New to handloading .44WCF! Questions...

[TheHappyGunner]

Hello all!

I've just begun handloading the .44WCF cartridge for my Uberti 1873 rifle. As of now, it remains brand new and un-shot. I'm hoping to solve that "problem" within the coming weeks 

I have checked the diameter of my bore (.429) and ordered 250 .430 cast bullets cast from a mold similar to the original design. I have also bought 5 lbs of Swiss 2F black powder, and CCI #300 primers. All of this centered around 100 Starline cases.

Question: the only way I have of measuring powder is via an RCBS smokeless scale. I was told that roughly 36g (measured by weight) of Swiss 2F black powder will replicate the original black powder capacity for the .44WCF cartridge. Is this accurate?

Are there any tables that compare black powder volume to weight in grains? Also, do any of you have any idea if the 36g charge is safe in an 1873 Winchester? Will a steady diet of these loads be "hard" on my rifle? I have loaded two cases with 36g Swiss 2F and got about "0.10 of compression. It seems like it should be OK but I would like to make sure before I begin cranking them out.

Thank you all! 

[Abilene]

Have you tried to chamber the rounds you made yet?  Sometimes .430 bullets are a little large for tight Uberti chambers.

Yeah, FFg BP has "approximately" the same weight as volume in grains.  It varies from brand to brand.  The charge you mentioned with 0.1" of compression should be fine.  Full loads of BP are fine for the '73, that's what it was designed for!

[TheHappyGunner]

I have tried to chamber the ones I have made, and they chamber just fine!

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[Abilene]

Sounds good!  Did the bullets come lubed for BP, or are you doing that?  Looks like a 24" barrel, will need some good lube.  I use 2-lube groove bullets myself with homemade lube.  They aren't real large grooves, but hold enough for my 19" carbine to work fine.

[TheHappyGunner]

My rifle does have a 24" barrel (half-octagonal).

I'm not sure what this lube is. I ordered 250 43-210B(427098 clone) cast bullets from Mark @ www.whyteleatherworks.com and they arrived pre-lubed in the mail.

This lube seems to be relatively hard, but will wipe away if enough pressure is applied. It's also green. That's all I can tell you about that. I am totally inexperienced as this is my first attempt at shooting black powder... ever. I have nothing to compare them to!

[wildman1]

Call or email them and ask if that lube is compatable with BP. If not, place the bullets on a cookie sheet in the oven at 175 to 190 degrees. have the bullets lying on paper towels or newspaper. The lube will melt off in 5 to 10 minutes. Then either buy or make your own BP lube. wM1

[w44wcf]

Mark uses b.p. lube. Since it is green I am guessing it is NASA which is a very good b.p. lube.
36 grs by weight of Swiss 2F gives the same velocity of some original 44 WCF cartridges I tested (1,320 f.p.s.)

Have fun!

w44wcf

[Cliff Fendley]

Mark has good bullets and are lubed for BP. I'm pretty sure the last ones I've gotten from him was not green lube, it looked like SPG. He changed his lube at one point but I cant remember what he told me about that. I didn't know he offered that particular bullet though. Good to know.

I shoot 36 grains of Old E behind the 43-215C bullet which is basically the same bullet design with one large lube groove. I size mine to 429.

[TheHappyGunner]

Thanks for the replies, everyone!

And special thanks to 44WCF. It's his data that I based all of my current handloads on, and it is his data that inspired me to try black powder in the first place!

Of course, all of you have been very helpful with your facts/opinions. I'm very fortunate to be a member of this community!

I'll be making a trip to the range on Monday to shoot my rifle for the first time. I'll be sure to follow up on the results.

[jimbobborg]

Bring a jar of water with you and drop your brass in after shooting.  It helps clean up.

[cpt dan blodgett]

Let us know how it went, decent groups, hard fouling etc. please!

[TheHappyGunner]

RANGE REPORT:

Well, this was a big say of firsts for me: first time shooting a lever action, first time shooting with black powder, and first time using buckhorn sights.

LOVED the former two  didn't care for the latter 

My very first shot with this rifle landed just below the bullseye at 50 yards. Exciting!! My next four grouped within 1.5" below the first hole. On my second target, an extremely similar pattern developed: near bullseye first shot, lower follow-ups.

I shot a total of 15 rounds; 10 for target and 5 for "repeater testing" where I fired them off as fast as I could. MAN that was fun.

Anyways, I suffer from an eye condition in my dominant (right) eye that makes me see triple vision, so I shoot with my left eye. This, coupled with the less-than-ideal sight picture provided by the buckhorn sights, may have been the culprit for my grouping patterns. I have an improved-Marbles tang sight and bead in the mail from Midway... that might help my situation.

My load was as follows:
- Starline .44-40 brass
- 36gr Swiss black powder
- 200gr 43-210B (427098 clone) bullets sized to .430
- CCI #300 primers

I only fired 15 rounds total this afternoon, and the fouling was not nearly as bad as expected; after only 15 swabs through my bore the patches were coming out clean.

For what its worth, I have not had a problem with loading Starline .44-40 brass. Not one crushed case, a problem I was warned about with the 44WCF cartridge.

[wildman1]

After you shoot that rifle for a while you will find that it will only take 3 or 4 patches to clean it when you use BP. wM1

[Cliff Fendley]

Must be because it's a new bore. Usually only takes 3-4 patches to clean one with a good bore.

Now shooting smokeless powder on the other hand you just keep getting dark colored patches. Much easier to clean black powder, especially Swiss or Old E.

[Montana Slim]

Must be because it's a new bore. Usually only takes 3-4 patches to clean one with a good bore.

Now shooting smokeless powder on the other hand you just keep getting dark colored patches. Much easier to clean black powder, especially Swiss or Old E.

I've found weather (humidity is a friend in this case), bullet/lube & patch/jag fit to bore to be heavy influences on ease of cleanup. I MOSTLY shoot during warm (humid) months & use lube-heavy bullet (MAV). Similar to Cliff, I typically use 3-4 wet patches for cleanup, followed by 1-dry & 1-oiled. I don't want to give to many details as their are several threads on cleaning (solutions, methods, etc., etc.) already.

Slim