Replica 44-40 Henry range report in color

[hightime]

It's a good thing I'm not color blind. I used color marker to help keep track of loads and the results. Thanks to you fellas for the tip. All 205 gr wheelweight cast, SPG lube, sized to 429 dia. , Rem LP primers, and factory type crimp.
I loaded four of each type of load. I tried three levels of IMR 2400, not impressed, one of the higher side Trail Boss, not great. and three of Unigue. The higher load of Unique won out. Now I want to try 700X and a couple others.
60 yards, Sights show a need for bringing windage left. There was a wind from left so I'll leave it alone for now.
Earlier I tried Winchester factory loads and could beat them with any charge of Unique loads.

Owen

What I learned was; I should have bought a Marbles windage adjustable tang peep, I'm a shakey old eyed man, It's nice to shoot though the window of my insulated and air conditioned shop, colored makers work great, I can actually reload 44-40, It's nice to have colored small note books for each cartridge size.

[Pitchy]

Looks like your having fun Owen, and the penquin is on duty.

[rat patrol]

Waht brand of replica Henry are you using?

[hightime]

It's a Navy Arms. I think it's a Uberti, but it doesn't say so.

Owen

[w30wcf]

Owen,
Nice looking rifle. I wonder if your rifle might like bullets that are a bit larger than .429" (?).
Have you checked the groove diameter?
Whose bullet are you using?

w30wcf

[Lefty Dude]

Owen,
Nice looking rifle. I wonder if your rifle might like bullets that are a bit larger than .429" (?).
Have you checked the groove diameter?
Whose bullet are you using?

w30wcf

Early Navy Arms 44-40's have a very tight bore. My NA 73 carbine barrel slugs .4255". The piece shoots .427" very well. My Carbine was made in the early 1980's. From a very reliable source who worked for Navy Arms as a Gun Smith the barrels of the early Rifles were US made, along with the furniture being American Walnut.

[hightime]

I'm shooting my castings 205 gr. rnfp sized to .429 dia. I havn't slugged the barrel. Maybe I can get that done this afternoon. This morning I loaded 8.2 gr. Unique with 1 gr. cotton filler as per Kirks loads. That didn't help so I upped the charge to Lyman max recomended on 8.6 gr. I could not see an improvement.
I also tried 34 gr. of ffg . Those were fun. They shot higher, but no better groups. I think the nature of the Henry cause lower and lower shots as it heats up. I think my first two shots are useally good. New thing to check.

Also the dog shi** on my range line. Funny she don't come around when I'm shooting.

Owen

[Lefty Dude]

It will do no good to slug the barrel if it is not clean. Make sure you have no leading in the leade area of the barrel. This would be just forward of the chamber & forcing cone. Minor leading will give you poor accuracy.
The previous owner of my carbine shot larger than necessary sized bullets in the piece. When I got the carbine 73/44WCF this area was leaded up.
I cleaned the bore, sluged for proper size and it is a tack driver now. If your 1860 Henry is an early Navy Arms model it will have a bore-groove close to the original Winchester, .425"-.426".