Hello boys,
After I get my Ruger Flattop 44 special, I'm going to start saving for my first 44wcf and I've got a few questions...
I'm leaning towards the 44wcf but I'm also open to the 38wcf. I'll probably also get an Uberti SAA clone in a matching caliber. Any opinions on the 44 vs the 38wcf for 95% general target shooting/plinking? With real black powder as well as smokeless? I would like to be able to hunt whitetail with the rifle but that's really a secondary issue- these will just be fun guns.
It seems that most of the 44wcf guns these days have .429" bores while the 38wcf run about .40" is this correct? Will using .429"~.430" diameter bullets in 44wcf brass pose any problems?
From a general reloading standpoint; is either round just as easy to reload for? ...Or is the 38wcf a little easier? Speaking of the thin brass and delicate shoulder of these rounds. I'm already a firm believer in Lyman's "M" dies and will use a Lyman die set for whichever caliber.
Speaking of loading real BP in either round; I've got way more 2F BP than 3F on hand and would like to burn up as much of it as I can before I procure more. I know BP needs to be compressed but do issues arise if I try to cram too much, and therefore, compress too much powder in this thin brass?
As to rifles... I'm leaning towards the win-1873 clone mainly because it was actually offered in both of these calibers but I'm open to both the 1866 and 1860 clones. If they offered the 1860 clone in .44 russian I'd be all over it (this would probably be close the the original .44 Henry rimfire round, as I understand it). Are there pros and cons to each of these three choices of rifle?
Thanks...
After I get my Ruger Flattop 44 special, I'm going to start saving for my first 44wcf and I've got a few questions...
I'm leaning towards the 44wcf but I'm also open to the 38wcf. I'll probably also get an Uberti SAA clone in a matching caliber. Any opinions on the 44 vs the 38wcf for 95% general target shooting/plinking? With real black powder as well as smokeless? I would like to be able to hunt whitetail with the rifle but that's really a secondary issue- these will just be fun guns.
It seems that most of the 44wcf guns these days have .429" bores while the 38wcf run about .40" is this correct? Will using .429"~.430" diameter bullets in 44wcf brass pose any problems?
From a general reloading standpoint; is either round just as easy to reload for? ...Or is the 38wcf a little easier? Speaking of the thin brass and delicate shoulder of these rounds. I'm already a firm believer in Lyman's "M" dies and will use a Lyman die set for whichever caliber.
Speaking of loading real BP in either round; I've got way more 2F BP than 3F on hand and would like to burn up as much of it as I can before I procure more. I know BP needs to be compressed but do issues arise if I try to cram too much, and therefore, compress too much powder in this thin brass?
As to rifles... I'm leaning towards the win-1873 clone mainly because it was actually offered in both of these calibers but I'm open to both the 1866 and 1860 clones. If they offered the 1860 clone in .44 russian I'd be all over it (this would probably be close the the original .44 Henry rimfire round, as I understand it). Are there pros and cons to each of these three choices of rifle?
Thanks...