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November 7, 2015
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I know many of us are primarily collectors but many of us are shooters and most or all have had the honor of firing an antique or vintage Winchester. Question is: what Winchester (or Henry) would you like to take on a range trip with a suitable amount of correct ammo? If you’ve already had that opportunity that would be a cool story as well! The question is easy for me as I’ve always been puzzled by the reported long range efficacy of the Henry Rifle during the War of Northern Aggression. (Oops!) I’d like to use the opportunity to document velocity, BC and other real-world ballistics of the rifle that could be “loaded on Sunday and shot all week”. I have a close second but quite honestly I’d rather read your responses.
Range is hot, you may commence firing!
Mike
TXGunNut said
The question is easy for me as I’ve always been puzzled by the reported long range efficacy of the Henry Rifle during the War of Northern Aggression.
Wildly exaggerated by those making & selling the gun–if it was “as advertised,” then the .44-40 would be an elephant-killer. (It wasn’t even a buffalo-killer.) There are half a doz videos of people shooting Henry repros on You Tube, but they’re all the .44-40 version. The original RF loading could be easily simulated with handloads, but appears no one has thought of doing that.
clarence said
The original RF loading could be easily simulated with handloads, but appears no one has thought of doing that.
Believe me I am not the only WACA Member trying to figure out how to shoot a Henry or 66. No one makes the brass or bullets. The bullets are .445″ and rebated. There is one company that casts something similar but is undersized. I can make some bullets I just wish I could buy some that are more professionally done. I found a company that will make the brass for a hefty set up fee. They only require that I order 25,000 cases. The company in Texas that lists brass with a set up for a shotgun primer seems to be a dead end. A priming compound is available but I haven’t got it to go off in original cases. The old cases are so hard that when struck by the firing pin only a slight scratch is made on the rim. Believe me I have played with the spring tension. Some cases have 2 very deep hits from the pin when first fired many decades ago. I have a handful of cartridges with hits on the rim but these did not fire because the compound has dried up and fallen into the powder.
If you have some ideas let me know.
Chuck said
Believe me I am not the only WACA Member trying to figure out how to shoot a Henry or 66.
To “simulate” firing a Henry, neither an original gun nor RF cartridges are necessary. Loading .44-40 cases with 26 g BP & a bullet of proper wt should reproduce ballistics similar to original, which you can try out at “long range.” For this pipsqueak round, I think 100 yds would be “long range.”
One of the YT videos showed an original Henry converted to fire the CF version of the Henry cartridge…do that, & you won’t need those 25,000 cases!
Well I would love to own and shoot a Winchester Model 64 Deer Rifle in either .32-40 or .38-55.Would like to shoot an original Model 1866 with the proper cartridges .
For a .22, a Winchester Model 1873
For a shotgun ,I would like to shoot a Winchester Model 21 in 28 gauge.
November 7, 2015
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My close second and more realistic fantasy would be trip with a Single Shot in any of a dozen (or more) cartridges ranging from the 25-20SS to the .577 Eley.
Mike
TXGunNut said
My close second and more realistic fantasy would be trip with a Single Shot in any of a dozen (or more) cartridges ranging from the 25-20SS to the .577 Eley.
Mike
Was planning to do that last year with one of my highwalls. Well, we all know what happened last year.
Chuck said
… The bullets are .445″ and rebated. There is one company that casts something similar but is undersized. I can make some bullets I just wish I could buy some that are more professionally done. I found a company that will make the brass for a hefty set up fee. They only require that I order 25,000 cases. …
If you have some ideas let me know.
Chuck, most of my moulds are custom made by Accurate Molds. I think they would make a proper 44 Henry bullet mold for you if you can supply them with the dimensions. Their prices seem to be not much different that any other standard mold. As for brass, I don’t know if Rocky Mountain Cartridges in Cody are still in business, but if they are, they have made brass for me (.45-60). https://www.rockymountaincartridge.com/
Kirk Durston said
Chuck, most of my moulds are custom made by Accurate Molds. I think they would make a proper 44 Henry bullet mold for you if you can supply them with the dimensions. Their prices seem to be not much different that any other standard mold. As for brass, I don’t know if Rocky Mountain Cartridges in Cody are still in business, but if they are, they have made brass for me (.45-60). https://www.rockymountaincartridge.com/
I have looked at Accurate Molds website. I don’t remember what I saw. Rocky Mountain Cartridge Co. does not make rimfire cases. But they make centerfire brass that some WACA members might need.
Here’s how my range trip went yesterday. My gun needs a new barrel. It once shot sub .5″ groups quite often. Been getting worse each week. After about 2,200 rounds sub 1″ groups are hard to get. I’m wasting precious resources. Then at home I broke the handle on my cleaning rod and the plastic head on the Lyman hammer. I have all the parts to build a new gun except the action. Well who knows when that will be available. I’m going to tear into my old gun and see if I can re barrel this gun. My question is whether I have room in this chassis for a thicker barrel and are the threads standard. This manufacturer likes to make things a little different so you have to buy their stuff.
Hope everyone is having more fun than me.
Like it says in that old song,”Some days a diamond,some days a stone.”
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