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44-40 deer rifle? #6391966 08/02/16 07:44 PM
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Hoytman Offline OP
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Have killed many a deer with rifle and bow and hand gun and been thinking i would like to try to kill deer with my replica 44-40 rifle but seems to light a cartridge to me. Anybody else try this on a deer size animal? Dont want it to suffer because i want to try something different.


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Re: 44-40 deer rifle? [Re: Hoytman] #6392006 08/02/16 08:16 PM
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use a good load and not some light target or "cowboy"
loads and hit the pumpkin and the deer doesn't have
any choice but to go into your cooler.

Re: 44-40 deer rifle? [Re: Hoytman] #6392021 08/02/16 08:23 PM
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I would say keep your shot distance short, put the bullet where its supposed to go and you have nothing to worry about.


It's hell eatin em live
Re: 44-40 deer rifle? [Re: Hoytman] #6392023 08/02/16 08:25 PM
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i should add that i've killed deer with a
.357 magnum marlin lever and a .357 magnum
single shot handi rifle, so a bigger bore
rifle with the correct load should be capable.
poking a hole in the right place with one
shot is what responsible hunting is all about.

Re: 44-40 deer rifle? [Re: Hoytman] #6392027 08/02/16 08:26 PM
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It'll work great with a full load cartridge.

Last edited by Nogalus Prairie; 08/02/16 08:27 PM.

Originally Posted by Russ79
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.


Re: 44-40 deer rifle? [Re: Hoytman] #6392063 08/02/16 08:43 PM
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kmon11 Online Shocked
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It will work


lf the saying "Liar, Liar your pants on fire" were true
Mainstream news might be fun to watch
Re: 44-40 deer rifle? [Re: Hoytman] #6392083 08/02/16 08:53 PM
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Do you load your own? Remington makes a JSP in .426, that if launched at sufficient velocity, is quite acceptable at reasonable range.

Re: 44-40 deer rifle? [Re: Hoytman] #6392135 08/02/16 09:28 PM
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If you do your part, the rifle will do its part.


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Re: 44-40 deer rifle? [Re: Hoytman] #6392494 08/03/16 01:15 AM
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If I had to guess I'd say the 44-40 has killed as much game as all the rest of the calibers we carry today,why do you think they made a replica of the 44-40, the most used caliber of the west. bang


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Re: 44-40 deer rifle? [Re: Hoytman] #6392826 08/03/16 12:02 PM
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Thanks for all the imput on this guys.


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Re: 44-40 deer rifle? [Re: Hoytman] #6392852 08/03/16 12:36 PM
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Started to add above but didn't, in addition to just saying the 44-40 will work a few more thoughts.

Lots of game was killed in the 1800 and early 1900s with that round as well as the smaller 38-40. A friend who is no longer with us used his Grand Fathers 38-40 on lots of deer and I have used the 44 special with 240gr semi-wadcutters successfully on deer out to 50 yards from a 44mag carbine. Tried it before letting a youngster use it on deer which he did on a hunt as well.


lf the saying "Liar, Liar your pants on fire" were true
Mainstream news might be fun to watch
Re: 44-40 deer rifle? [Re: Hoytman] #6392923 08/03/16 01:45 PM
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Thanks kmon1. round is so easy to shoot i think i may try it this fall. the gun is pretty accurate and i love to shoot it.


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Re: 44-40 deer rifle? [Re: Hoytman] #6392964 08/03/16 02:19 PM
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My son killed his first Buck with a 25-20. I have a 38-40 that has taken many deer years ago.

Re: 44-40 deer rifle? [Re: Hoytman] #6393085 08/03/16 03:48 PM
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Thanks Don im gonna give it a try!


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Re: 44-40 deer rifle? [Re: Team Hillbilly] #6393104 08/03/16 04:04 PM
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Originally Posted By: Team Hillbilly
If I had to guess I'd say the 44-40 has killed as much game as all the rest of the calibers we carry today,why do you think they made a replica of the 44-40, the most used caliber of the west. bang



They made that caliber in rifles so a person could carry a rifle and a pistol that used the same ammunition.

They were not designed to be hunting rifles. They did take their share of game but they were not hunting rounds.



For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
Re: 44-40 deer rifle? [Re: txtrophy85] #6393233 08/03/16 05:35 PM
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Originally Posted By: txtrophy85
Originally Posted By: Team Hillbilly
If I had to guess I'd say the 44-40 has killed as much game as all the rest of the calibers we carry today,why do you think they made a replica of the 44-40, the most used caliber of the west. bang



They made that caliber in rifles so a person could carry a rifle and a pistol that used the same ammunition.

They were not designed to be hunting rifles. They did take their share of game but they were not hunting rounds.



IIRC the 44 Winchester was introduced in 1873 with the Winchester 1873 the gun that came to be known as the gun that won the West. Colt, Remington and Marlin followed suite with their own firearms chambered for the 44-40 including the peacemaker. It would not surprise me if during the course of History if the 44-40 would only lag the 30-30 in number of deer killed but that could be debated for sure.

One wonders if Colt and Remington had worked together if the round would have ever been made. The 44 Winchester was introduced in the 1873 the same year the Colt Peacemaker was introduced in 45 colt.

The 44 Winchester has had a couple other names 44WCF and 44-40. The last one was given it by Remington in their ammunition as they didn't want the Winchester name on their boxes.


lf the saying "Liar, Liar your pants on fire" were true
Mainstream news might be fun to watch
Re: 44-40 deer rifle? [Re: Hoytman] #6393242 08/03/16 05:42 PM
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My answer was based on the OP's obvious knowledge and desire for a cartridge for shorter-range hunting.

