tx gun runner

I love the 44-40 cal . You can down load it to level one [ 44 specal spec ] which is my cowboy loads or load it to level three which meets or exceed the 44 mag spec in strong modern action like Vaquero or 92 action [ NOT the 66 , 73 or SA Colts ] . My brass has been loaded over 85 times without a single case failure using the Lyman m-die which is a must have in loading 32-20 , 38-40 and 44-40 in my opinon . The case was designed like a funnel to feed in lever gun perfect and seal the chamber so black powder residue don't leak into action and yes it's a super blackpowder shooter too boot . Like the 45LC [Colt] , the 44-40 factory ammo is loaded to a low pressure for all the old blackpowder out there . The cases resize with 1/3 the effort of a straight wall case , but a super heavy roll crimp can push the shoulder back , In a lever gun that not a problem , but in a revolver it is like a high primer . I trim new brass after 1st firing so my crimps are all the same and but they NEVER need it again in 85 time I reloaded the brass . The targets below are 1st and only paper targets I ever shot with these guns and the loads are loaded for 750 fps not accuracy for SASS/CAS matches .







This is gun I used for hunting Tn deer

deputy125

so many fine qualities that you point out.............yet is seems to be over-looked for the 45 colt.

tx gun runner

There wasn't any brass made for 38-40 and 44-40 being made for over 40 years , only SA Colt were made in 38-40 and 44-40 . The 44 mag was king of the hill for many years and was killing every cal except 357 mag . Ruger SA 45LC/45ACP helped the 45 with the Ruger only loads . Then Ruger screwup when they made the 44-40 with a .426 cylinder with a 44 mag barrel which is .430 and didn't shoot for beans . I sent 2 of my guns back to Ruger had them fix and correct the guns . Only the last year of production were built correctly . Then they stopped making them because the bad PR like the 357 Max got . Remember the 66 , 73 and 92 original rifles were never made in 45 colt because of there was no rim to grab , straight case don't feed well and don't seal the chamber with blackpowder .

Ornery

The 45 is a 45 and its better.

tx gun runner

I've owned over 10 Vaquero's and Blackhawk's is 45 . I got 3 Vaquero 45 with birdshead grips 3 years ago to shoot CASS/CAS matches . I loved the birdshead grips , didn't care for the 45 so I went back to shooting my 44-40's and swapped grip frames from the 45's to 3 of my 44-40's . My 44-40 in 92 Rossi was so much smoother then the 45 Rossi was . I don't own any SA 45 anymore . To say a 45 in better then a 44-40 is like saying a 308 is better then a 30-06 or a Ford is better then a Chevy or Dodge . There is good points and bad points in both cal . I prefer the 44-40 and I didn't say it was better . The 44-40 is the only cal that has killed more deer then the 30-30 , now I didn't say it was better . All the deer I shot in Tn was taken with my 44-40 Rossi or my flint muzzleloader .

Ornery

There are more Sass shooters that shoot the 45 than 44-40.

tx gun runner

There is more 38 shot in SASS then 45 . Ruger only made 44-40 for 5 years and 3 of those years the guns needed to be sent back to Ruger for repairs , plus the last Ruger 44-40 was made in early 2005 . So I hope there is more 45 shot in SASS then 44-40 . If you can find a 44-40 Vaquero you will pay a premium price for them . The 44-40 is the best black powder cartridges ever made in pistol and rifle combination , 38-40 is next in line .

jimbo1096

Ornery didn't get his name for nothing.
Keep stirrin' the pot!
I've never owned or shot a 44-40 so I can't say. But I sure do love my 45colt Blackhawks. Second best is that new 44spl. sweet shooter in the short bbl.

Ornery

The 45 colt is easier loading in that you don't have to lube the cases and they aren't as thin as the 44-40. And you can trim the 45 colt case down to 45 acp length and shoot them in a Blackhawk covertable. I know this to be true as a fellow shooter by the handle of Old Bob showed me his and that is what he shoots at the match's There are far more bullet weights for the 45 than the 44-40. As for stirring the pot not so just pointing out the advanages of the 45 colt over the 44-40 is all. To each their own as to what they like or dislike its their check book and their time and money. The 45 colt beats the 44-40 hands down any day of the week in sass. I know of no one that hunts with a 44-40 these days.

tx gun runner

1....The 45 colt is easier loading
*The 44-40 resizes with 1/5 the pressure need to resize a 45 and if you use Hornady Unique case lube no need to wipe lube off .

2....and they aren't as thin as the 44-40
*I have reloaded and shot my 44-40 over 85 times without one case failure you can't say that about a 45

3....And you can trim the 45 colt case down to 45 acp length
*Why .... My 44-40 I load down to 750 fps how much slower do you want them .

4....The 45 colt beats the 44-40 hands down any day of the week in sass
*The 38 spec beats the 45 hand down and you can shoot 38 long colt , 38 colt short and 38 S&W without shorting brass .

5....I know of no one that hunts with a 44-40 these days
*I hunted in Tn with 44-40 and the Rugers you got won't take the Ruger only loads safely for hunting

I never said the 44-40 is better then a 45 and the person with zero knowledge on 44-40 is trying to make it into a pissing contest . The next pissing contest will be which is better Ford , Chevy or Dodge in the pony cars .

Ornery

I have one in a rifle and I love shooting it too, nothing wrong with the round, to me the 45 is easier loading to me.