No Horse Hair, SASS #77464 Posted August 16 Share Posted August 16 I shoot 44-40 and like to have them sized at .427 or .428. Supply is getting low. As nobody local sells these bullets and shipping is getting high I'm thinking in this direction. I buy locally bullets for my 44 special and magnum and they are sized to .430. If I bought a sizer press and die can I size these down to use in my 44-40? I guess I should look and compare where the crimp groove is. to check the overall length. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Spade Posted August 16 Share Posted August 16 yes you can size them down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boggus Deal #64218 Posted August 16 Share Posted August 16 If you have a press that accepts 7/8-14 dies, Lee sells a push through dies that mounts in it and it’s an easy job. I believe I have a .429 that I don’t use. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cahawbakid Posted August 17 Share Posted August 17 I do this very thing, Lee makes a great push thru sizing die 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted August 17 Share Posted August 17 You can even do this to powder coated bullets. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted August 17 Share Posted August 17 I have a little press mounted upside down to push bullets through the Lee sizing die. Much easier than picking them off the top of the die. 6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted August 17 Share Posted August 17 The Lee APP press makes short work of this. Fill the bullet feeder and you can resize hundreds in no time. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griff Posted August 17 Share Posted August 17 Are you sure your .44-40s are .427". Are they originals, or replicas, if replicas, how early are they? I only have one, a modern replica of a Colt Lightning and it takes .429-.430" bullets, it doesn't stabilize .427 very well... Shoots 'em fine, but accuracy isn't the greatest. "Like" and "work best" are not synonymous. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No Horse Hair, SASS #77464 Posted August 18 Author Share Posted August 18 I have never slugged them, I like the smaller size for ease of reloading and they have worked in all of my guns. For SASS I'm more concerned with reliability than accuracy. When I miss, it ain't about 1" accuracy! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted August 18 Share Posted August 18 On 8/17/2024 at 6:58 AM, Sedalia Dave said: The Lee APP press makes short work of this. Fill the bullet feeder and you can resize hundreds in no time. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jefro, SASS#69420 Posted August 19 Share Posted August 19 The originals like the 1873 were .427. The Ubertis are about ..429. I couldn't get a .429 to chamber in my original 73. Good Luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dapper Dave Posted August 20 Share Posted August 20 I sized .314 bullets down to .311 for 7.62x39mm for years, no issues, and like was mentioned before, you can do that with powder coated as well - helps lube the slide, as it were. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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