Paco Kelly's Leverguns.com

Bryan Austin

TedH wrote: ↑Mon May 11, 2026 8:50 pm At what point do you not shoot a levergun?

When they pry it from my cold dead hands!

Bryan Austin

piller wrote: ↑Sun May 03, 2026 8:12 am Get a teenager to wade across the creek and set up the targets. Pay them back with instruction and a chance to learn to be a good shot.

lol, good idea

Bryan Austin

added today's target and video

https://sites.google.com/view/44winches ... 26-targets

Bryan Austin

1870's score card

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Bryan Austin

Last 7 shots video
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1efJAoU ... sp=sharing

Bryan Austin

Today's target went much better.
A couple of shots for placement, scope adjusted....then the barrage!!!

221.5gr with 25.5gr of Reloder 7

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Numbers do not reflect shot sequence order.

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Bryan Austin

4-22-2026

See details here: https://sites.google.com/view/44winches ... 26-targets

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Bryan Austin

Finally made a new 1874 No. 1 target.

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Bryan Austin

The 44-40 website has been updated to add the start of the 2026 targets and 2026 hunting pages. I did shoot one groundhog at 100 yards yesterday, but I refused to climb up and get it. I will take photos of those easier to retrieve :-) https://sites.google.com/view/44winchester/targets/targets-load-d...

Bryan Austin

No worries mate. Just a couple of your buddies a mild bit concerned that if you are really having to go to 800 degrees to cast there could be some health issues of lead in the atmosphere... Yeah, was not intended for this to be a "How To" topic...just a "what I am experiencing" ...

Bryan Austin

I really had no idea I would have to write a ten page description of what I have done vs what I will be doing.....maybe I will just keep it all private and enjoy my fun.

As I already mentioned...boat lead, no tweaking, no mixing...as is...and see how it performs...that is the point.

Bryan Austin

I am using straight sailboat lead for the tests. I got 850 lbs, which I gave half to a friend. I have another 300 lbs from another boat. I wont be mixing anything with it for the 44-40....since this is a 44-40 topic. I expect the accuracy to "open-up" for several reason, me being #1...LOL ...

Bryan Austin

It has been a while since I last hunted on Jan 1st, 2026. I finally got a chance to get back on the 44-40 buzz! As you already know I picked up a sailboat a while back and got all of the lead cut out, melted and recast into bars. I am trying to learn how to cast with the near pure lead. The lead is ...

Bryan Austin

Great report!!

Bryan Austin

Bryan Austin

NICE!!!!!!!!

Bryan Austin

Mine is to stay off the internet! ooops...

Bryan Austin

They vary pending where it's hit. I have had 240gr bullets at 1,250fps hit aft the upper shoulder at broadside...turn 90 degrees and travel down the spinal cord and lodge in the hind quarter...from 65 yards. details here: https://sites.google.com/view/44winchester/hunting/2017-hunt?authuser=0 I have...

Bryan Austin

video comments are now turned on...

Bryan Austin

THANKS GUYS!!! trying to video your own shoots with a cellphone is just stupid...LOL It was the only good video I got all season. The others did not turn out at all. Helping a land-owner, I shot 8 for the season, two with the 30-06 and six with the 44-40. 30-06 1 - 7 point at 22 yards 1 - doe at 200...

Bryan Austin

youtube link - https://youtu.be/CuADTzy_89M?si=zFZOwN7-o1u2t_mI
google files link - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1r267RO ... sp=sharing

Bryan Austin

I ordered a 4 cavity mold from Accurate Molds about a month ago and it came in over the weekend. It's an aluminum mold which weighs about the same as a traditional iron 2 cavity mold. I have half a dozen other Accurate molds and I can't say enough good about them. They heat up quickly and when they...

Bryan Austin

Thanks Bill!

Same here in the NC mountains. It seems deer and turkeys are few and far between but yet the hunter, bear and coyote population is excelling.

Bryan Austin

Deer quota land in areas of the east are interesting. Without calling out specifics, one particular Quota Property I hunt is to thin out the doe population with nearly unlimited doe tags provided by the land owner, and unlimited daily harvests. Of course, the majority of the activity is at night, so...

Bryan Austin

Just curious how you guys hunt quota land (farmland). Do you shoot and retrieve, track, etc. or wait for more? I do as the landowner requests, of course as long as it is legal! Unlimited daily kills. 44-40 one kill at 40 yards one kill at 50 yards two kills at 75 yards one kill at 250 yards 30-06 on...

Bryan Austin

....but yet the 45-70 is HIGHLY manufactured with three different powder loads. Trapdoor, Leveractions and Rugers.

HOGWASH!
The 38-55 was one of the first popular "High Power" cartridges out there when smokeless powder was introduced.
It is not manufactured because it is not demanded.

