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Hi all. Just wondering if anyone has used this powder and what load they used for their original Winchester 1873 44-40?
I have quite a bit of this powder and see on other forums people using it so just want to confirm if its doable.
Thanks !
Typically this is rifle powder. I have no info or idea where you would start???
I know its a rifle powder but I see some guys using it in their old Marlins but the 73 can’t take the pressures that the Marlins do.
Are the Marlins chambered in 44 WCF? If so talk to them about the charge weight. Loading this type of powder/caliber/gun almost requires that you buy a chronograph so you can start low and work up to a safe FPS.
Here is about the cheapest chrono that works with minimal set up.
Lyman’s 49th lists nineteen rifles chambered for the 44-40.
Group 1 (weak actions)
- Winchester Model 1873
- Whitney Kennedy lever action
- Colt-Burgess lever action
- Marlin Model 1888
- Colt Lightning pump action
- Replica Model 1873s (And I’d include replica Henry and 1866s in 44-40)
- Remington No 2 Rolling Block Single Shot
- Ballard No 2 Single Shot
- Stevens Model 44 Single Shot
Group 2 (Strong Actions)
- Winchester Model 1892 (& replicas)
- Marlin Model 1889
- Marlin Model 1894
- Remington Keene Bolt Action
- Remington Model 14 1/2 pump action
- Winchester Single Shot rifles
- Remington No 1 Rolling Block single shot
- Remington “Baby Carbine” single shot
- Stevens Model 44 1/2 single shot
Yes, the 44-40 is technically the UMC/Marlin’s version of Winchester’s 44 W.C.F.. There was a difference but only with loading components, cartridge dimensions were the same. The bullets were 217gr, and they used Hobb’s patent primers. Winchester used 200gr bullets and Winchester patent primers.
Lyman does not list IMR-4198 for the 44-40 rifle. IMR-4198 is slightly slower burning than Reloder 7.
I personally have used both H4198 and IMR-4198. I prefer to NOT use IMR-4198 for longer distance shots. The following load, IF PUBLISHED, would be considered a “High-Velocity” load.
grains..Powder………..Bullet……………………………..Velocity……….PSI……..est C.U.P…OAT…Target #………..notes
| 26 | IMR4198 | 200 RNFP | Laser Cast | 1,512 | 15,145 | 17,902 | 39 | 233 | 7″ Groups @ 100 yrds, Fog |
Vintage rifle data (Sharp’s 1937) shows 16,000cup as max and modern shows 13,000cup as max.
HOWEVER, if you can find a published lighter load of 1,300fps, it would be fine in the 73′.
All of the factory, low-velocity and high-velocity 44-40 loads were safe for soft steel barrels. However, Winchester warned against using the high-velocity loads in the 73′ and revolvers.
photo ref. Townsend Whelen, 1918
Oh and yes, the 44-40 is a rifle cartridge and in order to get the most out of it, it is best used with published “rifle” powders. Rifle powders is based on burn rate, etc, not the name on the powder container…hint hint! For use in revolvers, it is best loaded with published pistol powders or published faster burning rifle powders.
Bryan Austin said
Oh and yes, the 44-40 is a rifle cartridge and in order to get the most out of it, it is best used with published “rifle” powders. Rifle powders is based on burn rate, etc, not the name on the powder container…hint hint! For use in revolvers, it is best loaded with published pistol powders or published faster burning rifle powders.
Bryan – do you consider Trail Boss a rifle or pistol powder?
Trail Boss is a fast burning “fluffy” pistol powder that some misunderstand as a bulky rifle powder.
It is #23 on IMR’s burn rate chart, while Reloder 7 is #73, IMR-4227 is #65 and IMR-4198 is #75, while 2400 (you know, the scary magnum powder) is #54.
Red Dot is #7 and Bullseye is #13
Here is my tests with Trail Boss
NOTE: 9.3gr is a case capacity load using the formula for rifles most mis-understand, see link provided. Using such forumula pushed the pressure well above 13,000cup and the velocity is not even to original black powder and smokeless powder velocities of 1,300 fps to 1,325fps. Also notice I tested those loads at 38 degrees outside air temp.
| test# | grains | powder | bullet wt. | bullet | velocity | psi | cup | AOT | target# | notes |
| 12 | 6.4 | Trailboss | 200 LRNFP | Acme Magma | 1,034 | 7,224 | 8,539 | 38 | IMR Website Max Load 12,000 CUP | |
| 19 | 9.3 | Trailboss | 200 LRNFP | Acme Magma | 1,250 | 13,909 | 16,441 | 38 | https://imrpowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/trail-boss-reduced-loads-r_p.pdf | |
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