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Slugged the barrel on my recent purchase 1892 rifle in .44-40 and found it to be.430 which explained why the first target outing using HSM Cowboy wasn’t that great on paper. Those bullets measured .428 as removed from case and couple shots looked like key holes.
So I loaded up 5 each of 200 gr plated Xterme Bullets using a 8.5 gr. Unique and 6 gr. of Red Dot to see if there was any improvement.
All shots from 20 yds to see what the loads would do and what a huge difference. For a 128 year old rifle I say it still has what it takes to get a bullet on target! Not going to be shooting a lot thru this rifle but want it to do best it can when I do shoot it.
Now finding new brass for 44-40 rather difficult now so I found another 2 boxes of the HSM and will pull the bullets, dump the powder and load my own.
The Unique load looked good with just a bit more thump than the Red Dot. The Red Dot is sweet shooter though!
Love this old 1892!
November 7, 2015
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Good job! Don’t be too surprised to find most of these old Winchesters WILL shoot, just need the right load.
Mike
Starline brass for the 44-40 is available on Gunbroker. Pricey, but available.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1016852514
He has much more in stock-just dribbles it out 50 cases at a time.
I wonder what diameter bullet Winchester made its mould to produce?? Did that measurement change at all with the move from black powder to smokeless powders, or did they leave it the same?
Added to that, I wonder if Winchester had a target bore and groove diameter in mind when they made barrels? They varied the rates of twist per caliber, why not try to match the groove diameter with an oversized bullet mould diameter?
Twist rate has to do with the ability to stabilize the bullet. The heavier the bullet the faster the twist that is needed.
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