I’ve only seen two original cartridges, that I can think of. The .44 Henry Center Fire cartridge is way beyond rare and almost non-existent. The cartridges I examined were brass, not copper cases and had no headstamp. They are essentially a .44 Henry Rim Fire, but center fire primed. I have a ’66 carbine in .44 Henry Center Fire, but I’ve never been able to buy a cartridge in this caliber.
November 7, 2015

Welcome, Gene! Does the 1866 appear to be converted from rim fire?
Mike
What is old is new again! Suggest looking up my article in the Spring 2015 “Collector”, pages 48 to 49. On page 49 are pictures of actual 44 Henry flat centerfire alongside rimfire cartridges (plus a .44 American that will chamber in a 1866). Among the pictures are a factory dummy 44 Henry Flat Centerfire as well as an actual .44 Henry Flat Centerfire from about 1891. The latter is fairly well pictured (number 4 in the pictures). I think this will help with this discussion. Tim
gene66 said
Any info on this cartridge
What are you looking for? info on a certain make of the cartridge? Or what cartridge fits the 66?
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
tim tomlinson said
What is old is new again! Suggest looking up my article in the Spring 2015 “Collector”, pages 48 to 49. On page 49 are pictures of actual 44 Henry flat centerfire alongside rimfire cartridges (plus a .44 American that will chamber in a 1866). Among the pictures are a factory dummy 44 Henry Flat Centerfire as well as an actual .44 Henry Flat Centerfire from about 1891. The latter is fairly well pictured (number 4 in the pictures). I think this will help with this discussion. Tim
Thought the only reason ’66s remained in production was for shooting cheaper RF ammo–an advantage lost if CF was used. Several other .44 CFs have case dimensions very close to the Henry. There were CF analogues for many RF cartridges, & Ballards & Wessons had convertible firing pins allowing use of both types.
Looks like I responded to the wrong forum post, as there is apparently two now.
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
Chuck, The one on the right is probably a 66 center fire.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
November 7, 2015

I feel pretty young in this crowd, can’t even get away with putting an extra syllable in “cartridges”.
Mike
win4575 said
I’ve only seen two original cartridges, that I can think of. The .44 Henry Center Fire cartridge is way beyond rare and almost non-existent. The cartridges I examined were brass, not copper cases and had no headstamp. They are essentially a .44 Henry Rim Fire, but center fire primed. I have a ’66 carbine in .44 Henry Center Fire, but I’ve never been able to buy a cartridge in this caliber.
I was given the one I have from Doug Benick a long time Henry and 66 collector. He had 2 and gave me one. He also sold me 30+ Henry rounds that came out of a hundred round box. He sold his full box to a fellow collector that now has 2 of them.
thanks to chuck 1873man txgunnut for the reply here is another question in the win magazine 2006 there is an article by joe cortin where he uses an uberti
44spec bolt in the 1866 win tried to locate him with no luck does anyone know anything about him talked to tim he said he did not have any information i called the win assoc office no luck there just trying to find out what he did to fit the new uberti bolt in the action thanks again for all your help gene66
A quick Google search of “Joe Cortina winchester”and I found this GI ad of a 86 being sold by Joe Cortina
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
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