44-40 accuracy

2923 Views 15 Replies 11 Participants Last post by Frank V, Jan 26, 2014

Trad Archer

Discussion Starter · Jan 21, 2014

I know where I can get a 44-40 for a decent price. I'm seriously considering it as all my Peacemakers are 45's. I really would love to add something different and never seem to find that 32-20 when I have the $.

What scares me is I've heard all kinds of horror stories about 3rd Generation 44-40s. I heard the barrels are .429-.430 and cylinders can be anywhere from .427-.430. As a result, I've been told accuracy is lousy with this caliber. This gun is currently unfired but if purchased by me, that will change. So I want an accurate gun, not a Safe Queen. I would be happy with 2" groups (off a rest) at 20 yards, but no groups larger than that.

I really would love to hear from you guys with these 3rd Gen guns. The one I'm looking at was made around 2000 or shortly after.

Thank you guys. You have always been very helpful.

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Roninrlm

· #2 · Jan 21, 2014

I think that your better choice is to find a GunSmith and have him do a little "Majic" on it. Just tell him what you want and ask him if he can do it.

It worked for me. I would not have thought that a Colt SA would that accurate.

Ronin

ColtStar

· #3 · Jan 21, 2014

I own a 1981 New Frontier in 44-40 with 4-3/4" barrel, which was new in the box, and I'm the original buyer........plus I haven't fired it yet.
The cylinder throats are tight enough that I cannot easily pass a .427" sized/lubed lead bullet through, plus the barrel bore seems to be properly sized.
Colt Image below:

I also own a stainless 2003 Ruger Vaquero 44-40, which has tight .427" throats but the barrel is bored .430", and it is no tack driver.

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Trad Archer

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jan 21, 2014

ColtStar,

That NF is a beautiful gun. 4 3/4!!!!!!!! Wow!

Reactions: 1

Kid Sopris

· #5 · Jan 22, 2014

I'll match any of my Early 3rd. Gen. Colt SAA, .44-40 against anyone's Ruger, regardless of barrel size...I use .428 diameter bullets.

Reactions: 1

Trad Archer

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jan 22, 2014

Kid,

That is a beautiful gun! Nice grouping, too. I always seem to think of you as the 44WCF guru. Thanks.

Reactions: 1

Joe A.

· #7 · Jan 22, 2014

I had one of the earlier 3rd Gen 44-40's with the bp frame and 7 1/2 inch barrel. I didn't have access to .427 sized cast bullets at that time. I would reload Rem 200gr jacketed flat noses that was a .425 diameter. Accuracy would run close to 2 inches at 25 yards and more than stay on a sheet of typing paper at 50 yards. I often wonder what the accuracy would have been if I could have had some .427 sized cast bullets.

Reactions: 1

BigMuddy

· #8 · Jan 22, 2014

I had one from the late 80's. It had a lot of the 3rd gen problems with frame fit,end shake, action was poor, sight was leaning. It also spun past the bolt stop. I fixed all of those things except the end shake.

That gun shoots "lights out" with Unique or 2400 and bullets sized .430

I let a good friend have the gun, and I would never have passed it to a friend if it did not shoot. He will never part with it.

Dan

what would you say

· #9 · Jan 22, 2014

Kid Sopris said:
I'll match any of my Early 3rd. Gen. Colt SAA, .44-40 against anyone's Ruger, regardless of barrel size...I use .428 diameter bullets.

Can't argue with results... This time it being holes that are touching each other in Kid's photo

Reactions: 1

WIL TERRY

· #10 · Jan 22, 2014

NO ONE CAN TELL YOU HOW THAT 44-40 SIXGUN IS GOING TO SHOOT; NO ONE !!! You pays yo money, yo takes yor chances.
Ask to test fire it first. Worst he can say is "NO".
ALL of my 44-40 sixguns, COLTS ,Cimarrons, and S&W, to the last one have been tackdrivers in all three BBL lengths. Two are convertibles and the 44-40 cylinders outshoot the 44SPL cylinders hands down.

Reactions: 2

Hondo44

· #11 · Jan 22, 2014

Trad,

In my experience 3rd gen Colt 44-40s shoot just fine. I have one from '82 and one from 2002. Unlike Rugers, they use a true .427 bore and chamber throats. So they will match your accuracy requirements with factory ammo and no worries if you don't reload.

Any gun no matter what the caliber should have its bore slugged and bullets used that match the bore or exceed it by .001" as a general rule. If the chamber throats are oversize, that's not a serious problem but undersize is. However they can be easily honed or reamed TO PROPER SIZE if needed.

Jim

Reactions: 1

Hondo44

· #12 · Jan 22, 2014

ColtStar said:
I own a 1981 New Frontier in 44-40 with 4-3/4" barrel, which was new in the box, and I'm the original buyer........plus I haven't fired it yet.
The cylinder throats are tight enough that I cannot easily pass a .427" sized/lubed lead bullet through, plus the barrel bore seems to be properly sized.
Colt Image below:

I also own a stainless 2003 Ruger Vaquero 44-40, which has tight .427" throats but the barrel is bored .430", and it is no tack driver.

Ruger will replace the cyl at no charge, just call them and get a prepaid ship tag. Or just ream or hone the cyl throats. But you'll need to be able to reload using .430" bullets.

Jim

Reactions: 1

ColtStar

· #13 · Jan 22, 2014

TY Hondo.

Ruger offered to ream the throats to .430", but the reason that I haven't had the cylinder throats reamed to match the bore, is because I'm sitting on a small mountain of .427" lead slugs.

Possibly when I've used up most of those .427" slugs, I'll then have the cylinder reamed.

The Colt NF, I'll leave alone because I'm fairly certain that it is properly sized in both the cylinder throats and the barrel.

Trad Archer

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jan 23, 2014

Thanks for all of the replies gentlemen. As always, you have been very helpful.

Don Kenna

· #15 · Jan 25, 2014

I own Colt Centennial and U.S. Firearms revolvers with 7.5-inch barrels in .44-40. Both are very accurate. I also have an early 3rd Generation Colt with a 4.75-inch barrel which also shoots quite well, but only after I sunk hundreds of dollars in gunsmithing into it.

As one previous poster stated, you pays your money and you takes your chance.

Don

Frank V

· #16 · Jan 26, 2014

All I can answer is what I've seen with the two I've shot.
Both were 3rd gen guns. Both would shoot 2" groups or a bit less from sandbags @ 20yds if & this is a BIG IF, I did my part.
I think accuracy is a function of the bullet chamber fit more than bullet bore fit.
As haw been said before, pay your money & take your chances.
I will say this though, the .44WCF is an accurate ctg, a fun to shoot ctg, reasonably powerful, easy to shoot, & about as historical as things get.
I'd try it you just might find yourself hooked. I'd try sizing bullets .428.
I'm a big fan of the .44WCF!

Good luck, let us know what you decide.

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

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