Thread: Wtb 44-40 cases

Looking to buy 44-40 cases. Hawkes bay preferred but depending on price and shipping cost, will consider further afeild

Try these guys, they bring in most of the cowboy action stuff etc:

https://www.magnumimports.co.nz/pages/contact-us

Thank you

What rifle have you got?

An old 1873 lever action

Cool. Load it with 36 grains of 3F black powder and lead bullets (actual lead not wheelweights) with 1 or 2% tin mixed in and it doesnt matter what size diameter lead cast bullets anything from .427 to .433 will work fine in whatever bore size your rifle is, (the black powder will bump the soft lead up to size in the bore)- but do not use the cast lead bullets they sell on trademe as they are too hard for black powder.

If you want to use the harder lead bullets, then a good smokeless load is 26 grains of H4198 or same amount of Reloader 7, which is a low pressure load safe for the '73 and '66, but will still get you proper .44-40 velocities, around 1300fps; the bullet in this case is now important - it should be a thou or two oversize of the bore

Lube for the black power bullets can just be chefade fat with a little beeswax so it doesnt go off - lube for the smokeless loads you can use any commercial product (but not the chefade)


You will need to get the Lee Factory Crimp die, which is the only thing that will crimp properly. Other dies for crimping do not work properly in this cartridge.


The black powder load above is compressed, which is what you should be doing with black powder, you dont really even need to size the cases, just give them a light crimp to hold them in.

The smokeless load with harder bullets needs a firm crimp for a full powder burn with these powders. With the smokelsss load, it is a bulk powder load, so the powder is suppossed to fill the whole case and the bullets is seated to the cannelure and the powders may be slightly compressed. This is on purpose.

If your rifle has a bore size of .429 or .430, you will be able to use jacketed .44 magnum bullets, either the 200 grain or 240 grain hornady XTP bullets are good. Firm crimp on these with smokeless loads.