.444, .44 Mag/Special and .44-40 bullet diameters?

[awp101]

AJMD's post on 6pt-sikas .444 thread regarding .444 and .44Mags only needing one diameter of bullet stocked (if I read his post correctly) got me to wondering if the diameter for the .44-40 is the same as well?

Might make for easier reloading component consolidation if so...

[Old Time Hunter]

Nope, the .44-40 is probably "right" sized a couple of thousands smaller.

[Old Savage]

44 Special is smaller two - .428

[jnyork]

My Uberti 1873 rifle, 44-40, needs .431 diameter cast bullets to shoot accurately.

[Lefty Dude]

I reload 44-40 in several revolvers and Rifles. I have bullets, jacketed & lead from .426" to .431".

It just depends on the chamber, throat & bore groove diameter might be in the piece you are reloading for or shooting.

A friend of mine has an "El Tigre", Spanish 92 in 44-40 made in the 1920's. The bore groove is .4245.

You must have a great amount of patience, to load, shoot & collect 44-40's.

[kooz]

Unfortunatley they are all different, depending on the manufacturer of the gun and when it was made. The 444 and 44mag diameters have been fairly consistant among the different gun manufacturers, but the 44spl and 44/40 are all over the place, diameters could run anywhere from say about .426-.432, maybe worse.

[awp101]

OK, just a thought.

So the .44-40 wouldn't be a good choice IF that was your goal but the .44 Mag and .444 sound like they would be pretty compatible.

Of course I guess you could but them unsized and go from there...

[Borregos]

My old Marlin 1889 in 44-40 needs a .431 diameter projectile to group well.

[Lefty Dude]

I buy lasercast sized .431" and use my Lyman Lubersizer to down size to .430", .429". I will not size down lower than .429" from .431". At present I do not have a 44-40 that slugs smaller than .428". My SAA Colts that are 44-40 have .429" bore grooves and I ordered them from the Colt Custom shop with 44 special additional cylinders. Ordered in that configuration they come with .429 barrels. As a 44-40 only, Colt supplies a .426" barrel and cylinder throats are .4255".Unfortunately, Colt shipped all cylinders for both revolvers, 44 spec. & 44-40 with the throats at .4255". Lucky I have a 44 caliber throating reamer, They are all now .430".