.44-40

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DHBillings

Bearcat
Joined
Jan 26, 2022
Messages
14
I'd like to comment if I may about the Ruger 44-40/44 spl-mag question. Several years ago I purchased a 51/2 in. Ruger Vaquero, ANIB, at a local firearms auction for a very good price. Wondered if a old Blackhawk or Vaquero 44 Mag cylinder could be fitted to this revolver. I called Ruger Tech Service and found that Ruger used the same barrel on both their 44-40 and 44 Mag pistols. With that knowledge, I starrted looking around, and finally found an original Blackhawk 44 Mag cylinder in excellent condition. With a minor bit of fitting . it worked perfectly in my 44-40 Vaquero and the fit and timing were perfect. To top things off, it turned out to be an excellent shooter, giving me 11/2 '' groups at 25 yds. I'm mentioning all this, since you could do the reverse; buy a Vaquero 44 Mag revolver, and locate a 44-40 cylinder for it. Solve's your problem! BTW, I did the same thing wit a Vaquero 45 Colt revolver, fitted a 45 ACP cylinder to it for a another excellent shooter for dual catridges.
I have done the same thing many times. It only takes a little work to get Ruger cylinders to interchange. ALL Ruger 45s are the same size, both Old Models AND New Models. I have a 44-40 Vaquero I fitted a 44 Mag cylinder to. I also have a 44 Spec Blackhawk but a 44 Mag cylinder is way too large to fit. That is why I want to fit it (the 44 Spec) with a 44-40 cylinder.
 

LimaCharlie

Bearcat
Joined
Mar 19, 2022
Messages
12
Location
Northwest Oregon
The top revolver is a Colt Frontier Six Shooter in .44-40 built in 1919.
Colt SAA Revolvers.jpg
 

beginner

Bearcat
Joined
Apr 20, 2018
Messages
17
I could get you halfway there. I have a 7.5" 44-40 that I sent to Ruger and they opened up the throats to .430. It is a blued color case vaquero that I would sell if interested
 

buckeyeshooter

Blackhawk
Joined
Nov 8, 2004
Messages
856
Location
Ohio
I bought 44 magnum stainless vaqueros and had extra blued cylinders chambered in 44-40 fitted to them. As the barrels are .430, I had the cylinders throats opened to .430 when they were drilled. So, I can use .430 bullets for both. I had this done in 2009. Cost me $220. per gun back then ( gunsmith work and the cost of the cylinders). I have been using them for CAS from that time. 44-40 for black powder classes and 44 magnum for smokeless classes.
 

Biggfoot44

Blackhawk
Joined
Sep 6, 2009
Messages
829
Back in the day ,I read in the gun 'zines that .44 mag cylinders could be rechambered to .44-40 , is there some reason this isn't viable ? ( Yeah you would use .429- .430 dia bullets .)
 

sandoo21

Bearcat
Joined
Feb 22, 2017
Messages
2
Just to be clear, I can get a 44/40 cylinder for my 44mag Ruger Blackhawk and shoot those rounds safely??
Sandoo2133
 
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