Marlin Century Limited .44-40 action shot!

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Taken at a recent CAS match. The shooter is my buddy, "Hangin Judge Hemp," who was sharing my rifle that day (his Dillon was jammed up and he couldn't load any ammo for the match). I had my wife's Nikon D-90 on sport shutter and got this mid-action shot.

[Danny Bear Claw]

Nothing warms the heart quite like a piece of hot brass flying through the air!  Nice looking rifle too.   

[Coal Creek Griff]

I love action shots.  Thanks!

CC Griff

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[Tuolumne Lawman]

Thanks, guys!  She is a beauty.  She will shoot under 2 inches at 100 with good handloads.  In fact, because I love it so much, and it is a 44-40, it is the reason I shoot 44-40.  I actually prefer .38-40 as a CAS caliber.  You have to love a 180 grain, .401" diameter bullet over 35 grains volume of Triple 7 is just flat awesome!  The 200 grain .428" bullet over the same charge, though, is just about as good!

A .428" 200 grain JSP over 24.5 grains of Alliant 2400 gives about 2,000 fps and 2" accuracy, with top .44 Magnum type performance. I would not try that load in anything but a modern (post 1900) Marlin or Winchester 1892 or clone.  It would turn a toggle link into a grenade.