44-40 reloading

[patkinson]

Can ayone heip me in finding a smokeless powder that is suitable for the 44-40, other than Unique which I can not find anywhere?

 

[Fuj]

Herco, Blue Dot and 2400 will work. Dig thru some Lyman Data.
You can check burn rate charts to also compare other powders.
But with the faster powders, I'd look up published Data
I shot a modified truncated lyman, hard cast at 210 grains
with 18 grains of 2400.

 

[xr650rRider]

I used 6.0 Trailboss with 200 RNFP for light loads but Trailboss is probably unobtainable too.

 

[Eagle1899]

What powders do you have on hand and what gun will they be shot in?

 

[Ray123]

Powder has not been readily available in any brand or burn rate...it's hit or miss, and empty powder shelves... or 3 or 4 one lb containers at best...sometimes. Some brands appear more often. Look at a list of 44-40 data and use the starting load for the powders found available in your area. Titegroup is found here...44-40 200 gr lead bullet. 5.7 gr start 6.4 max
jacketed 200 gr drop powder charge start 5.4 gr max 6.0 gr Find what is available for the 44-40. Go from there....it's what you can use, and available in your area, to keep the gun running.

 

[jghoghunter]

lyman reloading manual

 

[Bryan Austin]

Can ayone heip me in finding a smokeless powder that is suitable for the 44-40, other than Unique which I can not find anywhere?

For use in pistols or rifles?

 

[wildcatter]

HP38 same powder as ww231. They are close to unique in most revolvers. HS6 is a pretty widely used powder in 40 cal and up. But like asked rifle or pistol. Rifle I would look for 2400 HS6 Blue Dot, your manuals will give more choices but these are the powders I find most useful in cartridges like 45 colt to 41 mag even 480 and 475.

 

[kenhwind]

For use in pistols or rifles?

Definitely a consideration.

I have been using Red Dot.
Universal is a good alternative for Unique.
Brownell's had some Unique, but it was 8 pound containers and I'm not inclined to buy 8 pounds of any powder.

 

[nakneker]

I don’t know what kind of firearm you have but if it’s something like Gen 1 vaquero it will handle a stout load compared to a lot of the older firearms chambered in 44-40 That couldn’t handle those pressures. The Lyman manual has data for rifle and for pistol. PM inbound


The Lyman manual lists IMR 4227 in both pistol and rifle data and it’s not hard to get,

 

[Bryan Austin]

Any powders and charges Lyman lists. Lyman lists both rifle and revolver loads.

Bullseye, Unique, Trail Boss etc. Lyman and Lyman's Pistol & Revolver lists many...Nitro 100, 700X, Titegroup, Zip, N340, Red Dot, Green Dot, True Blue, 2400, SR4756, IMR-4227.

I prefer Reloder 7 for my 300 yard 44-40 rifle shots

 

[jds holler]

No matter what powder ya get, loading for this cartridge should be done with an Ideal Tong Tool, or the actual Winchester tongs with bullet mold attached.

It it's good enough for Matt Dillon...

jd