I think everyone understands the cartridge has limitations when it comes to deer hunting. IMO it will work fine within those limitations.


Originally Posted by Russ79
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.


Re: 44-40 deer rifle? [Re: Hoytman] #6393400 08/03/16 07:28 PM
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It was introduced in 1873, in the Winchester rifle. That same year of course the Peacemaker came out in .45LC. I believe the first year the Peacemaker was chambered in .44WCF was 1878, so that was the 1st year a man coud carry a rifle & revolver in the same chambering. The Winchester rifle needed a bottleneck cartridge to extract reliably with the gunpowder of the day. I don't believe they ever chambered it in .45LC.

Re: 44-40 deer rifle? [Re: kmon11] #6393417 08/03/16 07:35 PM
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Originally Posted By: kmon1


Originally Posted By: txtrophy85
Originally Posted By: Team Hillbilly
If I had to guess I'd say the 44-40 has killed as much game as all the rest of the calibers we carry today,why do you think they made a replica of the 44-40, the most used caliber of the west. bang



They made that caliber in rifles so a person could carry a rifle and a pistol that used the same ammunition.

They were not designed to be hunting rifles. They did take their share of game but they were not hunting rounds.



IIRC the 44 Winchester was introduced in 1873 with the Winchester 1873 the gun that came to be known as the gun that won the West. Colt, Remington and Marlin followed suite with their own firearms chambered for the 44-40 including the peacemaker. It would not surprise me if during the course of History if the 44-40 would only lag the 30-30 in number of deer killed but that could be debated for sure.

One wonders if Colt and Remington had worked together if the round would have ever been made. The 44 Winchester was introduced in the 1873 the same year the Colt Peacemaker was introduced in 45 colt.

The 44 Winchester has had a couple other names 44WCF and 44-40. The last one was given it by Remington in their ammunition as they didn't want the Winchester name on their boxes.




I'm quite certain that the number of deer killed with a .30-30 has been surpassed by other cartridges quite some time ago.

Everyone's been hearing that the .30-30 has killed more game than any other cartridge for the last 50 years....I doubt seriously that holds true anymore. There are more white tails in the country now than any other time in history. I would say the .30-06' has passed it up some time ago


For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
Re: 44-40 deer rifle? [Re: Hoytman] #6393427 08/03/16 07:40 PM
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Doesn't matter. He wants to kill a deer with the gun for nostalgias sake. Within range limitations it has plenty of pop to kill something.

I have found that Cast lead cowboy loads out of a 45 colt can kill plenty of stuff. They kill more like an arrow though, less shock and more bleeding unless central nervous system is disrupted.


It's hell eatin em live
Re: 44-40 deer rifle? [Re: Hoytman] #6393446 08/03/16 07:50 PM
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The rifle is a umberti brand with the brass reciever and even tho it is a replica it is a beautifull gun and i should keep it in the safe but if i cant shoot it i wont own it.lol.


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Re: 44-40 deer rifle? [Re: Hoytman] #6393454 08/03/16 07:57 PM
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They make some good looking replicas. Looking forward to pics of your deer with taken with it.


lf the saying "Liar, Liar your pants on fire" were true
Mainstream news might be fun to watch
Re: 44-40 deer rifle? [Re: Hoytman] #6393489 08/03/16 08:18 PM
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As Texastrophy stated, the gun was brought out in 1873. The caliber was a 're-design' of the 44 (Henry?) rimfire. The 44-40 used the new 'center-fire' priming method. Original loads were with 200 or so grain lead (cast) bullets pushed by 40 grains of black powder.
In it's day, it was considered a fast, hard-hitting cartridge.
Colt brought out their Peacemaker in the 44-40 cartridge a few years later, thus allowing someone to carry one type of ammo for both rifle and handgun.
Though the cartridge is considered anemic - pushing that lead bullet at a whopping 6-750 fps - especially when compared to what we have available today, in it's day, it was a speedster in comparison to many competitive cartridges.
In those days, a man/person wanted ONE rifle to do most anything, from self-defense (the last Indian battles/raids were in the mid-1880's), to hunting, to popping critters intent on making a meal out of your livestock.
Like ANY caliber, if you place your shot in the proper place, you'll take your game. I have my Grandfather's Mod. 94 marked 30WCF on the 24" barrel. I will still take it out once in a while just to keep it hunting.
You'll hunt a completely different way from use of more modern cartridges, even the venerable 30-30 (30WCF).
I say take it out and enjoy your experience with it!


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Re: 44-40 deer rifle? [Re: Hoytman] #6393545 08/03/16 09:07 PM
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A little off topic, but did you know the cap & ball colt walker .44 was comparable in power to a .357 magnum?

Most of the black powder center fire pistol loads were very weak by today's standards. That's why you had bad guys that were able to take multiple shots and still be in the fight. A lot of guys killed in gunfights were hit multiple times it was rarely and "one and done"

Most rifles built for hunting in that era were longer barrel pistol grip lever actions and single shots in more powerful cartridges like the .38-55.




For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
Re: 44-40 deer rifle? [Re: Hoytman] #6393577 08/03/16 09:32 PM
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I don't have a 44-40 so I don't load for one. Like the 45 Colt I load for many of the older guns couldn't handle the full power of the cartridge. A quick internet search indicated that in modern firearms the 44-40 could push a 200 grain bullet in the neighborhood of 1200 fps which puts it in the same realm of performance/killing power as a 357 mag I would think.

I shoot a 240 grain out of my 45 colt at 1200 or so fps, an old peacemaker wouldn't handle that and I guarantee you it is more than adequate to kill deer and hogs within reasonable distances for the gun.


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