Does anyone know if a Ruger 9mm cyl. can be rechambered to .44-40 and is it long enough to fit in the Lipsey's .44 Special Blackhawk? Colt has made a .44 Spl./.44-40 combo in the past. I just wondered if it would work in the Ruger using a 9mm cyl. Any thoughts?
Ruger .44 Special Question
- Thread starter Belt Fed
- Start date
Boge
Single-Sixer
That´s a good question. I shoot 44-40 as well as .44 Spcl., but have never loaded a 44-40 with smokeless, only with real BP. The 44-40 can be tempermental to reload but that is mainly due to undersized throats. I had all the throats on my 44-40 revolvers opened up to 0.431 and they shoot ragged holes now. :wink:
Aggie01
Buckeye
An Old Model 9mm may be long enough.
A New Model .9mm is for a larger frame size than Ruger's current(Lipsey's & catalog) .44 specials and simply won't work in the gun.
A New Model .357 flattop cylinder is too short to work in the .44 special unless you set the barrel back a turn and face off the front of the .44 special cylinder accordingly.
Note you may need a special reamer and dies made to load "good" ammo with .430-.432 bullets.
The .44-40 is intended for a .427 bullet.
A New Model .9mm is for a larger frame size than Ruger's current(Lipsey's & catalog) .44 specials and simply won't work in the gun.
A New Model .357 flattop cylinder is too short to work in the .44 special unless you set the barrel back a turn and face off the front of the .44 special cylinder accordingly.
Note you may need a special reamer and dies made to load "good" ammo with .430-.432 bullets.
The .44-40 is intended for a .427 bullet.
Boge
Single-Sixer
Aggie01":115rtokh said:
I load 0.430 bullets in 44-40 with no problem using Lee dies. Then again, I don´t resize the cases but rather deprime by hand (faster) and then reload but using a Lee FC die for a final crimp.
The 44-40 as originally loaded was all over the map dimensionally from 0.423 to 0.427 and even larger, depending on the factory load and/or chambering. There were no SAAMI specs in 1873 of course. The most important factor for a 44-40 revolver (or any revolver for that matter) is to have chamber mouths AT LEAST the same as groove diameter and 0.001 - 0.0015 larger is better.
Rainman
Blackhawk
I have a 7.5" 44-40 Vaquero stainless that came with tight throats. I had Cylindersmith open them up and it shoots commercial 200gr cast bullets sized to .427 like a rifle. I consider myself lucky.
Also using RCBS dies and a Lee FCD, I never have any problems loading the cases. My 200 gr bullets do have a slight bevel base which probably helps and I use Starline brass.
Sorry, didn't mean to hijack the thread.
Also the difference in the cylinder size is significant between the Vaquero and my Lipsey's 44.
Dan
Also using RCBS dies and a Lee FCD, I never have any problems loading the cases. My 200 gr bullets do have a slight bevel base which probably helps and I use Starline brass.
Sorry, didn't mean to hijack the thread.
Also the difference in the cylinder size is significant between the Vaquero and my Lipsey's 44.
Dan
flatgate
Hawkeye
Rainman":imkopwps said:
Yes, it certainly is! The Vaquero .44-40 was built on the Large Frame whereas the .44 Specials are built on the Medium Frames.
flatgate
