Henry Rifle Forums

Hi all.

A rather frosty day at the range, with -9C / 12F degrees. Testing some new bullets in the 44-40 with Pyrodex loads. Target is at 150 meters / 164 yards. I am happy with the accuracy, considering the cold and the iron sights .

Youtube video: https://youtu.be/ZldRLxMySkY

Agree with your accuracy assessment using the iron sights to reach 150 meters. Sounds like you're pleased with the 44-40 loads performance in such a temp. Heard quite a number of hits coming back through that cold air --- always a welcome and fun sound.

I like the snow and cold, and those evergreens as a backdrop to your range are a beautiful sight.
Good shooting! Thanks for the post.

PT7

Mighty fine shooting Mgr2. You have a very nice set-up there. Well done with those Pyrodex loads.

Great job. Shooting at those temps isn't for everyone.

You must have some great vision to shoot that well with open sights at that distance...job well done!

How is it cleaning that Winchester after shooting black powder? I hear that .44-40 is the best caliber for black powder shooting due to the thin case
expanding and sealing the chamber.

fortyshooter wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 03, 2020 10:41 am

You must have some great vision to shoot that well with open sights at that distance...job well done!

How is it cleaning that Winchester after shooting black powder? I hear that .44-40 is the best caliber for black powder shooting due to the thin case
expanding and sealing the chamber.

I must admit that I struggle with the open sights, can just barely use them. The problem with the Winchester 73 is the short sight radius and that the rear sight is quite close to the shooter. On this rifle I have exchanged the original rear buckhorn sight with a Marble Arms Flat Top rear sight, which gives a slightly better sight picture. Also not visible in the movie, the steel gong is painted light fluorescent red. But I can just barely see it in this light.

Yes the 44-40 is great for black powder, although Pyrodex is not considered 'real' black, but I am empty at the moment. The case is very thin in the neck area, and seals well. No sooty cases. I thought on ordering the Win 73 in 45 Colt, but I'm glad I didn't. The 45 Colt was originally not used in rifles, with good reason. I does not feed well and it spits back the corrosive black powder gases into the mechanism and in the shooters face. But the 44-40 is more for the reloading enthusiast; do not count on that there will be a plethora of factory rolled ammo in the shelves .

Great shooting to cold for me. Never used pyrodex Forty but I did load some black in 44-40 and its a kick to shoot it in 44-40. Totally different than smokeless of course. Cleaning isnt to bad when using Swiss Black as it burns alot cleaner. But shooting black in a single shot is much easier when clean up comes along.

I sometimes wish I'd bought my 1860 in 44-40 but I did not reload at the time and 45 Colt ammo is abundant.