Recently I was able to perform some more chamber pressure tests with the Preassurtrace II hardware/software. Previously I had tested some 84 tests @ 10 shots per test, I just added 13 more.

This time I was able to test older powders used in the 44-40 Winchester factory cartridges as published. The purpose was to create a timeline of pressures from 1874 to present day. Keep in mind this is not an exact science with old powders, ammo, etc.

Combining data received from previous and recent test, I compiled the following results.

1874-1876 Black Powder Loads

Replicated loads shot in the aforementioned unheadstamped cases yielded two results based on Swiss FFg and Goex FFFg, 40gr loads by weight and compressed .17".

Advertised 1,325fps - 40gr/w Swiss FFg yielded 1,373fps @ 14,000psi/16,550cup.
Advertised 1,325fps - 40gr/w Goex FFFg yielded 1,356fps @ 12,648psi/14,000cup


1877 through 1890's Black Powder Loads

Replicated loads shot in W.R.A.Co., as well as REM-UMC headstamped cases yielded the following using Goex FFFg, 40gr loads by weight and compressed about .19".
Advertised 1,245fps - 40gr/w Goex FFFg yielded 1,260fps @ 10,519psi/12,500cup.


1895-1925 Smokeless Powder Loads (Dupont No. 2 "Bulk" Rifle Powder)

Replicated loads shot in 1914 smokeless powder cases yielded the following results.
Advertised 1,300fps - 17g of Dupont No. 2 yielded 1,282fps @ 10,19000psi/16,550cup.


1926-1959 Smokeless Powder Loads (Sharpshooter Rifle Powder)

Replicated loads shot in 1940's smokeless powder cases yielded the following results.
Advertised 1,300fps - 15gr of Sharpshooter yielded 1,222fps @ 9,176psi/10,846cup


1903 to 1943 .44 W.H.V. (Winchester High Velocity) Loads

Replicated loads shot in 1930's smokeless powder cases yielded the following results.
Advertised 1,564fps - 19.6g of Sharpshooter yielded 1,568fps @ 15,583psi/18,420cup.


1963 Winchester High Pressure Proof Set
No advertised information found ( no doubt)

Fired examples yielded the following results,
16.3gr of a flattened ball powder yielded 1,407fps @ 11,964psi/14,142cup.


Late 1970's Winchester Super-X hunting, "Yellow-X" loads

Fired examples yielded the following results,
7.5gr of a disk powder yielded 1,012fps @ 7,318psi/8,650cup.


1980's to present day

Fired examples, 1992 Orange Banner Super-X loads, yielded the following results,
Advertised 1,190fps - 8gr of a flake powder yielded 1,042fps @ 6,659psi/7,871cup.

Reduced recoil loads commonly referred to as "Cowboy Loads" are even slower and recorded less pressures not even worthy of posting.

For in depth details, data, photos, videos, charts and a few .gif animations,visit the 44-40 website here

Not sure what type of setup your using but I for one an a tech geek and find this very interesting.

Having said that I'd love to see some period 38 Spl testing. This round has some controversy about if it's been downloaded over the years. Supposedly original 38 Spl, out of a 6 inch barrel, was good for 1000 fps with a 158 gr LRN, hotter then today;s FBI +P load.

Those loads were testing on the CUP method using a sealed breech barrel. CUP is not a linear scale, which means it is only accurate at calibrated reference pressures. The test barrels of the time didn't account for the cylinder gap, which means the listed velocities would never match real world firearms. I guess what I am saying is, the actual pressure values listed at the time may have been fuzzy while the listed velocities may have been unrealistic.

I'm probably not telling you anything you don't know.
The other issue is that unless you have samples of powder from that time period, we couldn't be 100% that the results line up.
All that being said, I would still like to see the results of this experiment.

SAAMI lists both CUP and PSI for this cartridge in several configurations. The pressures happen to be the same for both cup and psi as tested. See SAAMI results here


If those loads were not tested in a vented barrel, you might could test such loads in a single shot Contender with a short barrel and get close. However, you need a known pressure load to shoot and set up the equipment to gain your "control", and that is nearly imposable to get. Published handloads in manuals sometimes are not always truthful of the exact pressures recorded but will keep you SAFE!

Once you get a "control", then you need the powders required for the tests of those older loads. Once again, older powders can change and give higher or lower readings and may not effect velocities. Your results will be in psi and without high and low published pressure data, you may not be able to accurately establish those original cup loads you are looking for.

This is what I did with the 44-40. I had to find a "control", then cross reference (the difference in psi/cup) with historical, handload and factory load results. When I was confident with that, I tested vintage loads when I could find good components.

Out of the "official" 94 tests I made (940 shots fired), I came up with the following 44-40 pressure timeline.

Attached Images

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Great info on the long time historic 44-40.
IMHO a legendary Cartridge.
Jim