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What is a 44-40?
**ANY LOAD DATA LISTED BELOW IS FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE USED**
REFER TO CURRENT HANDLOADING MANUALS FOR LOAD DATA!!!
Lyman's 49th handloading manual is best!
The 44-40
This seems to be one of the most well know cartridges but yet most people have no idea to it's true historical ballistics. One battle, if not the first battle it was used in, was the Battle of the Rosebud just a few days earlier than The Battle of the Little Big Horn. Although certainly not the main rifle, it was still rather new and the American Indians were still in the process of obtaining this new rifle. The 1860 44 Henry and 44 Winchester 66' were already being used in great numbers by the American Indians. Unliked by military leaders, the Indians already knew of its capabilities.
"Winchester's "New Model of 1873" as it was known at the time was to replace the aging Winchester Model of 1866' in it’s out dated rimfire cartridge. The new 44 W.C.F. (Winchester Center Fire), as it was eventually called, was a cartridge that could be reloaded by being able to replace the external “center fire” primer.
I failed to see a catalog offered for 1874, however, in Winchester's catalog of 1875 the "New Model of 1873" is introduced.
"Its Popularity Proves Its Success"
The title given to the article that explains...
"One hundred and fifty thousand have been sold without advertising or puffing, and they have everywhere been given unqualified satisfaction, having earned their position solely by their merits."
Probably the most seen target today is the 110 yard, 30 shot, 4" group by Doc Pardee.
“It affords me much pleasure to communicate to you the result of 30 consecutive shots at a distance of 110 yards with one of the improved Winchester rifles (1873). The firing was done without wiping, which proves the Winchester to be steady in her performance….”
1860-1872 -For nearly twelve years the repeating Henry seemed to be way ahead of its time. The Henry cartridges and bullets can still be found today along many front lines and skirmish areas. It was time to improve and Winchester did just that. The Model of 66' used a little longer cartridge and heavier bullets. Both were still of the rimfire design. The firing pin would strike the edge of the rim. At times this would not work and the cartridge was removed, turned a little and retried. Recovered cartridges and spent cases sometimes reviled three or more attempts at firing.
1873
MILBANK PRIMERS - I am not certain as to the history of the Milbank Primer design but it was patented, Pat. #103,641...May, 31, 1870. During the early development of the Winchester 73' cartridge, the Milbank primer design was used. It appears that this primer design was flawed and troublesome but I lack details. The primer was developed with a dimple in it and it much resembled a spent cartridge when in fact they were not fired. Several 73' cartridge cases recovered from early Indian battle sites such as Bighorn are reported as being such primed cases. Seems odd since those cartridges were short lived and may not have even sold in quantities. This cartridge with the new primer was very short lived and it has been said that some of the earliest deliveries of the 73' were delayed until the boxer primer system was released.
1873-1877 - In Winchester's 1875 catalog the first 44 WCF cartridges appeared. Winchester stated, “The effect of this change [from 44 Henry to the 44-40] is to increase the initial velocity of the arm from about 1,125 f.p.s. to 1,325 feet per second." During the Indian Wars, the Indians would prove how valuable the Lever-actions would become!!
"The records show that all decisive actions of history, with muzzle-loaders, have been fought with a distance not exceeding 50 to 150 yards. Making all possible allowance for improvement in modern arms of precision, 500 yards will more than cover the distance at which decisive conflicts will be fought". ~1875 Winchester Catalog (Indians proved this to be true at the battle of the Little Bighorn) LINK
Time after time the American Indian Warriors proved this, especially on "Custer Battlefield" when archaeologist discovered a couple hundred spent .44 Henry, Winchester 66' and a few Winchester 73" cartridges and cases on a small knoll 265 yards east of Last Stand Hill and small hill, 150 - 200 yards east of Calhoun Hill, named "Heneryville" by the 2004 Archaeology team.
Cartridge boxes at this time showed a "44/100" designation but so did the .44 Henry boxes. The only way to know which rifle the ammo was for was to notice which rifle was designated on the cartridge boxes. I believe on the Second Green Label box, the 44-100 is removed altogether and eventually replaced with "50" on the left top and ".44 Cal." on the right top. Some later UMC boxes still used 44-100.
In 1884, the first cartridges appeared with the W.R.A. CO. "44 WCF" headstamp. This is when most manufactures began headstamping the cartridge cases.
