I have never shot a 73 in .44-40. I have shot thousands of rounds through my Uberti 73 in .45 Colt. I use RNFP bullets and have zero issues. I shoot CAS and the only folks I see having issues are those that don't clean their rifles or those that don't watch their overall cartridge length short or long. You could post this same question on sassnet.com and get a great deal of more information.

 

I have shot my reloads in Uberti '73 repros in both 44-40 and 45 Colt and have never noticed any feeding issues.

 

I have no problems with reliability shooting my Miroku 1873 Winchester in 45 Colt. I, too, shoot the RNFP bullets. Semi wadcutters will work, just pay attention to overall length.

Joe

 

Problems exist in blowback from straight wall cases...Some folks are not as diligent in routine cleaning and maintenance as highlighted in other threads. Then, there are those folks who try and manipulate the action for faster feeding and firing...Timing is important..
Just because you own a screwdriver or Dremel, doesn’t mean everything has to come apart and be polished.

 

Thanks for the feedback---sounds like a non issue if the firearm is cleaned and watch the overall length of the cartridge. Thanks guys for your help.

 

I’ve fired thousands of rounds of .45 Colt through my Uberti Henry in SASS competition as well as a bunch through my Uberti ‘73. The only issue I’ve encountered is the minor blowback Kid mentioned. It’s not anything you notice when shooting but a cleaning/maintenance issue as Kid said. It’s more pronounced with black powder loads but is still easily managed; just needs cleaning a bit sooner than a .44-40 would. And there are ways to minimize the issue. I shoot a lot of black powder loads. If you’re going to shoot smokeless exclusively it’s really a minor point. I’ve never had feeding problems using RNFP bullets and correct OAL.

 

The ORIGINAL caliber was 44-40. Why not stick with that? The .45 cal reproduction rifles seem to preform very well. Flip a coin!

 

There is a cool mystic of using the .44-40 in the 73, but I have enough issues as I reload without adding the thinner case mouth of the .44-40. Some guys have no issues reloading, others have all sorts of issues.

 

I've shot both for almost a lifetime and they feed the same. In my experience, the 44-40 is more accurate and just as easy to load. I jumped through many hoops and could never get my 45 rifles (Rossi-1:24 twist) to come close to the groups below.

1860 Uberti 44-40 with no wind. 1:20 twist, Accurate 43-230E bullet over 34.5 gr. OE III BP.
I turned the elev. down and shot a 3 shot, 1.5" group in his tail. I will say that the 44-40 does not shoot that good.

The pig was shot with a 44-40 Uberti 66 rifle. Again, 1:20 twist. I lowered the elevation, probably 1 MOA for the second group. Notice it was quite abit more powder. That lot of BP was weak.

I have a new 1860 Uberti Iron frame that I just got in and am playing with. Yesterday I shot a 5 shot grp. at 50 yards with it that measured .888" with the Accurate 43-252K cast bullet and H4198 So, I'll admit, I am partial to the 44-40.

Billy

 

I've shot both for almost a lifetime and they feed the same. In my experience, the 44-40 is more accurate and just as easy to load. I jumped through many hoops and could never get my 45 rifles (Rossi-1:24 twist) to come close to the groups below.

View attachment 675323

1860 Uberti 44-40 with no wind. 1:20 twist, Accurate 43-230E bullet over 34.5 gr. OE III BP.
I turned the elev. down and shot a 3 shot, 1.5" group in his tail. I will say that the 44-40 does not shoot that good.

View attachment 675333

The pig was shot with a 44-40 Uberti 66 rifle. Again, 1:20 twist. I lowered the elevation, probably 1 MOA for the second group. Notice it was quite abit more powder. That lot of BP was weak.

I have a new 1860 Uberti Iron frame that I just got in and am playing with. Yesterday I shot a 5 shot grp. at 50 yards with it that measured .888" with the Accurate 43-252K cast bullet and H4198 So, I'll admit, I am partial to the 44-40.

Billy

What Billy Said!!

The Winchester 73' replicas are great in both calibers but there are some misc issues with shooting the 45 Colt that the 44-40 does not have. Both shoot black powder fine but the 45 Colt will not seal the chamber allowing fouling back into the action and can cause operational issues if shot a lot like in CAS. For hunting, no problems.

John Kort has proven the 44-40's great accuracy out to 300 meters using black powder, the Lyman 427098 and a custom mold by Accurate molds (43-215C...427098 replica) for long lasting shots by adding a larger lube groove that keeps fowling moist through 30 shots.

Using Reloder 7 and a 240gr cast lead bullet, one can achieve 10% to 20% more power than with a 200gr bullet plenty safe for the 73' clocking in at 1,200fps.

65 yards, hit shoulder, turned 90 degrees and lodges in the hind quarter, Deer droped straight down, never took a step. Marlin load of 1,300fps.

