Navy Arms Peacemaker in .44-40.

[goon]

I need a little info on the .44-40 round. I know that it is very old, having been introduced with the 1873 Winchester, and picked up by Colt and others a few years later. I know that the original round was a 200gr slug and 40gr of black powder.
What I need to know about it is, how hard is it to reload, and what size bullets does it use. Would it be possible to convert the gun to .44 Special with another cylider. Where can I get brass for it.
I found the gun at a local shop. The guys that work there (buddies of mine), said that the guy that brought them in only shot a box of shells between the revolver and a 1866 replica, both in .44-40. The only thing that turns me away from it is that ammo is about $27 a box. Reloading would be essential. All I would need is a set of dies. The price is $289 for the pistol.
Should I get it?

 

[Jim Watson]

Sounds like a reasonable price.
Navy Arms SAA revolvers are made by Uberti, who usually do ok.

It is a little tedious to load .44-40, the brass is thin so you have to be careful not to crush the case mouth against the entry to the die. It is slightly bottlenecked so you have to use plain steel dies, no carbide available. Best to lube the brass, it is so thin you don't absolutely have to, but it helps and also lets you be sure it is clean - I scratched up a sizing die with dirty brass. Then just flare, prime, charge, seat bullet, and crimp as normal. Loading data is in most manuals. Don't try to magnumize it, brass and cylinder walls are thin.

Standard cast bullet diameter is .427", you can sometimes find .428" or .429" bullets of the correct 200 grain flatpoint style. I would use the largest that would let the loaded round chamber freely. I get .428"s when I can but usually have to settle for .427". Probably best to start with .427" anyhow.

Semiwadcutter 240 grain .429" as loaded in .44 Special and Magnum WILL NOT WORK, in my dies and guns, at least.

You can get .426" jacketed bullets but I don't see why you should go to the expense in a mild caliber like this.

Midway has brass and bullets. I recommend Winchester or Starline brass, I have some off-spec Remingtons.

It is possible to have a .44-40/.44 Special convertible. I started with a Colt .44 Special and bought a .44-40 cylinder for it so as to have the same ammo for sixgun and carbine at CAS. But a new cylinder would cost $80 - $100 and cut into the bargain side of the deal you have.