Chief Rick Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 I had several issues with the carrier of a 44WCF '73 not wanting to rise smoothly during my last match. Not every round but several. Carriers works smoothly when no rounds are on it. I was using 174 gr TCFP but am out so switched to 200 gr RNFP. I was really concentrating on making sure OAL was good so I made three rounds and went outside to make sure they would cycle = did so with no problems but I noticed there was a little more recoil. Loaded up 50 rounds Clays powder and 200 gr bullets. I called myself checking the powder charge before I started, but... After I was finished I threw another charge and weighed = 5.5 grains. Maximum charge listed for the 44WCF with Clays is 5.0 grains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goody, SASS #26190 Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 Rounds too long. When you have one that doesn't feed smoothly I'd bet dollars to donuts the nose of the bullet is catching ever so slightly on the mag tube when the carrier starts to rise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Pete SASS #42168 Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 I load 44-40 with a Dillon XL650. This is a very hard loader to get to work for that cartridge. I check the charge with every 10th round and check OAL for 100% of the rounds. With the same loader I can make 500 rounds an hour of 45 Auto. The 44-40 is just an evil mistress who requires constant attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diamond Curly SASS#57086 Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 My 44-40 rifle used to do the same. Now I check OAL on every round and no issues. I also shoot a 200 gr with lots of black powder. DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene, SASS # 27489 Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 Since the max load, 5.0gr, is only 765 fps, it doesn't seem like 5.5 would be overly hot. But that is unknown territory. The good news is, should you decide to pull those rounds, the thin case mouth on 44-40 makes it a little easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Three Foot Johnson Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 Max load of Clays with a 180 grainer in .38-40 is 5.5 grains. This is what happens with a 4.2 grain double charge of 8.4 grains. Well, I assume it was a double charge - no way of telling, really, but if it was, it would have been 8.4 grains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Duncan Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 1 hour ago, Desert Pete SASS #42168 said: …I check the charge with every 10th round and check OAL for 100% of the rounds. With the same loader I can make 500 rounds an hour of 45 Auto.… Curious. What powder charge and OAL deviation do you find? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Rick Posted January 21, 2022 Author Share Posted January 21, 2022 2 hours ago, Desert Pete SASS #42168 said: I load 44-40 with a Dillon XL650. This is a very hard loader to get to work for that cartridge. I check the charge with every 10th round and check OAL for 100% of the rounds. With the same loader I can make 500 rounds an hour of 45 Auto. The 44-40 is just an evil mistress who requires constant attention. I've been loading with Clays on a 550 for a few years and (knock on wood) have never had a weight deviation that was really noticeable with 38 Special or C45S. I have to take full responsibility for not verifying the charge before I started. Just glad I checked afterwards. I have a complete tool head set up for 38 Special, C45S and now 44 WCF so I shouldn't need to fiddle with any settings once I get it dialed in. I do normally check charge weight prior to starting a new batch just to make sure the powder hasn't bridged after sitting for a week or more. I'll be ordering a case gauge for the 44 WCF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 I found that if I loaded them about 0.025 shorter than spec that I no longer had the same problem you describe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 19 hours ago, Chief Rick said: I've been loading with Clays on a 550 for a few years and (knock on wood) have never had a weight deviation that was really noticeable with 38 Special or C45S. I have to take full responsibility for not verifying the charge before I started. Just glad I checked afterwards. I have a complete tool head set up for 38 Special, C45S and now 44 WCF so I shouldn't need to fiddle with any settings once I get it dialed in. I do normally check charge weight prior to starting a new batch just to make sure the powder hasn't bridged after sitting for a week or more. I'll be ordering a case gauge for the 44 WCF. Ive used multiple tool heads for years with many different calibers and I never leave powder in them more than a day. I load 38-40 all the time and those thin bottle necks do take an extra care to get them right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Rick Posted January 22, 2022 Author Share Posted January 22, 2022 Of the 50 loaded rounds, I pulled four bullets from the cases and measured the powder charge in each (wire cutters didn't appreciably damage the bullets, either). Three were at 5.1 grains and one at 5.2 grains. I'm feeling better about just going ahead and shooting these loads, though I did re-set the press to drop 4.6 grains of powder for the next batch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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