Aaargh! .44-40 loading woes

[Mike D.]

Well fellers, I just found out that bullets sized .431 don't work well in my lousy RCBS dies. I had a success rate of 20%, with most bullets sticking in the seating die and crushing the cases. All were once fired Starline Brass.
.430s seemed to function fine, but .001 larger is a no go.

[iceman]

Have you chamfered the case mouth? If too square could be the problem. Just my .02.

[Mike D.]

Yup. Expanded and chamfered. When the bullet enters the seating die there is no room for the case to fit around it. Probably an RCBS problem. I'll wager that Lee dies will handle those bullets just fine.

[w30wcf]

Mike,
I have had the same problem since I use .435" diameter bullets. Taking a loaded cartridge I adjusted the RCBS die to just touch the bullet and backed it out 1/4 turn. I then adjusted the seating screw down to touch the bullet. Worked like a charm.

I then crimped in a Lee factory crimp die. Sweet!

w30wcf

[the telegraphist]

Well fellers, I just found out that bullets sized .431 don't work well in my lousy RCBS dies. I had a success rate of 20%, with most bullets sticking in the seating die and crushing the cases. All were once fired Starline Brass.
.430s seemed to function fine, but .001 larger is a no go.

Gday, Have never ever had any problems with the Lee 44/40 dies. Also use their factory crimp die in this caliber and it works a treat. I have used projectiles from .428 thru to 432 with absolutely no problems. All my levers I use Lee dies with never a problem. I realise this is and old post, but I am still catching up with all the old posts since becoming a member.

Best regards
The Telegraphist

[1886]

Yup. Expanded and chamfered. When the bullet enters the seating die there is no room for the case to fit around it. Probably an RCBS problem. I'll wager that Lee dies will handle those bullets just fine.

Hi Mike, I have not tried the RCBS brand but I have had no issues with the Lee dies. I was loading for a couple of the Marlin CB .44-40s. No issues. Shoot that 64 much? Regards, 1886

[jnyork]

Almost all my reloading stuff is RCBS, except for the 44-40 dies, which for some reason I bought Lee. I shoot the Oregon Trail .431 diameter bullets and have had no problems whatsoever with the dies.

[Nath]

I would try screwing the die out some and screwing the plunger in some Mike

Nath.

[KCSO]

Replace the case neck expanding plug with one from a 44 Mag die set. The 44-40 c/n/e is too small for your loads. Remember the 44-40 is really a 43 at best with the original bulllets running 426-7. Your die is sizing the case neck down to 427 and then you are trying to shoove a 431 bulllet into that. Ideally you should only have 2 thou or so difference between the bullet and the case neck.

[Borregos]

I think KCSO is correct here. I use Hornady dies and bell the neck with a Hornady 44Mag expander die, load with 431 cast bullets with no problems.

[Lefty Dude]

I have an old set of RCBS dies, the sizer does a .425" expander/size. My Lyman "M" in 44-40 is .426". For any bullet above a sized .428" I also use a 44 spec/mag expander plug. With .431" I do not roll crimp. I use the Lee Factory Crimp die. I reload on a Dillon SDB, and even with a 44/expander/powder funnel if I reload .430" sized bullets I remove the crimp die and do a seperate crimp operation with my Rockchucker & the LFCD.

Because I do not reload the large sized bullets too often, I do them single stage on the Rockchucker. I use my RCBS Cowboy dies for sizing, the 44 mag plug for expanding/belling , Cowboy die for seating W/O crimp & the LFCD for the final touch. I use .431" 240 gr. laser cast with my 5 1/2" Bisley Jager 44-40 that has a .429" bore groove & .434" chamber cylinder throats. Shoots real sweet, once I got the combination right.
And it do shoot with this load.

No way will this round fit in any of my other 44-40's. They will not chamber, not even close.

Almost forgot, Winchester case's are the only case's that will work with the large diameter bullets. they have the thinnest necks of all the 44-40 brass, next is Starline, then Remington & forget about the rest. If you have tight chambers or chamber, Winchester is your only brass of choice.