1886 - Between 1886 and 1904 the UMC .44 WCF cartridge would carry a heavier 217 gr. bullet at 1,190 f.p.s. while Winchester still offered the 200gr at a slightly faster 1,245 f.p.s. (less than was offered in 1873 @ 1,325fps) By 1894 UMC designated the cartridge as a 44-40 for Marlin and by 1900 it was refereed to as a 44-40 by Winchester as well and printed on teir cartridge boxes at a later date.
1895
First this is where it gets colorful, literally. Winchester ammunition box tops were colored identifying what the cartridge components were. For a little information, check out the Winchester's Colorful Cartridge Boxes.
Approx Date introduced...Label Color/Powder Type/Projectile Type
1873...Green/Black Powder/Lead
1895...Red/Smokeless/Lead or Soft Point (NOT FOR PISTOLS)
1903...Lavender, Pink/Smokeless/Full Patch…High Velocity (NOT FOR PISTOLS)
1910[?]Yellow/Smokeless/Soft Point…High Velocity (NOT FOR PISTOLS)
Orange/Smokeless/Full Patch
Grey, Grey-Green/Lesmoke/Any
Tan, red print/ Smokeless/Any Bank or Proof Loadings
Tan, black print/Black Powder/Primed Empties. Blank, Military, Special Order loadings
1895 - offered the first smokeless powder loads for this great cartridge. Early Red Label (signifying smokeless powder) cartridge boxes also note "NOT FOR USE IN PISTOLS" more than likely referring to...at the time...black powder frame pistols due to their weak metal construction. They were, however, labeled for use in the Winchester 73' and later between 1900-1903 both the 73' and 92' Models...busting the myth that smokeless powder loads of the day should not be used in the 73'.
"Twenty two years after its introduction, the first .44 W.C.F. smokeless powder cartridge is found in Winchester's catalog No. 55, dated August, 1895. In its manufacture, Winchester used 17 grains of DuPont...
...No. 2 which was a "bulk" type smokeless powder patented on August 22, 1893. DuPont's description of "bulk" smokeless powder indicated that it was to be loaded in "bulk" measure just like black powder. In the .44 W.C.F., 17 grs. of DuPont No. 2 Bulk Smokeless occupied the same volume as 40 grs. of FFG. Velocity was cataloged at 1,300 f.p.s. for a 55 f.p.s. increase over the the black powder cartridge. To identify the new .44 W.C.F. smokeless powder cartridges from those containing black powder, which looked identical, Winchester put a "W" in a circle on the primer." ~John Kort
1903 - Winchester offered the first "High Velocity" cartridges. [as well as the Jacketed Soft Point bullets]
"We first see these new improved performance cartridges in Winchester’s Catalog #70 dated March, 1903. Cartridges were head stamped .44 W.C.F. W.H.V. ’M92. Velocity with a 200 gr. metal patched bullet was cataloged at 1,500 f.p.s. in a 24” barrel. Instructions in Winchester’s catalogue and on the cartridge boxes indicated they were not for pistols. Velocity was increased to 1,570 f.p.s. in 1910. On the side label, it says not to be used in the 73'. Early Lavender labels showed "Winchester 92 Special" depicted on the top label. The below later Yellow label depicts "Especially Adapted To Winchester Rifles Model 92'".
1950-Today- sometime after WWII the 44-40 settled down to two offerings, the Standard load and the High Velocity load. I can't find it but somewhere I inquired John Kort about the neutered HV loads from Remington. John informed me that the Remington HV loads were nowhere near the 1,600fps as the original HV Winchester loads. Early HV boxes noted to NOT use them in pistols, and only designated for Winchester 92's and Marlins. However, the 1960's or so Remington HV boxes note these loads are safe for all firearms (not to be confused with earlier HV loads). The last 1,320fps load Winchester offered was in 1978. From 1979 to today, Winchester cartridges claim 1,190fps but recent trials showed 1,013fps from a 20" barrel and 1,055 from a 24" barrel. However, Buffalo Bore Ammunition started manufacturing loads safe for all firearms that clock in at 1,300fps. My test results came in @ 1,335fps in my 24" Marlin and 955fps in my 7 1/5" barrel revolver. I grouped 2 1/4" shots @ 100 yards with Buffalo Bore and 4 1/8" groups @ 100 yards with Winchester's 1980's box loads.
