Loading Black Powder in 44-40 rifle and pistol.

[Trader Dan]

Ready to load some Black Powder for my 44-40s. Two questions.

Is a drop tube really necessary for CAS pistol loads?

And how much should I compress the powder?

Bought some BP loads from Buffalo and they were loaded with 35 grains of black. One of the members of my club where I am going to shoot says he loads 25 grians of black and uses corn starch for a filler. NO need for more powder than that he says. Might try that.

Suggestion/comments?

   

[Rebel Dave]

Probably get some good answers on this   over on the "Dark Siders Den". The speak the holy black their.

Rebel Dave

[Fingers McGee]

Drop tube is extra work that will not make any difference for CAS.  By eyeballing the amount of powder in the case, I load enough powder to allow about 1/8 inch compression when a 200 grain RNFP bullet is seated.  Works out to between 26 and 32 grains by weight depending on the powder used. 

[Advertising]

[August]

Plan on a couple of "test runs" as you arrive at the best answer for you.

First, fill the case to the point where the bullet will contact, and compress the powder about 1/8 inch or so.  Just be sure you're not leaving air space between the bullet and powder.  Then, run those loads in a match.  If you can hold onto your pistols with that load, you're done.

Second, if you cannot hold onto your pistols with full loads, go ahead and make up some loads with some kind of filler.  I like Fluvel, but it's kind of expensive. 

[Mike]

Depends what make case you use, Winchester, starline, Remington etc.
I use 28 and 35 grains by volume in the 44 WCF.
Bulk of my cases now are Starline so 28grns 200grn RNFP

I started by weighing the charge, now just scoop by volume.

These are used in all my lever guns, I only shoot 44 colt in the pistols

Start experimenting and have fun.

[Cliff Fendley]

Wow I wouldn't have thought you'd get any compression with just 28 grains in a 44-40.

For most shooting and CAS I put 34 grains of 2f in Starline 44-40 cases and sometimes 36 grains of 3f if I want a hotter loads for longer ranges or hunting.

I put 28 grains in 45 Schofield under a 200 grain bullet. That's a fairly mild load.

[Mike]

35grns off 2f is my prefered load but 28 works for slapping steel any less and I belive a felt wad or filler would be need, I wont use either.

For longer ranges the 35grns works for me.