I have heard all the horror stories about reloading the 44-40 none have come true. Heard that I would loose alot of brass at match that has truned out wrong too. Even the very old folks come forward to help point them out. I loose very little brass at matchs when I shoot my 44-40. 38sp. well if they can get it quick they will if not they don't. So your going to loose some of that.
Reloading the 44-40
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Well I'm a 44-40 man . I've shooting 44-40 in SASS match going on 13 yrs . I got 500 piece of brass 13 years ago and I just shoot them this weekend . I have reloaded the same 44-40 brass over 65 time so far without one case failure . The pocket for the primer are wearing out , they slide in easy , none are loose . I use a Lyman M die for 44 mag because I shoot .429 bullets and makes loading the 44-40 a breeze . I've had cases stepped on and flatten flat and straighten them out run the in a die and reload them . The 44-40 if you over crimp it you can move the shoulder back . I load the 44-40 in level 1 and level 3 . Level 2 is what the factory ammo is load at . Level 1 is SASS load 800 fps and level 3 meets or exceeds the 44 mag which is a Ruger only or 92 win rifle , not for colt pistol or clones and 66 or 73 win rifle . I use the guns for SASS , hunting and target and shoot them at lease once a week . Sold all my 44 mag and 45LC because the 44-40 will do what they will do and sizing a straight wall case take three time the pressure to size that a bottle neck .
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RP and Starline I thinks the best . 65 reloads on RPsheepdog said:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =110387516
If you shoot black powder 44-40 is top of the food chain . All your top BP shooter use the 44-40 because it seals the chamber perfect and puts all that nasty stuff down the tube
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i wondered a bit about the 45 colt as i don't believe that the round is period specific for rifles in CAS. Seems the 45 colt was never offered in rifles back in the day and was introduced to rifles in this era only........
the 44-40 was offered both in handguns and rifles back in the day......
but 44-40 revolvers don't seem to be too popular today...............
the 44-40 was offered both in handguns and rifles back in the day......
but 44-40 revolvers don't seem to be too popular today...............
Its not Winchester wasn't going to make a rifle in 45 colt the Texas Ranger demanded a rilfe and pistol combination of the same caliber. So Colt made several 44-40 38-40 32-20 there are some others but I can't remember them right now. It was a simple matter that once off the horse and ya had your rifle ya could load off your pistol belt. And of course they were the first ones recorded using the saw off shotguns. so if want to be period coreect its either 44-40 in both or 44-40 rilfe and 45 colt like I shoot. or any combination there of.
Classic cowboy is where the caliber becomes important, main thing is to just get out there shoot and have fun remember its a game not a sport but there are many that look at it like a sport. Ok that is their bag not mine I like to shoot and have fun.
Classic cowboy is where the caliber becomes important, main thing is to just get out there shoot and have fun remember its a game not a sport but there are many that look at it like a sport. Ok that is their bag not mine I like to shoot and have fun.
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i think i remember seeing some ruger vaqueros years back in 44-40 and 38-40--------they probably are worth more today than back then..............
i'm with you on the shooting........i'd rather have a good time than get worried about crossing my T and dotting my i's on what is absolutely correct for the period. From what i understand the 38 special is probably the most popular round in the sport as it is less expensive and easier on the person...........
but dang it, i sure do like throwing a big piece of lead down range...... :lol:
i'm with you on the shooting........i'd rather have a good time than get worried about crossing my T and dotting my i's on what is absolutely correct for the period. From what i understand the 38 special is probably the most popular round in the sport as it is less expensive and easier on the person...........
but dang it, i sure do like throwing a big piece of lead down range...... :lol:
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Bottle neck cartridge were designed for lever action rifle 38-40 and 44-40 and then they where pickup later to shoot in pistol . they worked better than a straight wall case did in a lever gun . I love the 32-20 better then the 38 special flater shooting and harder hitting and easy to load . The colt clones are a perfect size .
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deputy 125 ya are just going to have to some day bite the bullet and get started. No one has all the right stuff they want or need to start with. Me I am set up to shoot 45, 44-40 or 38sp in all 3 guns. So its up to you when you start and how long you wait. I wanted to start sass shooting in 2000 but had major money problems and it got put back on the back burner. This something else came along and this and that. And finaally one day decided I am going to do it. I was terrible had the worse score ever. I got some better but I didn't really get much better because of the rifle problems. When the chaperrel went down on me in july I made up my mine it had to be someone else's problem. It could be fixed now for all I know, could be it will make someone a fine rifle will I trust it again nope not me.