**ANY LOAD DATA LISTED BELOW IS FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE USED**
REFER TO CURRENT HANDLOADING MANUALS FOR LOAD DATA!!!
Lyman's 49th handloading manual is best!
The 44-40
This seems to be one of the most well know cartridges but yet most people have no idea to it's true historical ballistics. One battle, if not the first battle it was used in, was the Battle of the Rosebud just a few days earlier than The Battle of the Little Big Horn. Although certainly not the main rifle, it was still rather new and the American Indians were still in the process of obtaining this new rifle. The 1860 44 Henry and 44 Winchester 66' were already being used in great numbers by the American Indians. Unliked by military leaders, the Indians already knew of its capabilities.
"Winchester's "New Model of 1873" as it was known at the time was to replace the aging Winchester Model of 1866' in it’s out dated rimfire cartridge. The new 44 W.C.F. (Winchester Center Fire), as it was eventually called, was a cartridge that could be reloaded by being able to replace the external “center fire” primer.
I failed to see a catalog offered for 1874, however, in Winchester's catalog of 1875 the "New Model of 1873" is introduced.
"Its Popularity Proves Its Success"
The title given to the article that explains...
"One hundred and fifty thousand have been sold without advertising or puffing, and they have everywhere been given unqualified satisfaction, having earned their position solely by their merits."
Probably the most seen target today is the 110 yard, 30 shot, 4" group by Doc Pardee.
“It affords me much pleasure to communicate to you the result of 30 consecutive shots at a distance of 110 yards with one of the improved Winchester rifles (1873). The firing was done without wiping, which proves the Winchester to be steady in her performance….”
1860-1872 -For nearly twelve years the repeating Henry seemed to be way ahead of its time. The Henry cartridges and bullets can still be found today along many front lines and skirmish areas. It was time to improve and Winchester did just that. The Model of 66' used a little longer cartridge and heavier bullets. Both were still of the rimfire design. The firing pin would strike the edge of the rim. At times this would not work and the cartridge was removed, turned a little and retried. Recovered cartridges and spent cases sometimes reviled three or more attempts at firing.
1873
MILBANK PRIMERS - I am not certain as to the history of the Milbank Primer design but it was patented, Pat. #103,641...May, 31, 1870. During the early development of the Winchester 73' cartridge, the Milbank primer design was used. It appears that this primer design was flawed and troublesome but I lack details. The primer was developed with a dimple in it and it much resembled a spent cartridge when in fact they were not fired. Several 73' cartridge cases recovered from early Indian battle sites such as Bighorn are reported as being such primed cases. Seems odd since those cartridges were short lived and may not have even sold in quantities. This cartridge with the new primer was very short lived and it has been said that some of the earliest deliveries of the 73' were delayed until the boxer primer system was released.
1873-1877 - In Winchester's 1875 catalog the first 44 WCF cartridges appeared. Winchester stated, “The effect of this change [from 44 Henry to the 44-40] is to increase the initial velocity of the arm from about 1,125 f.p.s. to 1,325 feet per second." During the Indian Wars, the Indians would prove how valuable the Lever-actions would become!!
"The records show that all decisive actions of history, with muzzle-loaders, have been fought with a distance not exceeding 50 to 150 yards. Making all possible allowance for improvement in modern arms of precision, 500 yards will more than cover the distance at which decisive conflicts will be fought". ~1875 Winchester Catalog (Indians proved this to be true at the battle of the Little Bighorn) LINK
Time after time the American Indian Warriors proved this, especially on "Custer Battlefield" when archaeologist discovered a couple hundred spent .44 Henry, Winchester 66' and a few Winchester 73" cartridges and cases on a small knoll 265 yards east of Last Stand Hill and small hill, 150 - 200 yards east of Calhoun Hill, named "Heneryville" by the 2004 Archaeology team.
Cartridge boxes at this time showed a "44/100" designation but so did the .44 Henry boxes. The only way to know which rifle the ammo was for was to notice which rifle was designated on the cartridge boxes. I believe on the Second Green Label box, the 44-100 is removed altogether and eventually replaced with "50" on the left top and ".44 Cal." on the right top. Some later UMC boxes still used 44-100.
In 1884, the first cartridges appeared with the W.R.A. CO. "44 WCF" headstamp. This is when most manufactures began headstamping the cartridge cases.
