That 1300 fps sounds pretty fast for an original '73.  I wonder how that load equates to a 7 gr Unique with 42798 ~200 grain boolits?

That's what I'm shooting out of my original '73 and Uberti SAA.  Need to work with the Uberti as POI does not equal POA.  Shoots low & right.  Looking forward to lots of fun with them two!!

C1PNR .... 7.0  grains of Unique with the Lyman #42798 bullet chronographs at 824 fps out of my .44/40 Colt revolver with a 7 1/2" barrel.  The same load in my Winchester '73 with a 22" barrel chronographs right at 1115 fps.  Another bullet which gives almost identical velocities in both firearms but is a bit more accurate is the Lyman #427666 which weighs in at 208 grains in WW.  Remington LP primers were used in all loads.

oksmle

My Brother and I have been talking about getting a chronograph for over a year now.  I think it's time we broke down and spent the money. 

Be nice to know what's going on with the different loads in the different rifles, and pistols for that matter.

fourarmed,

Thank you for sharing your data.   What length barrel does your rifle have?

Alliant achieved almost 1,300 f.p.s. in a 24" barrel, but with a heavier 240 gr. bullet using a mild 2 1/2 Remington pistol primer. The heavier bullet obviously created more resisitance for more complete burning of powder.  VERY INTERESTINGLY,  the pressure they listed was only 12,100 cup, over 20% below the 14,000 cup  SAMMI MAP pressure for the .44-40.

I would be careful using large rifle primers unless you recut the primer pockets deeper so that they are below the case head, otherwise there would be a chance to set off a round(s) in the magazine.

I have also used REL7 with very good success in my '73 Winchester (21" bbl.)but with a heavier 215 gr. bullet (427098). I used 25 grs., a capacity load with 2 1/2 Remington primers (1,180 f.p.s.) and a 155 Federal Magnum Pistol primer (1,226 f.p.s.) with vey good groups in the 1" range @ 50 yards.

I have since located some 240 gr. cowboy RNFP bullets and have them loaded over the Alliant load to try.  Just waiting for warmer weather.............

 C1PNR,  factory .44-40 ballistics in the 1940's-1960's were a 200 gr. bullet at 1,301 f.p.s.       Unique is too fast burning to produce this velocity at safe pressures for a '73.     2400,  4227, 4759  and REL7 are the powders of choice for replication of the original '73 smokeless loads.

Sincerely,

w30wcf

 

 

Fourarmed;

I use Universal for 200gr plinking loads, but I have a '92, a much stronger action.

8.5gr Universal gives me 1200 fps in my 20" barrel ,very little recoil and no measurable case head expansion.

I have cases from the '60's and '70's  that are balloon head and use the large rifle primer, new Remington cases are solid head and use large pistol primers.

The large  rifle primers are .130 high, the large pistol primers are .120 high.

Use your calipers depth function to check the depth of the primer pockets.

That is good advice regarding the primer pockets.  I will check.  I do have a LR pocket uniformer, too.  My rifle is a 3rd model with 24" octagon barrel.  It was relined by Redman with what was supposed to be a .428" groove diameter, but by my slug it is closer to .431".  With a .431" bullet, some cases chamber with "feel."  This is why I'm sticking with slow powders.  I may raise the charge and go to less brisant pistol primers.  So many experiments, so little time.