I prefer a load of Reloder 7 and a custom 220gr cast lead bullet from an Accurate Mold 43-214A of which I can achieve 1,350fps @ 11,000psi and get consistent groups at 200 yards with the Winchester 73'. Many don't like RL-7 because only about 65% of the powder is burned leaving "skeletons" in the barrel and action when ejecting cases.

Using a hot load of IMR-4227 in a stronger action Marlin 1894CB, I can achieve 4" groups at 265 yards with the more popular 200gr "Magma" 44-40 bullet. Cast and called many names, the more popular distributor would be Oregon Trail Laser cast.


Sticking with the Winchester 73' and Colt revolvers, the same RL load I use in my 73' rifle gets me 780fps in my revolvers, plenty enough to penetrate the broadside of a horse with a hard cast bullet!!!


I wish I could speak for the 45 Colt caliber but I do not have a rifle chambered for it.


2019 Targets
https://sites.google.com/view/44winchester/targets-load-development/2019-targets-mainly-rifles

 

44-40 all day everyday, it really shines with the Accurate 215C mould and Old Eynesford 2F. Just remember the reproduction barrels are .44 Rem Mag. dimensions,.429"- .430". Nose profile on the bullet is critical for no feeding issues in a lever gun.

 

I have a Marlin rifle in 45 Colt, and I had some feeding issues with reloads until I figured out the problem. Turns out I was using a taper crimp, and the hard leading edge on the brass case was hanging up on some edge in the rifle entering the chamber. I starting using a rolled crimp and that problem was solved.

 

The taper gives the .44-40 a slight edge in feeding reliably. It is less pronounced in actions like the '73 where the lifter brings the cartridge up more or less in line with the chamber. On the other hand, actions like the '92 where the carrier points the round up at an angle more things (like OAL and bullet shape) have to be just right so the bullet enters the chamber smoothly and doesn't hang up on the extractor cut or otherwise mess up, or pop out

 

We build these for the cowboy action world and feeding is a non-issue between a 45 Colt and the 44-40. Problems only arise from poor reloading. Maintain proper length, use flat nose bullets and they'll both run like a well oil sewing machine.

 

I’ve owned one .45 and a bunch of .44/40’s both original and Uberti. They all ran perfectly with good ammo. Get one of improper length and either caliber will choke. I just like the original caliber better. I feel like it’s a bit more accurate and that it does better at longer ranges. Others may disagree but I’m just a traditionalist.

 

A Uberti 73 in 45 Colt goes nicely with a pair of Colt SAA in 45 Colt kinda like the old days 44-40. All three work just fine.

 

I shot a friend of mine's Turnbull Winchester 92 in 45 colt just the other day. I burned through 100 rounds of my reloads I do for my SAAs without a complaint or a hitch. That is an amazing slick machine.

 

I have a Beretta Gold rush lighting in 45c you have to be careful as to what you load in there but works very well...I don't shoot it much and will probably be selling it.

 

I have used the 44WCF cartridge since I first started shooting CAS/SASS. I have also shot and reloaded 45 Colt.

IMHO; the 44WCF is a better cartridge for our sport. The 44WCF down loads easier,you use less smokless powder, the case seals in the breach when fired. By sealing you get a better powder burn and preformance. Also the rifle action is much cleaner, even when using the Holy Black.

If I were to shoot 45, I would choose the 45CS as my 45 cartridge of choice. Second choice would be 45 S&W.
I now shoot Frontiersman and shoot BP & Subs in my 73/44WCF Carbine. I have not done a full disassembly clean on the piece in two Years. The bore & mag tube I clean after every match, the action stays very clean. We, who shoot the 44WCF know why Winchester never chambered the 73 or 92 in 45 Colt. It was not because the 45Colt rim was small and extraction was an issue.

 

One of the more popular targets that some of us use as a basis for our shooting achievement goals is one by Doc Pardee found in Winchester's 1875 catalog. The 44-40 is not a tack driver, probably neither is the 45 Colt. I know this is getting a little off the main subject of cycling the action rather than what I have posted but it is just some more information others may enjoy.

Doc Pardee 110 yards 30 consecutive black powder shots without wiping

My smokeless powder 40 consecutive shots plus another 10 in black dots from a previous target.

John Kort's
"Two Peas in a Pod"
https://sites.google.com/view/44win...w/44winchester/contributors/john-kort/two-peas-in-a-pod-by-john-kort?authuser=0

 

I am going to be "old school" on this topic. The 44-40 was made to shoot in the Winchester first (1873), and then by 1877 Colt added it as another standard SAA caliber. The 44-40 was designed by Winchester to feed smoothly in all of their rifles, with a tapered case and a slight neck. The 45 Colt was not intended for feeding in a rifle, and although it has a tapered case, that taper is very slight. Maybe it should be noted too that Colt never offered their Burgess or Lightning rifles in 45 Colt.