44-40 Blackpowder Loads

oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
Anyone loading true Blackpowder loads in a 44-40 Revolver?

Mine is a Uberti variant. Forcing cone/bullet diameter .429/.430. Have Elephant FF and FFF powder. Current mold is a Lee 200 grn RNFP. WW + 2.5 % tin drops at 215-217 grns. Figure with soft lead for BP, maybe drop 220-225 grns.

Figure maybe somewhere b/n 30-33 grns True Black with this setup...? Experience? Thanx
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
I think you'll be a bit higher than that unless you use a lube wad.
you need to have a case full of black and no air space, a little compression by the bullet is preferred.
the 44-40 initially used a 40-1 lead to tin alloy.
the lee bullet might not carry quite enough lube, but it might so it's worth a try as is.

I would measure to where the base of the bullet sits.
fill the case to that point and weigh the powder then add another grain.
volume is more important than weight.
 

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
What fiver said. Helping a friend set up for black powder Cowboy shooting years ago, we found that FFF worked much better than FF, and used standard LP primers.
 

Maven

Well-Known Member
No experience with the .44-40, but have tried real BP in my .44mag. (Ruger SBH). I tested 27gr. and 30gr. Goex FFFg compressed charges with Lyman #429421 @ .431" and got 799fps and 833fps, respectively with SD's of <20 fps from a 10.5" bbl. Accuracy was better with the lighter load, and the equal of that obtained with smokeless powder. I used Felix Lube with WW + !% Sn CB's and had no problems with accuracy, but I did brush the bbl. after each 5-shot string. Clean up was no harder than when using smokeless powder, but you'll need a different solvent + preservative just in case you don't remove 100% of the BP fouling. Btw, the gun got much hotter after firing BP loads than it did with smokeless, hence the term "hotter than a pistol."
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
Do a search for Mike Venturino articles on the topic. He has done it a good bit and written
about it, too.

Bill
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
I would agree with fiver. Compression is your friend, no reduced loads. Use a good BP lube and be prepared to clean the gun well right after shooting.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
I would consider a compression die. Think of an expander but made to be a good but sliding fit in the neck. Flat nosed and adjusted to compress the powder just enough to let the bullet sit snug on top of it before crimping.
Why stress the bullet by compressing the powder with it? No need for a damaged nose because of the force required, use a compression die instead.