The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: fightingquaker13 on October 24, 2011, 03:14:42 PM
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I just posted a an old Jonny Cash tune about Jesse James on the "pumped up kicks" thread. It reminded me of a question I have been wanting to ask for awhile. What is the deal with .44-40? I know it used to be a popular two gun pistol/carbine caliber back in the day, but I have never shot it and don't know anyone who has. It was listed on the menu when I bought a new barrel for my Bond. I'm just wondering where it falls compared to say .357, .45LC, or .45ACP or other modern rounds. Just curious.
FQ13
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a 44-40 loaded with a full charge of Black Powder has a higher velocity (1190 fps)than the same load in a .45 Colt (255 Gr. at 960 fps) due to a lighter bullet (200 grain). A standard load for a .45 a.c.p is a 230 gr. at about 850 fps, very close to the .45 Colt. Standard load for a .357 Mag is 158 gr at between 1250 to 1600 fps. Hope this helps
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Ballistically the .44-40 and the .45 Colt are close enough that it's just personal preference. I prefer the .45 because it's the easiest to find ammo for.
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Wasn't the 44-40 the "magnum" of its day? Or do I have it confused with another old cartridge?
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Does any one use it for anything besides CAS nowadays ?
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Does any one use it for anything besides CAS nowadays ?
Dunno, hence the question.
FQ13
Who does wish that Bond made a .45-70 derringer like American Derringer did. Just for the cool factor. ;)
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Dunno, hence the question.
FQ13
Who does wish that Bond made a .45-70 derringer like American Derringer did. Just for the cool factor. ;)
Jeez, why not just carry a hand grenade ? ;D
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Jeez, why not just carry a hand grenade smash your hand with a hammer? Repeatedly? ;D
FIFY
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All I can say is: Tom Horn....
http://www.songlyrics.com/chris-ledoux/old-tom-horn-lyrics/
Now back in old Wyoming many long years ago When
there was no law and order round to regulate the
show Those old Wyoming ranchers had a problem on
their hands Trying to keep the cow thieves and the
rustlers off their land Now old Tom Horn came a
riding up one day Gonna lend a hand to the
cattlemen in his own peculiar way Well he took his
44-40 out and cleaned it up right well Then he
rode off down Dry Gulch with a sack of rifle
shells Old Tom Horn with a rifle by his side
through the hills of Wyoming he would ride There
ain't no tellin' how many cattle thieves he killed
But it was God help the rustler when Tom Horn was
in the hill
If you rode the Larame Valley by either day or
night You can be right sure he's watchin' you
through his rifle sights He laid out in the bushes
and the rustler come around Then he'll spill the
Find more similar lyrics on http://mp3lyrics.com/CPRboy with a single shot and chamber one more round
Now the rustlers tried to stop him but they found
there was no way He could pick them off from a
mountain side a half mile away Well they ran him
down the border but they never touched his hide He
just slipped across to his hide out on the
Colorado side Old Tom Horn with a rifle...
Then one day young Willie Nickle was out a ridin'
around A 44-40 shot rang out and laid the poor boy
down Well it was only fourteen years since that
little kid was born And they said it looked like
the doing's of that lonesome Tom Horn So the
cattlemen went and strung him up with a length of
fresh snipped rope But his ghost still hangs out
in the hills and spooks the Antelope Now all the
rustlers hatred and all the cattlemen's fears Have
keep all Tom Horn alive through all the changing
years Old Tom Horn with a rifle...
***
Much better in song.... ::)
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Jeez, why not just carry a hand grenade ? ;D
Oh for the Lord's sake, tell me it wouldn't be cool. A bit like the Mosin Nagant (kills on one end, wounds on the other). ;D
FQ13
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Cuz the grenade is more effective and probably would not cause you as much pain ;D
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I have a Colt New Service chambered in 44-40 that sits in the safe. Today the only reason I would use this caliber is nostalgia, anything it will do today the .45s and .44spl will do as well or better. The bottle neck case is much easier for me to accidentally crush while reloading and the bullet needs to be sized down or casted in a smaller diameter mold.
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Thought Tom Horn used a .30WCF?