The .44-40 WCF Is a Leading Candidate for the Best All-around Cartridge of the Old West Era.
It is easy to sing the praises of a particular cartridge based on a sense of history and emotional attachment. It is quite another to engage in an extensive loading program and then retain the same respect and affection.
Such is the case with the .44-40 Winchester Center Fire (WCF) cartridge. When overall performance, accuracy and killing power are considered, the .44-40 WCF is a great all-around cartridge.
The .44-40 WCF was introduced along with the new Winchester 1873 rifle. The cartridge was a considerable improvement over the previous .44 Henry and .44 Winchester rimfire cartridges. The ballistics were better and the center fire cartridge proved more reliable and better able to withstand both rough handling and the elements.
Colt chambered the Single Action Army for this cartridge around 1878. Quite a few double action revolvers were later chambered for the . 44-40. The history is satisfying to research.
The .44-40 WCF and the .45 Colt are similar cartridges in some ways. The pistol is more about short range power, and the .45 Colt had this with a 250-grain bullet at about 900 fps.
The .44-40, with the original 40-grain black powder load, will approach 1,000 fps from a 7.5- inch barrel revolver. The .44-40’s sectional density gave it good penetration on game when fired from a rifle at 1,200 fps.
The .44-40 WCF, with its 200-grain flat point bullet (demanded by tubular magazines, with the bullet nose resting on the primer of the cartridge leading) held its velocity and energy better to 100 yards and beyond.
FIREPOWER AND UTILITY
The Winchester rifle wasn’t about power or even accuracy, but about firepower. Against Apache, Comanche, rustlers and outlaw gangs, the repeating rifle gave a good shot with a cool head an advantage.
This story is from the Gunslinger Fall 2016 edition of Gun World.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Gunslinger Fall 2016 edition of Gun World.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The Hunter's Spring Checklist
If You're Serious about hunting, The Season never ends. Here are nine things you need to do as soon as the weather turns warm.
Don't Be A Victim
Maintaining Situational Awareness Doesn’t Mean Living Your Life in Fear; It Means Living Your Life Prepared.
The First Rule of a Gunfight: Get a Gun
It is a time-honored tradition within the firearms industry; a decades-old trend hobbling on, despite evidence contrary to its practices: A woman entering a gun store, walking onto a range or participating in an event inevitably hears some variation of the words, “That’s an awfully big gun for such a little lady!”
Breaking Products And Deadlines
Confessions of a product test junkie
Guns Open Doors Of Opportunity
A Shooting Competition In Russia Emphasizes The Importance Of Freethinking And How It Opens The Door For Women Shooters.
The Ruger 10 Mil
Just as everyone is down-chambering 1911s to 9mm, the sr1911 goes 10mm ... For when follow-up shots aren’t an option.
S&W's Superb 6.5
SMITH & WESSON’S M&P10 RIFLE GETS THE PERFORMANCE CENTER TREATMENT AND EMERGES, CHAMBERED IN 6.5 CREEDMOOR, READY TO GO THE DISTANCE.
The Renaissance Rifle
THE HENRY BIG BOY ALL-WEATHER OFFERS UP TRUE VERSATILITY LIKE NO OTHER RIFLE.
Ammo Of A Higher Caliber
CHOOSING THE BEST CALIBER AND BULLET TYPE FOR DEFENSIVE AMMO CAN BE A CONFUSING PROSPECT.
Arsenal RPK - 3R
The Soviet/Combloc Light Machine Gun Comes To America—as A Civilian-legal Semiauto.