I let someone else talk me into going with 38sp. big mistake I should have just went with the Marlin and the Rugers shot factory cowboy loads and been done with it. I probley would have shot just as bad but I wouldn't have had all the rifle problems I had.
I could have gotten the bisley's in 44-40 but I wanted 45 colt, why because I like 45 colt. I have had no problems getting the two rounds missed up. Folks have been real good about picking the brass.
Truth of the matter is I probley won't ever be a world class shooter, not from lack of effort , just because to me this is a game and not a sport. For a little while I am not part of this crazy mixed up world that we live in now I am back in the old west where I want to be. I am living a life long dream, yes I want faster times but more important I want a clean match everytime.
I want to enjoy myself and not worry about someone else is doing or not doing. I use to hunt and fish just to be out in the woods. Around here now its gotten so expencive I can't do that any more.
But sass I can do and I am going to do as long as I am able to do it. When I can't shoot any more I am still going to be a part of it some kind of way.
The only thing holds any of us back is US! Once we say we can't we have given up. Once ya have done that then just roll over and die its the same thing. At least to me, I only have so many days left here on earth, I am not going to waste any more time telling myself I can't do this and that. I am going to at least try. The only way any of us learn is by failure, I can prove that too. Ever see a baby try to walk? if I fell that many times just to take a few steps I would never get out of the hospital. But never has stopped a baby learning to walk its something we have to learn the hard way but we do learn we do fall and we do fall alot. But the bottom line we do learn to walk. But we do have to do something to learn to walk, we have to try. And we do it in our diappers not the classic walking shoes that all the big kids have, heck we just want to walk. Once we learn that then we will get the other stuff. One thing a baby learning to walk has over the rest of us they don't worry about what someone else is doing they are going to learn to walk and the sooner the better for them.
Its the same thing for each of us, the sooner we do what we want to do learn what we want to learn the sooner we are going to have fun. I never thought I would have a computer well I got one never thought I would learn how to operate one but I learned had many folks help me. Many of them are on this forum, am I a computer wizz nope but I do ok for me. But if I never turned it on I would still have a computer but I would have never learned how to use it.
Life is to be enjoyed as much as we can its only taken me some 50 odd years to get that threw my thick hard head. Each day is a gift its what we do with it that counts. For me each match is a chance to meet some real nice folks to enjoy them as much as they enjoy me.
The best thing abpout the matchs for me is that I get to say the pledge of allegiance to our flag and to our country, and pray for our troops and folks I have known and come to love. After that let the games begin, just doesn't get any better.
I let someone else talk me into going with 38sp. big mistake I should have just went with the Marlin and the Rugers shot factory cowboy loads and been done with it. I probley would have shot just as bad but I wouldn't have had all the rifle problems I had.
I could have gotten the bisley's in 44-40 but I wanted 45 colt, why because I like 45 colt. I have had no problems getting the two rounds missed up. Folks have been real good about picking the brass.
Truth of the matter is I probley won't ever be a world class shooter, not from lack of effort , just because to me this is a game and not a sport. For a little while I am not part of this crazy mixed up world that we live in now I am back in the old west where I want to be. I am living a life long dream, yes I want faster times but more important I want a clean match everytime.
I want to enjoy myself and not worry about someone else is doing or not doing. I use to hunt and fish just to be out in the woods. Around here now its gotten so expencive I can't do that any more.
But sass I can do and I am going to do as long as I am able to do it. When I can't shoot any more I am still going to be a part of it some kind of way.
The only thing holds any of us back is US! Once we say we can't we have given up. Once ya have done that then just roll over and die its the same thing. At least to me, I only have so many days left here on earth, I am not going to waste any more time telling myself I can't do this and that. I am going to at least try. The only way any of us learn is by failure, I can prove that too. Ever see a baby try to walk? if I fell that many times just to take a few steps I would never get out of the hospital. But never has stopped a baby learning to walk its something we have to learn the hard way but we do learn we do fall and we do fall alot. But the bottom line we do learn to walk. But we do have to do something to learn to walk, we have to try. And we do it in our diappers not the classic walking shoes that all the big kids have, heck we just want to walk. Once we learn that then we will get the other stuff. One thing a baby learning to walk has over the rest of us they don't worry about what someone else is doing they are going to learn to walk and the sooner the better for them.
