.44-40 vs. .45 Colt

[SlimGeezer]

I sure do like the New Original Henry Rifle. It's just a matter of choosing .44-40 or .45 Colt. I know that neither is the actual original cartridge, but the .44-40 would be closer. Which one is more accurate?

[RanchRoper]

I've never shot the 44-40, but my 45 Colt sure packs a whollup.

[CT_Shooter]

I sure do like the New Original Henry Rifle. It's just a matter of choosing .44-40 or .45 Colt. I know that neither is the actual original cartridge, but the .44-40 would be closer. Which one is more accurate?

Welcome to the forum from CT.

I'm sure someone will offer an opinion (lots of variables to consider) about which of these cartridges may be more accurate than the other. Whichever way you go, you're going to love that rifle.

[North Country Gal]

I think you'd be hard pressed to prove an accuracy advantage of one over the other. Lots of other reasons to to make a choice, but can't see accuracy as being a big deal. For instance, both cartridges benefit, greatly, from reloading. Neither is cheap to shoot, otherwise. In our area, though, much easier to find factory 45 Colt ammo, either standard 45 Colt or Cowboy loads. Can even find the Ruger only or bear loads at times. Very rare to find any 44-40 in our area and when you do, it's almost always the Cowboy loads. My vote is the 45 Colt for its versatility.

[JEBar]

My vote is the 45 Colt for its versatility.

in our area 44-40 ammo is pretty scarce, even Cabela's only list factory load .... that being HSM's Cowboy Action ....

[mlrifleNY]

I just spent the last few days looking at just that. The only advantage I could find for the 44/40 was if you were going to shoot black powder. It seals the chamber better they say. I just today bought a new Henry 1860 in 45. I don't reload and I can find the ammo for it. I won't see the rifle until later next week but boy am I stocked for it. I have wanted a Henry for many many years and finally I can afford it.

Jim

[Yornoc3]

Congratulations on "pulling the trigger", so to speak. You'll be happy with it, I'm sure.

[BigAl52]

I have owned both and really like the 44-40. I shot black in mine I had it in a Marlin and sold it quite a few years ago. I now have a 45 Colt Henry Carbine. I like it as well. As far as which one is more accurate that would be a toss up as I was able to get both calibers to shoot well. I reloaded for both. As others have mentioned the 45 colt ammo if you don't reload will be easier and more reasonable to come by. One thing that isn't mentioned if you do reload there are no carbide dies for the 44-40 because it has a slight bottle neck. I am one who likes to eliminate that lubing the case step if I can with a carbide sizing die. Just more info for thought. Al

[RanchRoper]

Enjoy your new 1860! Who says time travel is not possible? You will love it.

[JEBar]

I just today bought a new Henry 1860 in 45. I won't see the rifle until later next week but boy am I stocked for it. I have wanted a Henry for many many years and finally I can afford it.

Jim

from one Jim to another, congrats on your new 45, you have every right to be excited .... I have no doubt it will serve you well and am looking forward to your range and use reports .... please take a look at our How Many ? thread (at this link http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.p ... 590#p51590 ) and add your Henry to our community total .... after doing so, take a look at When will we hit 500? thread (at this link http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.p ... 703#p51703 ) where you can enter our latest contest

[tx gunrunner]

If you don't reload get the 45 colt . I prefer the 44-40 after shooting it for over 20 yrs and it is perfect for black powder round . It seals the chamber and keeps the BP mess in barrel and out of the action . The bottle neck feeds better in most lever action .

[Steve51]

Congratulations on your new rifle. Considering ammo availability, I think you made a wise choice.

Now you need a .45 colt single action revolver (if you don't own one) for the perfect combo.

[Frontiersman]

I have had trouble getting the .45 chamber to seal in rifles. You can work around it, but the .44-40 is the clear solution for me. An original Henry in .44-40 is on my short list.

[tx gunrunner]

I have had trouble getting the .45 chamber to seal in rifles. You can work around it, but the .44-40 is the clear solution for me. An original Henry in .44-40 is on my short list.

I 'm getting out of the gun business because of heath . I have ton of gun stuff and 44-40 brass , powder , bullets and guns only FTF sales .

[Vaquero]

I have owned both and really like the 44-40. I shot black in mine I had it in a Marlin and sold it quite a few years ago. I now have a 45 Colt Henry Carbine. I like it as well. As far as which one is more accurate that would be a toss up as I was able to get both calibers to shoot well. I reloaded for both. As others have mentioned the 45 colt ammo if you don't reload will be easier and more reasonable to come by. One thing that isn't mentioned if you do reload there are no carbide dies for the 44-40 because it has a slight bottle neck. I am one who likes to eliminate that lubing the case step if I can with a carbide sizing die. Just more info for thought. Al

I totally agree on the 45 because of that very reason.
Love the carbide sizing dies.

RP

[Vaquero]

I have had trouble getting the .45 chamber to seal in rifles. You can work around it, but the .44-40 is the clear solution for me. An original Henry in .44-40 is on my short list.

A lot of rifles in 45 colt have large chambers,
I have found that most times it;s due to light loads.
Had this experience with my Marlin Cowboy, once I upped the loads.
I have had no more problems.

I to am planning on a 1860 sometime this year, but
it will be a 45. Besides I already load for it

RP

[Vaquero]

I have had trouble getting the .45 chamber to seal in rifles. You can work around it, but the .44-40 is the clear solution for me. An original Henry in .44-40 is on my short list.

A lot of rifles in 45 colt have large chambers. Why I don't know.
I have found that most times the problem not sealing, is due to light loads.
Had this experience with my Marlin Cowboy, once I upped the loads.
I've had no more problems.

I to am planning on a 1860 sometime this year, but
it will be a 45. Besides I already load for it

RP

[Vaquero]

I have had trouble getting the .45 chamber to seal in rifles. You can work around it, but the .44-40 is the clear solution for me. An original Henry in .44-40 is on my short list.

I 'm getting out of the gun business because of heath . I have ton of gun stuff and 44-40 brass , powder , bullets and guns only FTF sales .

Good luck with your sales.
Sorry to hear about the health.

RP

[Frontiersman]

A lot of rifles in 45 colt have large chambers,
I have found that most times it;s due to light loads.
Had this experience with my Marlin Cowboy, once I upped the loads.
I have had no more problems.
RP

Yep, that would be the problem, and that is a work around. But if you need light loads, that's not the answer.

You can also size only to the length of the seated bullet. That works pretty good, but then they won't fit in a properly chambered revolver.

You can also keep the cases annealed, so that they expand more easily. It's a lot of work.

It's easier to just tolerate the smoked cases and clean the rifle more often.

I generally save the .45 for more stout applications and use the .44 when I need something lighter.

I don't own a Henry .45, I wouldn't be surprised to find they have a better chamber.

[Vaquero]

Well my go to load now is 10.0 gr of Unique over a 255 gr cast.
Ain't nothing in the 1894, and not uncomfortable in the Vaquero, or the BH.
Same load with a 235 gr cast is the cats meow in the revolvers, just sayin.
And only shoots a little higher than the 255's.

RP