Since some 44-40 enthusiasts don't reload, I became interested in the performance and accuracy of the current 44-40 factory offerings. There are 2 different types, "Cowboy" and "Sporting".
Hopefully, the below information may be of some benefit to those of you that have a 44-40 but don't reload.
Even though I could have included "Ten X", I decided not to since it is notably more expensive than the other brands.
I dissected an average of 5 rounds of each type to determine the average powder charge weight used. I did not recognize any of the powders so they are likely not available to handloaders.
Upon competion of the tests, I ranked Magtech 1st. Accuracy was very good and it performed flawlessly.
Winchester was a close 2nd.
Black Hills produced the second highest velocity so I included it in both sections.
Ultramax Cowboy Ammo was interesting. It contained the highest charge weight of smokeless powder but the lowest catalog velocity in a revolver. Interestingly, it produced the highest velocity of all the ammunition tested, so much so, that I wondered if someone may have placed reloads in an Ultramax box. An email to Ultramax confirmed that the powder charge weight was loaded by them.
I tested the velocity when the cartridges were chambered from the magazine and if the powder was positioned to the rear to see what the difference might be. In positioning the powder to the rear, I partially chambered a cartridge, then pointed the muzzle up to at least 60 degrees for 1 second, then when the muzzle was pointing towards the target, I completed closing the action.
44-40 SPORTING Ammunition
The “Sporting”44-40 ammunition consisted of one (Magtech - Blue Header on box) with a lead alloy bullet and the other (Remington) with a jacketed bullet.
Ultramax "Cowboy" ammunition could be reclassified as "Sporting" since it actually produced the highest velocity so I did show it in both sections. The same for Black Hills which had the second highest velocity.
44-40
Black Powder ammunition offered by Buffalo Arms appears to offer the equivalent ballistics of the original 44-40 cartridge (1,300 f.p.s.) and thus would be the most powerful factory 44-40 cartridge currently available.
Note: Remington has discontinued their .44-40 ammunition. Now the only jacketed ammunition is produced by Winchester.
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