Thread: 44-40 Lee Size die issue for Pistol

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings @Jhon,
The 44 WCF (later .44-40) is a very old cartridge and the chambers can be all over the place. I would be reasonably sure that your problem is an oversize section on the case where the die can not reach. This happens with belted cases as well. As mentioned above size the case with the case sitting on top of the shell holder and drive the case out with a rod. You may have only have to do this once. Definitely do NOT grind the shell holder, it will likely wreck it. You should consider keeping the cases separate for the two firearms and a different head stamp would help with this. Lastly they are 44 WCF and not 44 mag and the cases are thin so I suggest keeping your loads down to the lighter end of the data. Your brass will last longer.
Regards Grandpamac.

Thanks Gramps, good advice..Ive done a lot of research on 44-40 with great input from a certain forum member who is like a cat with 9 lives - im sure you'll know who. Anyway, this is my first venture into Pistol.

You are absolutely correct. Mate and I at the range today, him with the other of the pair. He loaded his rounds on a Dillon, no issues there in either Pistol. Mine, resized in a Lee press with Lee dies would not chamber fully in either if resizing from rifle. New brass no problem. Brass shot prior in Pistol no problem. I loaded at the range with a Lee hand press and that gave excellent visibility of the amount of brass not resized as it is covered by the shellholder.

Mate does not have a 44-40 Dillon calibre conversion kit for 44-40 but finds 45 Colt.works. I have 45 ACP and will try that tomorrow. I have a 44-40 Dillon Conversion kit on the way. The Dillon plate is like 50% of the thickness.of a Lee.shell holder so running all the Pistol designated brass thru is first step.

Anyway I agree on not grinding the Lee Shell holder. If done properly I suspect it would work but they are like hens teeth to find, a #14, and I only have the one.

Sizing on top of the shellholder is certainly an option and I'll try that..PITA driving the case out tho one by one.

Anyway, the good news is the Uberti shoots just fine. I'm loading old Dupont Hi Skor 800X - what a bitch that is to feed through a powder measure. Start load is 8.0gn. Max is 8.8gn. I did an incremental ladder in .2g..I stopped.shooting them above 8.2gn which was crisp enough at around 830fps. Thats not the most forgiving of handles on that thing lol, especially after my Shadow II..Pretty accurate tho. No problem ringing the gong dead centre at 35m.

Thanks again.