.44 mag to .44-40

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  • warren5421

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    May 23, 2010
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    I am looking for a gunsmith to rebarrel a pair of Ruger .44 mag (.430") old Model Valqua’s to a true .44 WCF barrels (.427") and make a pair of cylinders for them. Anyone know of a shop that would do the work. I want 8" barrels not 7 1/2". These will be shot with a Lighting Rifle chambered in .44 WCF with a .427" bore.

    Anyone know a gunsmith that can do this?

     

    Leadeye

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    Might be able to cut Uberti barrel stock and thread it for a Ruger. I don't know if Ruger still makes a 44-40 cylinder, they did at one time but I understand that these are rare.

    I have an old Gen 1 Colt 44-40 that somebody long ago put a 44 special Gen 2 barrel on. I just use 200 grain soft lead bullets and 8 grains of Unique to get accuracy. Been looking around for a deal on a Gen 2 44 special cylinder.
     

    VinceU1

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    Aug 1, 2011
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    You might try looking up Milt Morrison at Qualite Pistol and Revolver. Used to be based out of the Denver area, but the last I heard he'd moved to Idaho. VERY high quality work, he had write ups by John Taffin and others and a lot of magazine articles about his work. I doubt he'd remember me, but if you do contact him, tell him Vince from Broomfield says hi!
     

    warren5421

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    My lighting is a USFA with a tight .44-40 barrel and chamber. I didn't have a problem while shooting my 1851 Colt Navies but going to a .44-40 pistol makes loading for each and marking the boxes rifle or pistol.
     

    Leadeye

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    I would bet that the work you want done to the Rugers will be close to the cost of new Ubertis in 44-40. I have some issues with 44-40 and various guns, my Colt New Service has the tightest chamber of the lot of them and won't chamber anything that doesn't go through the .427 sizer die.
     

    Bryan Austin

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    Mar 12, 2022
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    Hickory
    My lighting is a USFA with a tight .44-40 barrel and chamber. I didn't have a problem while shooting my 1851 Colt Navies but going to a .44-40 pistol makes loading for each and marking the boxes rifle or pistol.

    Any luck? Hoping it worked out for ya. It is always nice to load the same for both rifle and revolver
     

    snapping turtle

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    My lighting is a USFA with a tight .44-40 barrel and chamber. I didn't have a problem while shooting my 1851 Colt Navies but going to a .44-40 pistol makes loading for each and marking the boxes rifle or pistol.
    I use nickel plated brass for my pistol and regular brass for my rifle.

    Marlin 1894 44 mag and smith and Wesson 29 revolver in 44 mag. The load the marlin likes shoots ok in the revolver but my load for the revolver spots horrid in the marlin.
     

    Bryan Austin

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    Mar 12, 2022
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    I use nickel plated brass for my pistol and regular brass for my rifle.

    Marlin 1894 44 mag and smith and Wesson 29 revolver in 44 mag. The load the marlin likes shoots ok in the revolver but my load for the revolver spots horrid in the marlin.

    The problem here is the size of the bullets being used in a .427" bore and chamber.

    The nickel plated bullets are the wrong size. The 44 special nickel plated bullets are .429" and the 44 magnum bullets are .430".
    They will create high chamber pressures when used in a .427" chamber or bore. For that matter, don't use any jacketed bullets other than Winchester's 44-40 .4225" JSP or Remington's 44-40 .426" JSP bullets. There is a reason why they are .425"/.426" for a .427" bore.

    Do not even use hard cast bullets larger than .428" for the same reason.

    There will be other issues as well.
     
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