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Thread: Primers for 44-40

  1. #1
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    Primers for 44-40

    I know that these days I have to take what I can get, but I?d like to know whether in ideal conditions is it preferable to use rifle or pistol primers to load 44-40 for the Henry rifle (mine is a Navy Arms). I know it?s a pistol-class cartridge, but it was originally designed for rifle. Strength of the primer flash shouldn?t be too large a concern, and the qhammer and firing pin arrangement of the Henry will certainly set either one off. Is the softer, slightly lower height of the LPP a problem?

    TIA ~ Froggie
    Charlie Shaeff
    1st Valley Rangers
    N-SSA # 12345

  2. #2
    Muley Gil is offline
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    Some .44-40 brass, such as Starline, is made for pistol primers ONLY.
    Gil Davis Tercenio
    # 3020V
    34th Battalion, Virginia Cavalry
    Great, great grandson of Cpl Elijah S Davis, Co I, 6th Alabama Inf CSA

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ron The Old Reb View Post
    ​You don't want to use pistol primers in a tubular magazine. Another thing you want to be sure the primer is seated below the rim of the case.
    Why are pistol primers not ok in a tube magazine? Genuine question. Is this a broad answer for all lead bullets or do you mean just if using roundnose? Thanks. Never too old to learn or hear other's experiences.

  4. #4
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    The statement should be 'you don't want large rifle primers.' We use large pistol primers in our 44-40. Large rifle primers will protrude out the back of the primer pocket because they are taller than large pistol primers. Large rifle primers in the 44-40 cartridge could set off a chain reaction in the tubular magazine of the Henry. I believe in this actually occurred in the early days of the Repeater Competition.
    Never Be The Same!! Bring it!!

  5. #5
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    Yes, bullet style too

    A pointed bullet, when loaded inline, can impact any size primer and cause them to go off. The theory is this ... the flat on a flat nose bullets diameter will be bigger than the the diameter of the primers diameter and will hit the brass around the primer first. That is if correctly pressed in!!!
    Last edited by Bruce Cobb 1723V; 09-24-2021 at 01:40 PM.
    N-SSA Member since 1974

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