1886 - Between 1886 and 1904 the UMC .44 WCF cartridge would carry a heavier 217 gr. bullet at 1,190 f.p.s. while Winchester still offered the 200gr at a slightly faster 1,245 f.p.s. (less than was offered in 1873 @ 1,325fps) By 1894 UMC designated the cartridge as a 44-40 for Marlin and by 1900 it was refereed to as a 44-40 by Winchester as well and printed on teir cartridge boxes at a later date.
1895
First this is where it gets colorful, literally. Winchester ammunition box tops were colored identifying what the cartridge components were. For a little information, check out the Winchester's Colorful Cartridge Boxes.
Approx Date introduced...Label Color/Powder Type/Projectile Type
1873...Green/Black Powder/Lead
1895...Red/Smokeless/Lead or Soft Point (NOT FOR PISTOLS)
1903...Lavender, Pink/Smokeless/Full Patch…High Velocity (NOT FOR PISTOLS)
1910[?]Yellow/Smokeless/Soft Point…High Velocity (NOT FOR PISTOLS)
Orange/Smokeless/Full Patch
Grey, Grey-Green/Lesmoke/Any
Tan, red print/ Smokeless/Any Bank or Proof Loadings
Tan, black print/Black Powder/Primed Empties. Blank, Military, Special Order loadings
1895 - offered the first smokeless powder loads for this great cartridge. Early Red Label (signifying smokeless powder) cartridge boxes also note "NOT FOR USE IN PISTOLS" more than likely referring to...at the time...black powder frame pistols due to their weak metal construction. They were, however, labeled for use in the Winchester 73' and later between 1900-1903 both the 73' and 92' Models...busting the myth that smokeless powder loads of the day should not be used in the 73'.
"Twenty two years after its introduction, the first .44 W.C.F. smokeless powder cartridge is found in Winchester's catalog No. 55, dated August, 1895. In its manufacture, Winchester used 17 grains of DuPont...
...No. 2 which was a "bulk" type smokeless powder patented on August 22, 1893. DuPont's description of "bulk" smokeless powder indicated that it was to be loaded in "bulk" measure just like black powder. In the .44 W.C.F., 17 grs. of DuPont No. 2 Bulk Smokeless occupied the same volume as 40 grs. of FFG. Velocity was cataloged at 1,300 f.p.s. for a 55 f.p.s. increase over the the black powder cartridge. To identify the new .44 W.C.F. smokeless powder cartridges from those containing black powder, which looked identical, Winchester put a "W" in a circle on the primer." ~John Kort
1903 - Winchester offered the first "High Velocity" cartridges. [as well as the Jacketed Soft Point bullets]
"We first see these new improved performance cartridges in Winchester’s Catalog #70 dated March, 1903. Cartridges were head stamped .44 W.C.F. W.H.V. ’M92. Velocity with a 200 gr. metal patched bullet was cataloged at 1,500 f.p.s. in a 24” barrel. Instructions in Winchester’s catalogue and on the cartridge boxes indicated they were not for pistols. Velocity was increased to 1,570 f.p.s. in 1910. On the side label, it says not to be used in the 73'. Early Lavender labels showed "Winchester 92 Special" depicted on the top label. The below later Yellow label depicts "Especially Adapted To Winchester Rifles Model 92'".
1950-Today- sometime after WWII the 44-40 settled down to two offerings, the Standard load and the High Velocity load. I can't find it but somewhere I inquired John Kort about the neutered HV loads from Remington. John informed me that the Remington HV loads were nowhere near the 1,600fps as the original HV Winchester loads. Early HV boxes noted to NOT use them in pistols, and only designated for Winchester 92's and Marlins. However, the 1960's or so Remington HV boxes note these loads are safe for all firearms (not to be confused with earlier HV loads). The last 1,320fps load Winchester offered was in 1978. From 1979 to today, Winchester cartridges claim 1,190fps but recent trials showed 1,013fps from a 20" barrel and 1,055 from a 24" barrel. However, Buffalo Bore Ammunition started manufacturing loads safe for all firearms that clock in at 1,300fps. My test results came in @ 1,335fps in my 24" Marlin and 955fps in my 7 1/5" barrel revolver. I grouped 2 1/4" shots @ 100 yards with Buffalo Bore and 4 1/8" groups @ 100 yards with Winchester's 1980's box loads.
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