Does a Colt in 44-40 shoot only Black Powder rounds?

[Brazos John]

A friend is about to inherit an old Colt in 44-40, and wants some ammo.

He doesn't have it yet, so he can't any answer any questions about it. Like when it was made, what model, anything...

Do the original Colts in 44-40 require Black Powder rounds?

I know SASS shooters shoot 44-40 with smokeless powder in modern Colts, so when did they change from BP to smokeless?

Thanks.

 

[Warden Callaway]

Rough estimate is 1900.  Some a little earlier,  some a little later.  There should be some kind of proof mark showing poof for smokeless. 

[Jack Spade]

A serial number lookup after he has the gun in hand should answer the question.  The experts over on the colt forum say black powder only in guns prior to 1906.  If it is able to shoot smokeless there will be a VP proof mark on the trigger guard. 

[Warden Callaway]

In any case,  watch out for high velocity rifle loads. Not ment for handguns. 

 

[Ranger Dan]

The smokeless 44-40 cartridges of the era were safe for use in earlier "black powder" models. The smokeless cartridges made equal or less pressure. Modern 44-40 loaded by any of the major manufacturers is safe in black powder era guns as the saami limit for max pressure is well under what can be produced by black powder. As stated earlier watch out for "High Velocity" loading that should be marked "not for pistols" or "model 92 rifles only". These are no longer produced but can be found in the collector market. If you really want good historical info, I recommend:

Chasing the 44-40 - Chasing The 44-40 (google.com)

[Savvy Jack]

There is a big misconception about the Colt revolvers and what Colt said was to be used, and to not be used in their revolvers. The problem with the Colt revolver was the 45 Colt cartridge.  The Colt revolvers were hit hard with the advent of Smokeless powders. 

What a lot of folks do not understand is that Colt did not manufacture their own ammunition as did Winchester. Since Winchester did not want to be responsible for any of their new smokeless 44 WCF ammunition being used in Colt's revolvers with ill effects, by 1900, Winchester noted on their 44 WCF ammo boxes that they were not for use in pistols...but perfectly safe for the Winchester 73's.

 

Here is the kicker...Winchester's 44 WCF loads used Dupont #2 smokeless RIFLE powder and created LESS PRESSURES than the black powder loads...which would have been perfectly safe for Colt's revolvers.

 

By 1909, the Not For Pistols was removed from the same loads.

 

Meanwhile the smokeless pistol powder 45 Colt cartridges created a lot of problems for Colt's.

 

Thus, due to the fact that those old guns are old, it would be wise to only shoot black powder or...since there is no replacement for the early smokeless rifle powders....stick to reloading manuals.

 

 

[Griff]

On 11/10/2023 at 7:16 PM, Warden Callaway said:

In any case,  watch out for high velocity rifle loads. Not ment for handguns. 

 

Or 1873s. 

[Savvy Jack]

This particular box top label dated Oct 1909, while the side label, below, is dated August 1920

 

"They Should Never Be Used In Winchester Model 73' Rifles", hidden in the side label descriptions...while NOT FOR PISTOLS was in obvious bold letters.

 

 

This early smokeless example can date back to as early as 1895, when smokeless was first offered for the Model 1873'

 

 

 

 

They Should Never Be Reloaded, was noted on the label on the bottom of the box. I can assure you this warning was ignored! The powder they used created lower pressures than black powder, however, with smokeless being new, folks did not always know any better and could load it up with smokeless pistol powder and create problems (45 Colt issues with Colt's revolvers). Another issue was the cannular created just below the base of the bullet could not be recreated...and the crimp needed on the JSP bullet really could not be made with the loading tools. The JSP was .4255' while the loading tools were made for the .427" lead crimps and black powder.

 

There is always more to the story, but I will stop there.

 

 

By 1914, Winchester still used the same powder and powder charge for the 44-40 ammunition...Dupont #2

 

Dupont #2 was manufactured from 1895 till about 1926. The "Read Instructions On Wrapper" was always a mystery to me until I found the "wrapper" for Dupont #1 rifle powder. The inside of the label included all of the reloading data. However, Dupont #1 was the red can and used in the 45-70.

 

 

The outside of the label (red can Dupont #1)

 

 

Box label dated November 1914 (my collection)

 

 

Bullet on right is Winchester's 200gr lead, also available with smokeless powder as shown, and removed from the 1914 box. The bullet on the left is from a custom mold I had made from Accurate molds and is the 43-214A...and is what I used in my Winchester 73' for 300 yard shots with impact velocities at 950fps. Most cowboy loads are 900fps or less velocity FROM THE MUZZLE!

 

 

Found inside was 15gr of Dupont #2 rifle powder. Replicated loads using 1902, 17gr published load data (not 15gr) of this powder produced the following...

1895

1,300fps advertised

12,045cup estimated

10,190psi  my pressure results

1,282fps tested

Test #84 - Dupont No. 2, 17gr Soft Point Dupont No. 2 was used from 1895 to 1925. Test cases were 1914 era.

 

SAAMI max, 13,000cup/11,000psi

 

Not bad for powder dating almost 130 years old!

 

 

For a powder charge timeline from Winchester, for the 44-40...check here: 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Jy0pGqWPRx2HOQqufbcnEM1lv6tCWBJsCOB8vLIDOIg/edit#gid=834788738

 

For Winchester powder timeline check here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Jy0pGqWPRx2HOQqufbcnEM1lv6tCWBJsCOB8vLIDOIg/edit#gid=1180361418

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bailey Creek,5759]

Load some Trail Boss powder. It is old cartridge friendly.

[July Smith]

16 minutes ago, Bailey Creek,5759 said:

Load some Trail Boss powder. It is old cartridge friendly.

Trail Boss is one of the fastest burning powders and has one of the most dramatic pressure spikes out there.  I would definitely not shoot smokeless in a BP only gun and I certainly would not use Trail Boss.