it has also happened shooting a roundball out of a T/C .45 flintlock with 100 gr. of FFFG, which would be moving around 1800 f/s or so.  
I do have a few old balloonhead cases around here somewhere, but for this load I used WW cases and was able to get 35 gr. of FFFG in the case with a 205 gr. lead bullet.  It should be going 1150 f/s. Where I was hunting, there are no shots over 50 yards, so the loading was sufficient.

[Mikey]

Oldtimer - since the black powder burns more slowly than the smokeless you don't get that same hard sounding 'crack' when the bullet leaves the barrel it is more of a softer boom that apparently doesn't have the same effect as a smokeless powder round does.  Just a thought here.  Also, I think it was Mike Venturino who ran an article on the 44-40 and used the Pyrodex 30 gn pellets with success.  The velocity was not as fast as your loads although I think the longer barrel of your 1873 might make it pretty close.  Mikey.

[jd45]

Oldtimer, this may be a minor point, but I wonder if the .44-40 is sub-sonic from a rifle. If memory serves me 1065fps is the cutoff, and doesn't the .44-40 go about 1200fps? Just curious, JD45

[Oldtimer]

JD45,
Your memory is better than mine.  It was about 45 degrees the day I was hunting, and so the speed of sound is around 1100 f/s.  The formula is as follows:
Speed of sound in dry air = 331.4 + 0.6Tc m/s, where Tc is the temperature in Celsius.  
My Model 92 carbine has a 20 inch barrel, so I calculate that the muzzle was around 1150, which would make the load minimally supersonic.  
However, as I stated in my original post, I have noted the same phenomenon using a roundball load in a T/C .45 cal. flintlock where the velocity was in excess of 1800 f/s.  I have even wondered if the presence of the cloud of smoke had something to do with it, maybe distracting the animal.  Also, the way black powder stinks, it sure covers human odor.

[w30wcf]

Oldtimer,
Thank you for the neat story on your successful deer hunting with b.p. .44-40 cartridges in your '92 Winchester.

I don't hunt much anymore but I do enjoy shooting b.p. from my original 1873 WInchester .44 W.C.F.

Based on my testing of black powder cartridges in my '73 which has a 21" barrel, I would say that your load is closer to 1,250 f.p.s. if you are using Goex FFFG.  I shoot mostly Swiss b.p. since it fouls less and gives better accuracy in my '73 which has a pitted barrel.

35 grs. of Swiss FFFG under a 215 gr. 427098 bullet in Winchester brass / Rem 2 1/2 primers exits the 21" barrel at 1,326 f.p.s. according to my chronograph.   35 grs. of Goex FFFG should be about 5% less or around 1,260 f.p.s.  according to the ballistic strength differences between the two powders.

My standard load is 40 grs. of Swiss FFG in W.R.A. Co. .44 W.C.F. headstamped brass.  WIth the 215 gr. bullet, velocity is 1,273 f.p.s.
With a 200 gr. bullet, 1,312 f.p.s.   In a friend's 1892 Winchester which has a 24" barrel, velocity with the 200 gr. bullet is 1,334.

I would have thought there would have been more difference than  22 f.p.s. in the 3" longer barrel.  Apparently, most of the b.p. pressure has been expended in the 21" barrel.

For reference, original .44 W.C.F. ballistics were 1,245 f.p.s (200 gr. bullet). By the 1920's, factory velocity was increased to 1,300 f.p.s. with either b.p. or smokeless cartridges.

Thanks again for sharing.
w30wcf