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Does anyone have any information about the 40-60 WCF ever being loaded by Winchester with Smokeless Powder ? If I remember correctly ( Big Question there ) I have seen a Winchester box of 40-60 WCF that stated it was loaded with Smokeless Powder . Not positive but only going by memory . If anyone has any information about the Smokeless Load I would appreciate your input .
Ron, I have reloaded several 40/60’s with smokeless. I use an original Winchester mold and a 1894 reloading tool. Use 45-70 brass cut to 1.870″, anneal, and sized to 1.870, 28 grs. of 3031 with a filler gives me 1345fps. My guns like cast not sized in an original Winchester mold.
This is what I do, not a recommendation.
If your question was did Winchester ever make a smokeless load for the 40-60, I did not see it offered in the catalog. T/R
Folks, I looked at two references first. The second volume of the books by Dan Shuey on Winchester headstamped cartridges did not list any smokeless powder loadings for this caliber. Then I looked into the Giles and Shuey book on Winchester boxed cartridges. The passage on the .40-60 WCF says at first it was unusually loaded with 62 grains of black, but later in the early 1900s reduced to 57 grains. Winchester did not offer it with smokeless powder or with a jacketed bullet. There is an additional sentence that at one time Remington DID offer a smokeless loading using a jacketed bullet. This was considered most unusual. Just what I read quickly, but seems rather definitive. But like T/R, I have loaded some mild smokeless rounds, and John Hawke used smokeless powder in his reloads (and he shot a lot of game with it). Tim
Tim – thank you for your research. That is really interesting to learn that Remington loaded .40-60 with smokeless powder and a jacketed bullet.
Confusion among buyers is easy to imagine. I’m sure those who had a Marlin M1881 in .40-60 or a Colt Express rifle in .40-60 or a Bullard in .40-60 might have thought this Remington cartridge would be correct for their rifle. I wonder if the Remington box specified what rifles it would have been correct for? Of the lever action repeating rifles, the Winchester M1876 and the Whitney-Kennedy are the only ones I can think of off the top of my head.
TR said
Ron, I have reloaded several 40/60’s with smokeless. I use an original Winchester mold and a 1894 reloading tool. Use 45-70 brass cut to 1.870″, anneal, and sized to 1.870, 28 grs. of 3031 with a filler gives me 1345fps. My guns like cast not sized in an original Winchester mold.
This is what I do, not a recommendation.
If your question was did Winchester ever make a smokeless load for the 40-60, I did not see it offered in the catalog. T/R
Thanks TR , I have used that load also with the only exception of Jamison brass in place of the 45-70 cut down brass with good results . Have taken many wild hog and deer with the 40-60 WCF in a few different 1876 rifles using the bullet cast in original mold SPG over 57 Gr, ff2 Bp. seated with the Winchester tong tool Std. Cap . Primer !. Plenty fun to hunt with . DT .
tim tomlinson said
Folks, I looked at two references first. The second volume of the books by Dan Shuey on Winchester headstamped cartridges did not list any smokeless powder loadings for this caliber. Then I looked into the Giles and Shuey book on Winchester boxed cartridges. The passage on the .40-60 WCF says at first it was unusually loaded with 62 grains of black, but later in the early 1900s reduced to 57 grains. Winchester did not offer it with smokeless powder or with a jacketed bullet. There is an additional sentence that at one time Remington DID offer a smokeless loading using a jacketed bullet. This was considered most unusual. Just what I read quickly, but seems rather definitive. But like T/R, I have loaded some mild smokeless rounds, and John Hawke used smokeless powder in his reloads (and he shot a lot of game with it). Tim
Thanks Tim . was hoping you would chime in . I guess my memory may have played a trick on me , not the first time . In ( Winchester 73 76 ) David F. Butler . page 84 under ( Cartridge Construction ) Figure 32 , at the extreme left of the illustration is the 40-60 cartridge which was marked on the head with the initials S-H to indicate it is of “solid head ” construction and it is loaded with a jacketed bullet . Both of these features indicate relatively late manufacture . He does not mention Smokeless Powder . I sure would like to find one of these cartridges , if one exist . Thanks for your input Tim .,,,,DT
November 7, 2015
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Cool round, DT. As my late friend JT said we can’t have too many hog guns and I’m betting he would have gotten pretty excited about shooting hogs with an 1876 in 40-60.
Have you tried 5744? Seems to work quite well in several other hyphenated/BP cartridges and I’ve considered trading a shelf full of conventional rife powders for a keg of 5744. MLV is a big fan of 5744 and I’ve come to appreciate his wisdom when loading for old Winchesters.
Mike
TXGunNut said
Cool round, DT. As my late friend JT said we can’t have too many hog guns and I’m betting he would have gotten pretty excited about shooting hogs with an 1876 in 40-60.Have you tried 5744? Seems to work quite well in several other hyphenated/BP cartridges and I’ve considered trading a shelf full of conventional rife powders for a keg of 5744. MLV is a big fan of 5744 and I’ve come to appreciate his wisdom when loading for old Winchesters.
Mike
Hey Tx , I have heard the 5744 powder is a good choice for these old BP. cartridges . Kirk D. has posted good results using it in a different cartridges . The 3031 load listed above works very well . I am not looking for a Smokeless load to use in my 1876 40-60 WCF rifles . Bp. loads I have used for yrs . work just as well today as when designed , and give a feel of nostalgia when using them . Sent a lot of piggy’s to the smoke house using Bp. loads ! Looking for info about the Factory 40-60 WCF Smokeless loading is just something I am interested in , the early 1900’s transition from Bp. to Semi Smokeless and Smokeless powders has my interest . I cant seem to find much about this topic . Your late friend JT had it right . Never can have enough Hog Guns and there is No End , to the Wild Hogs in Tx . ,,,DT
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