i have to get some lead cast projectiles for my mates win 94 action in 44 40.
i dont have it to slug the bore but i would like to know if the barrel is 429 or 427 the usual barrel diamater is 427 but i have heard of some guns being manufactured with the same barrel as the 44 mag. and that is 429.
i dont want to waist buying 500 projies in 427 only to find it wont shoot but dont want to go over dia eather. anyone have or know of the win 44 40 barrels?
greg

My original 1873, manufactured in 1916, has a groove diameter of .430". I don't believe any of the modern made Winchesters used .427". It will most likely be .429" or more. I have a Big Bore 94 in 444 Marlin that measures .432".

The big bore 94 .444 is listed as .430 in the specs sheet but you slugged yours and it is .432??? I have one is why I am curious and have been trying to shoot .430's.

I did slug it but it was some time ago. Now that I think about it, maybe I decided that I needed a .432" bullet to shoot in it. The rifle got set aside because I didn't have a mold that cast that large of a bullet. I ought to try it again since I have a couple other 44 molds now. I will see if I can find my notes or the slug for it.

ledvm,
I found my notes. The bore on the 444 Big Bore is .424" and the groove is .431". Twist is 24". A .430" cast bullet might be a little small. Have you had any luck with it?

quote:

Have you had any luck with it?

Well...I just kinda got started on the project. But if it doesn't "shoot", I'll know to slug the bore as it might be larger than I was told. I have shot some of the loads off hand but I need to put them off the bench to see what they are really doing. The groups did seem a bit large even for me (not the greatest off-hand shooter)!

I have a 94 re-barreled to 44-40.. (Numrich once sold a “conversion kit” consisting of a Winchester barrel, cartridge guides and carrier). In my case the barrel slugged .429

I have a 1892 .44-40 that is a .427 barrel. Cast lead and jacketed bullets are cheaper than .429 bullets. I bought 500 160gr cast lead for $14.00 and 500 205gr cast lead Hornady's for $19.00. Jacketed SP bullets were 12.00 per 100.
Cheap to shoot.