Winchester 1873 44/40 loads, 4198
I thought about putting this in the "competition and reloading" forum but "ask the experts" is where I saw this discussed.
My friend has a Winchester 1873 in 44/40 which he inherited 20+ years ago. He has shot it with factory loads but wants to reload for it. I had read Bert and others talk about black powder replacement loads using IMR 4198 in place of black powder.
Does anyone have a link to that thread or the info I am looking for.
I have found lots of data for 44/40, but none with 4198.
Edit: Yeah, I have seen loads of Unique and Trailboss along with Greendot and Accurate #7. Its just that I have three pounds of IMR 4198 and those others mentioned are very hard if not impossible to get right now. Thought this might work out. I guess I'll save the 4198 for light 223 loads!
My friend has a Winchester 1873 in 44/40 which he inherited 20+ years ago. He has shot it with factory loads but wants to reload for it. I had read Bert and others talk about black powder replacement loads using IMR 4198 in place of black powder.
Does anyone have a link to that thread or the info I am looking for.
I have found lots of data for 44/40, but none with 4198.
Edit: Yeah, I have seen loads of Unique and Trailboss along with Greendot and Accurate #7. Its just that I have three pounds of IMR 4198 and those others mentioned are very hard if not impossible to get right now. Thought this might work out. I guess I'll save the 4198 for light 223 loads!
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You will find data if you google "44-40 with 4198"
I would use the proper sized cast bullet with Unique if it were mine.0 -
You have to be very careful when using smokeless powder loads in original 19th Century firearms. Specially in a 73 Winchester which doesn't have the strongest mechanism, and is likely to have substantial value. Both monetary and as a family heirloom .
Might consider some of the blackpowder substitutes on the market nowadays. Pyrodex is probably the best known, and has been the longest used.0 -
Nordicwargod,
That IMR 4198 works well, withthe larger rifle chamberings, but I would suggest to use a fairly new powder, that was designed expressly for the "Cowboy Action Shooting" arena. It works well in both pistol(And the 44-40 was designed as a pistol cartridge), and rifle cartridges. It keeps the pressures low, and steady. It is also from IMR Powder company. It is called Trail Boss. I use it for loads in my first generation Colt SAA's, my 1886 45-70's, an my vintage 1873, and 1892 Winchester's.
Here is a lint to theHodgdon site for some data.
http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp
Best
EDIT 1
That IMR 4198 works great for low pressure loads in the 45-70 as well, with a 405 grain hard cast bullet.0 -
+ 1 on trail boss powder it was designed for older Firearms. 0
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