Cas City Forum Hall & CAS-L
CAS TOPICS => Gun Reviews => Topic started by: Dayton Dave on January 29, 2012, 01:36:05 PM
-
I hope i`m in the right board for this topic.
I`m interested in finding out all I can about some of the rifles chambered in 44 special. I`m mainly interested in Winchester & clones.
Dayton Dave
-
There have been occasional runs of Uberti 1866 and 1873 rifles in .44 special, but the are very scarce. The Uberti toggle links will command PREMIUM prices when you can find one. Rossi and EMF Model 92 Winchester clone .44 mags will feed .44 special, as will Marlin 1894 .44 Mags. That's about it.
-
Hey Tuolumne, how ya been? In recent years Cimarron has consistently had 44 Spcl ' 66's and '73's in stock, same price as other calibers (which of course ain't cheap!). .44 Mag '92's and Marlins certainly are much less expensive but may or may not need tweaking to run the Specials.
Now if Uberti would just make another run of .44 Spcl Henrys like they did 8 or 10 years ago, that would make some folks pretty happy! I don't have the money for one of those, but I do have a credit card ;D Buying a 44=40 Henry and having the chamber sleeved is a route a few folks have taken.
-
I gotta Winny 9422 i`m thinking about trading and a 44 special would be a nice companion for my Cattleman in 44 special. Another thing i`m considering is: I have a Marlin336 in 35Rem. i`m hunting with and i`m wondering how the 44special cartridge would work on hogs. I know a 44mag would do the trick but with the longer chamber i`m worried about bullet jump and accuracy.
-
Dave, you might also take a look at the new Uberti 44 Mag. 1873 (only comes in 19" carbine). Taylors and Cimarron carry it. With that you could use the 44 mag for hunting and 44 Spcl for CAS. Being it is a toggle link rifle, I wouldn't hotrod the .44 mag, but it should handle SAAMI spec ammo okay. If you want hot 44 mags for the hogs, go with a '92 or a Marlin. Bullet jump for a .44 Spcl in a Mag chamber shouldn't be a problem for CAS use, I wouldn't think.
-
44 mag is a great hog killer. In the 70s, I used a Ruger 44 Mag carbine to knock off lots of wild boar and feral porkers in Los Padres National Forrest and the salinas valley below King City.
-
I gotta Winny 9422 i`m thinking about trading and a 44 special would be a nice companion for my Cattleman in 44 special. Another thing i`m considering is: I have a Marlin336 in 35Rem. i`m hunting with and i`m wondering how the 44special cartridge would work on hogs. I know a 44mag would do the trick but with the longer chamber i`m worried about bullet jump and accuracy.
I'd keep the 9422. A great little gun, that is unless you have a Marlin 39!
-
Henry makes a .44 mag Big Boy that is SASS legal. Very purty too. ;D
http://www.henryrepeating.com/rifle-big-boy.cfm
-
Henry makes a .44 mag Big Boy that is SASS legal. Very purty too. ;D
http://www.henryrepeating.com/rifle-big-boy.cfm
I had a Henry .22 and it was junk in my opinion. I`m not really sure about the big bore rifles.
-
I sure do agree with Abilene wishing Uberti would make another run of Henrys in .44 Special. Have been looking for one for some time now. I explored the sleeving and/or rechambering options and they just would not work. No one willing/able to do the work, too expensive to try, etc. Oh well! Are you reading Uberti?? ???
-
LJ, the gunsmith I know in Surry, VA might be willing to do that job.
I got lucky and got a 1866 44 special short rifle a few months back and it is now a 44 russian bp only shooter, thanks to that same gunsmith.
It will go through the baptism of BP rounds next weekend unless the weather kicks up bad weather again!
PR
-
I have a sweet 73 in 44 spc'l :)
Ditto on another run of Henrys in .44 Special.
-
Does that `73 come stocked in 44 spec. or did you have it re-worked ?
-
Does that `73 come stocked in 44 spec. or did you have it re-worked ?
Did you bother reading reply number 2? Abilene works for Cimarron and he has already posted they are made in .44 Special and that they have them in stock.
-
Did you bother reading reply number 2? Abilene works for Cimarron and he has already posted they are made in .44 Special and that they have them in stock.
If you can`t be nice don`t reply to my post :P
-
What makes you think I'm not nice? Pointing out your question has been asked and answered isn't nice or un-nice. It's just stating the facts.
-
Does that `73 come stocked in 44 spec. or did you have it re-worked ?
yes ... rare, but stock cal. from time to time
-
What makes you think I'm not nice? Pointing out your question has been asked and answered isn't nice or un-nice. It's just stating the facts.
Well Sir, your reply seemed a bit rude. If i`m wrong about that then i`m sorry. I know it`s hard sometimes to fit a personality with type.
-
That is indeed a problem with typing rather than talking.
-
Pony Racer, thanks for your reply. I may have to try that at some point. For now I am satisfied and happy shooting my two 1866's in .44 Special and waiting to see if Uberti won't make another run of Henrys in .44 Special. When I need a dose of Henry, I shoot the one I have in .45 Colt. Wish it were .44-40, but I did not know I would want .44 when I purchased.
J
-
44 Spec vs 45 Colt vs 44-40 when shooting BP.
Does the 44 Spec suffer from the same blow back issues many complain about in their 45 Colt rifles. Folks swear the 44-40s do not have the issues due to bottle neck cases. I rather question that and think the difference may well be in brass thickness but specifics do not matter.
I ask because I am considering a 73 and would want it to work in many categories some of which require BP.
