OT - Ruger Super Blackhawk question

[Chas.]

I was looking at Ruger Super Blackhawks on Gunbroker and I see one advertised as 44 Magnum and 44-40. When I look at both these calibers on Wiki, I notice that the 44-40 bullet just a bit smaller than the 44 Magnum. If that's true, then either this gun has a 44-40 bore and will shave lead when shooting 44 Mag, or it has a proper bore for a .44Mag and the smaller 44-40 bullets will just wander around going down the barrel. It has cylinders for both. Any thoughts?

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =207457073

[Hobie]

I was looking at Ruger Super Blackhawks on Gunbroker and I see one advertised as 44 Magnum and 44-40. When I look at both these calibers on Wiki, I notice that the 44-40 bullet just a bit smaller than the 44 Magnum. If that's true, then either this gun has a 44-40 bore and will shave lead when shooting 44 Mag, or it has a proper bore for a .44Mag and the smaller 44-40 bullets will just wander around going down the barrel. It has cylinders for both. Any thoughts?

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =207457073

My thoughts are very simple. The bore is .429", one loads one's .44-40 ammo with .429" bullets (or .431" cast). "Problem" solved. BTW, is modern .44-40 ammo loaded with .427" bullets?

[Cast Bullet Hunter]

Neither scenario is correct. Lead bullets do not shave because they are driven down a .002" smaller bore. It is common for cast bullets to be sized this much over bore diameter. A bullet .002" indersize will not "wander around" in the bore. Typical revolver barrels have a groove depth of .004-.005". A .44 will run approximately .418-.420 bore and .428-.432 groove. So instead of engraving .004-.005 per side a .002 undersize bullet will engage the rifling by .003-.004, still plenty adequate.

Since the .44-40, from a cost standpoint, will be handloaded simply use the same diameter bullet as for the .44 Magnum. You will find that with the exception of some custom casters, that .427 bullets will be hard to come by anyway.

[Lefty Dude]

Winchester factory 44-40 loads are .426", Remington .427"

Modern 44-40 Uberti's Rifle & Revolver, except Colt. Colts run .4265"-.427"
Rossi's are .429.
The RBH will be .429". Just shoot .429 in the 44-40, if the throats will accept the bullet. Ruger is known to under bore the 44-40 cylinder throats. Very tight, sometimes .4255".
Use Winchester brass for 44-40. The Winchester has a .007" mouth as compared to Remington .010". Starline is somewhere in the middle.

The 44-40 can be tricky in some Firearms. I reload for both Rifle & Revolver 44-40's.
Reloading dies can make a big difference. I have Three sets of 44-40 dies. One older RCBS set is used for jacketed only. My RCBS Cowboy dies are used for .429-.431 lead use only, with Winchester brass. Most of my 44-40 reloading is done on a Dillon SDB progressive press. And I use .428" .429" sized lead RNFP. I replace existing 44-40 Powder/expander funnel and use a 44 Special/Mag. The Dillon P/E funnel 44-40 is small and sized for .426".427" jacketed bullets.