Bryan Austin

Back at it again this morning. This time I managed to video the scope setting adjustment and all of the shots. I goofed a couple of times....knocked my glasses off and had to turn off the lights on my truck (door ajar). Always something but I left the video recording and no edits. 10 shots at 200 ya...

Bryan Austin

nice photo!!!

Bryan Austin

Not sure how the 44-40 would do but the Quigley Shoot near Forsyth, MT is on my bucket list. I haven't made it yet and I'm only 4 hours away. The 44 would do horrible but I would still like to shoot out there some day. Even watching in person would be fun! I did shoot my friend Wesley's 45-70, but ...

Bryan Austin

My 300 yard target from yesterday. The red circle was the final shots after getting the scope zeroed in. It can be difficult to get it zeroed in because two or three shots will cause you to just chase holes. Ya gotta make at least 5 and use the center of the group to make the adjustment. As you can ...

Bryan Austin

Interestingly some eastern states have minimum muzzle energy for pistol caliber rounds 44 WCF just barely squeeze by in most cases. Certainly wouldn't be my choice even close range. 30 WCF was always considered minimum for hunting deer in my part of the country. I used to take 38WCF 1892 turkey hun...

Bryan Austin

I didn't forget

Bryan Austin

The 44 Winchester Cartridge of 1873 had no less than five "official" names by 1915. Winchester 1873 - 44 Winchester Colt 1878 - 44 L.M.C.R. Marlin 1890 - 44-40 Winchester 1903 - 44 Winchester High Velocity Remington 1915 - 44 Remington Winchester 1928 - Transition...44 Winchester (44-40) W...

Bryan Austin

No, you should never keep a gun close by in your home. This allows the intruder to easily enter and rob/harm you and your family without fear of being harmed or killed.

Bryan Austin

What is it about the great wide open? If I were to load up my 44-40 and drive out west to shoot in the great wide open....where should I go...where would you suggest? I doubt I will ever get to go....but maybe one day!

Bryan Austin

This the 3ft x 3ft target I use for 200+ yards

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This is what it looks like through the 6x Malcolm scope.
The object with the red circle is the wifi target cam, hope it don't get hit!!!!!

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What it looks like on the iPad...and that is not even zoomed in!!!

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Bryan Austin

hope to venture out to 300 yards in the near future!

Bryan Austin

467480005_582039724505563_3869735727398512559_n.jpg I managed to make it back out to 200 for a preliminary scope setting. 2025-9-14-1, 100 yard scope setting (lower hits). POA top of the target frame (blue dot). 2025-9-14-2, over adjusted, go figure! 2025-9-14-3, well, fumble...first shot high left...

Bryan Austin

Nice shooting there Bryan, very impressive for 100 yards. Also, a question--- I can't seem to reach your Youtube videos anymore. Did you move the videos or did Youtube cancel your postings? BRS Thanks! Yes, I removed all of the videos...just not worth the hassle. I will upload a few here and there ...

Bryan Austin

How many holes?
Even I get lucky once every two or twenty years!

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100 yards, typical 4" 10 shot group

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Bryan Austin

I added some parts to mine to aid in elevation and windage marks

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Bryan Austin

Bill in Oregon wrote: ↑Wed Sep 03, 2025 7:36 am Very interesting mounting systems — especially that front sight dovetail!

Some seem to have windage adjustments, and some don't. hmmmm

Bryan Austin

If ya got anything to add, by all means....I see very little information on these.

Bryan Austin

I have updated the website by adding a Winchester 73" Vintage Scopes page.

Link - https://www.44-40.org/vintage-73-scopes

There are only a few photos

Bryan Austin

Been a couple months since I posted a range report. After some scope mount issues yesterday...the aft mount got loose on me... I tighten the scope back down and gott'er re-zeroed for 50 yards. 10 shots 44-40 25.5gr Reloder 7 43-214A, 216gr 6x Malcom scope Winchester 73', Rifle 24" a1d3c03b-9658...

Bryan Austin

picked it up a little while back. I think it was a new Lyman or Marbles....I'll have to check

Bryan Austin

S1E6 Youtube Video
https://youtu.be/yTU5V-qzkcA?si=1jZA8CMbyA_IbgBK

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Bryan Austin

NICE ROOSTER!!!

Bryan Austin

Bill, this is what I did to make QL match the physical PressureTrace II test results. Technically I upped the pressure to 11,000 psi for a MAX load. QuickLoad 44-40 BaseLine.png You haven't put your bullet in properly. You're missing the shot start pressure. It's in BAR in the text file that is the...

Bryan Austin

Got here a little late myself, 2011. Joined the MarlinOwners forum in July 2007. Once I started getting the hang of the internet forum stuff, I ventured out for more.

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