I do not want to live with issues, heck if I liked issues would totally stick to my 92s
-
44 Spec vs 45 Colt vs 44-40 when shooting BP.
Does the 44 Spec suffer from the same blow back issues many complain about in their 45 Colt rifles. Folks swear the 44-40s do not have the issues due to bottle neck cases. I rather question that and think the difference may well be in brass thickness but specifics do not matter.
I ask because I am considering a 73 and would want it to work in many categories some of which require BP.
I do not want to live with issues, heck if I liked issues would totally stick to my 92s
Cpt Dan,
Yes, it is the thin brass mouth on 44-40 that seals the chamber, not the bottleneck. As for .44 spcl, my experience with my '66 is that it has just as much fouling blowby as .45LC and .357 (I have '73's in those calibers). I have tried the usual remedies (heavy crimp, heavy bullet, 3F, even tried 777 since it is more powerful than BP) and still the same. Have not tried annealing cases, but really the rifle runs fine with BP, just takes longer to clean and on a low humidity day I might need to spritz the carrier with moosemilk, water, whatever occasionally.
-
I have a '66 in .38. Never noticed any blowback trouble.
I say;
DONTWURRYABAHTIT!!!
-
Henry makes a .44 mag Big Boy that is SASS legal. Very purty too. ;D
http://www.henryrepeating.com/rifle-big-boy.cfm
I'll go along with that. Have a couple of Henry's myself, one being a .44 Big Boy. They're worth a look. As to Henry .22, well to each his own, but I sure like mine and its made in America.
-
My local gunstore has a Winny `92 in 44-40. He`s asking $600 for it. I`d rate condition around 80% or better. It`s an early rifle with nice patina and normal wear, no rust just a few dings here and there. Is this a decent price or not ?
burch
-
If it's an original 92 and your description is accurate that is a very good price.
-
If it's an original 92 and your description is accurate that is a very good price.
Well shoot I might just have to talk him out of it
-
44-40 is a superb CAS rifle round. My Marlin 1894 Century LTD 44-40 is slick, and has never jammed. 44-40s tend to be superbly accurate, also. You won't be unhappy with an original 1892 in 44-40! They are a peach!
-
I hear their a nightmare to reload. How do you think they`d do for a hog killin` caliber ?
-
I hear their a nightmare to reload. How do you think they`d do for a hog killin` caliber ?
Cacatoro! :P
Just be a little careful when you drop the handle that it doesn't wrinkle a case mouth. It very seldom happens after some experience. There are lots of discussions on cascity.
Bottom line! Its a great cartridge. 8)
-
I hear their a nightmare to reload. How do you think they`d do for a hog killin` caliber ?
Try it, you'll like it. I prefer 44-40 over the other 44/45 calibers. Be sure you have the case mouth belled and as Sir Charles stated, "be careful when you drop the handle". Other then that it's just like most other 44/45 pistol caliber cartridges.
I hunt deer with them, but I've never hunted hogs so I'll let someone else comment on that.
Deadeye Dick
-
Go cautious and the .44-40 is no hard round to load. I actually enjoy loading them.
Deadwood
-
Hey Tuolumne, how ya been? In recent years Cimarron has consistently had 44 Spcl ' 66's and '73's in stock, same price as other calibers (which of course ain't cheap!). .44 Mag '92's and Marlins certainly are much less expensive but may or may not need tweaking to run the Specials.
Now if Uberti would just make another run of .44 Spcl Henrys like they did 8 or 10 years ago, that would make some folks pretty happy! I don't have the money for one of those, but I do have a credit card ;D Buying a 44=40 Henry and having the chamber sleeved is a route a few folks have taken.
I agree.......I would love an 1860 in .44 Special!
-
Go cautious and the .44-40 is no hard round to load. I actually enjoy loading them.
Deadwood
Actually, the .44 WCF (.44-40) is my second favorite rifle caliber (The first favorite in M1 Carbine!). I use a LEE turret press with auto index, and can lad 150+ rounds a hour. If you index it correctly to start, you will not have an issue reloading the .44-40.
-
The gun store has increased that Winny to $800 after he did a bit more research on it :'( He told me it`s valued at $1200
-
44-40 has killed many deer and Javalina through the last 100 years.
As far as a "hog killer" if you have a Marlin 1894 or Winchester 1892 (or clone), John Taffin has a great hot load for those rifles. Starline brass, a .427 200 grain JSP, and 24.5 grains of Alliant 2400 for 1971 fps out of a 24" barrel. It gives 1725 ft lbs energy at muzzle, and 945 ft lbs at 100 yards. That puts it in the same class as .44 Magnum loads. DO NOT USE IN ANYTHING THAT IS NOT A MARLIN 94 OR WINCHESTER 92!!!! It will turn aan 1860. 1866, or 1873 into a grenade. I use a red marker to paint the base of the case red around the primer, so there is no confusion.
Full info on the load and other 44-40 resources on the Lever Action shooting Society forum here:
http://50caliberforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=thewinchester1873forum&action=display&thread=2474
It originally appeared as an article by Taffin in GUNS magazine in 2003. Great read for any 44-40 reloader.
I have personally loaded this round in my Century Limited, and it is superbly accurate, and gave me just over two inches at 100 yards with iron sights when my eyes were better. No cratering of primers or other signs of excessive pressure.
-
I purchased a '66 Yellowboy in .44-40 and had my gunsmith cut the barrel just ahead of the chamber and rechamber it for .44 Special. It's a great shooter and I never had any problems with it. My shooting pal, Coldfinger, finally talked me out of it. He runs BP through it and I haven't heard any complaints from him about blowback, yet.