Its the same thing for each of us, the sooner we do what we want to do learn what we want to learn the sooner we are going to have fun. I never thought I would have a computer well I got one never thought I would learn how to operate one but I learned had many folks help me. Many of them are on this forum, am I a computer wizz nope but I do ok for me. But if I never turned it on I would still have a computer but I would have never learned how to use it.
Life is to be enjoyed as much as we can its only taken me some 50 odd years to get that threw my thick hard head. Each day is a gift its what we do with it that counts. For me each match is a chance to meet some real nice folks to enjoy them as much as they enjoy me.
The best thing abpout the matchs for me is that I get to say the pledge of allegiance to our flag and to our country, and pray for our troops and folks I have known and come to love. After that let the games begin, just doesn't get any better.
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snuffy, that is a awful good way to look at things and i am going to get involved in cas but it will probably be next year as the money is just plain tight right now and we also ain't gonna spend till after this nov to make sure my Sheriff gets re-elected so i am sure i do have a job for next year. With this small dept, it is all too easy for a new sheriff to come in and "clean house" to make room to promised deputy positions for support...........just a fact of life in these parts.
but i have purty much made up my mind i am gonna get into it and have set a goal to make at least 2 matches in 2009. I'm gonna use the 45 vaquero on hand ..........don't know about a rifle yet and may just have to pass on the rifle just to get started at the begining. i've bout made up my mind i want a 66 but they are sure proud of them........
either way, i am probably gonna have a bunch of questions when i get started up in this and i sure ain't out to be a world champion either but perhaps i would like to go to the State finals if not as a competator then as a spectator.
i
but i have purty much made up my mind i am gonna get into it and have set a goal to make at least 2 matches in 2009. I'm gonna use the 45 vaquero on hand ..........don't know about a rifle yet and may just have to pass on the rifle just to get started at the begining. i've bout made up my mind i want a 66 but they are sure proud of them........
either way, i am probably gonna have a bunch of questions when i get started up in this and i sure ain't out to be a world champion either but perhaps i would like to go to the State finals if not as a competator then as a spectator.
i
I can wel understand what your saying and going through in your neck of the woods. This next years state championship is going to be at Oakwood its in my neck of the woods. So if ya think ya can make it guns are no trouble there pard I got enough for both of us to shoot. Ya will need some holsters and ear plugs shooting glasses heck I got a new pair around here some place. I might find them but that time lol.
If we lived closer to each other I have what ya need to shoot dang shame we don't. Anytime I can help I am only a phone call away or e-mail any time pard.
If we lived closer to each other I have what ya need to shoot dang shame we don't. Anytime I can help I am only a phone call away or e-mail any time pard.
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i think that i will try to make the time to make a match with ya or at least show up to watch......
i'm gonna save some vacation days next year and be lookin' at the schedules in the area and put in for a day off in advance so i can make a shoot if it ain't too far away say 150 miles.........providin' no one calls in sick and such which sure does wreck some schedules.....
if ya got a calendar schedule of some of the clubs in your imediate area, post or shoot me an email so i'll have it just in case.......need to know if they are 1st sat of month, 3rd sat, 4th Sunday, etc, etc so i can get a general idea when they meet...........
better yet, if the clubs have a web site, send it also for the calendar of events and also so i can enjoy the pics and have the address of the club...........i can always work mapquest to see how far it is and for directions........
i'm gonna save some vacation days next year and be lookin' at the schedules in the area and put in for a day off in advance so i can make a shoot if it ain't too far away say 150 miles.........providin' no one calls in sick and such which sure does wreck some schedules.....
if ya got a calendar schedule of some of the clubs in your imediate area, post or shoot me an email so i'll have it just in case.......need to know if they are 1st sat of month, 3rd sat, 4th Sunday, etc, etc so i can get a general idea when they meet...........
better yet, if the clubs have a web site, send it also for the calendar of events and also so i can enjoy the pics and have the address of the club...........i can always work mapquest to see how far it is and for directions........
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