Reeder Custom Guns - Why are chambers so different than factory

.44-40 and .38-40 ammo. They differ by a mile and my sizer dies do not mimic factory ammo. I just think it's odd, and nobody ever says anything about it. This .44-40 is tapered, you can feel it but hard to see. Perfectly good reload that does not get worked as much as factory ammo, all blown out.

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the profile of factory ammo and profile of resized brass? That has been the problem for a long time if so. Not sure if it was difference in opinion or people without the correct specs. I believe this is what caused these two cartridges to fall to the wayside at least in part, the thin brass that is used and the excessive working of the brass. I have read about others using tighter chambers and reloading dies cut to those chambers with great success in extending brass life.

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wide spectrum from minimum dimension to the maximum allowed. The factory obviously wants to stick to minimum for production ammo.

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show this cartridge, with no taper visible.
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Neither of which I have much experience with. But, just bought a rare octagon TC Contender in 38-40. Starting with Starline Brass was an eye opener. When fired the shoulder moved forward a tremendous amount. I was concerned until I realized my Lee Dies matched the chamber perfectly. It was the brass that was wrong.

Found the same with both my Colt New Frontier and Uberti Flattop Target 44-40s. Shoulder moved forward and as Gary said, become more of a taper. But, reloaded ammo worked great in both guns.

I am ashamed to say I avoided these two fine cartridges for years. But, Starline solved the brass issue and both make fine hunting rounds when properly loaded bullets.

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THE .44 WCF IS THE GREAT DIVERSITY OF CHAMBER THROAT SIZES. I HAVE HAD EXAMPLES RUNNING FROM .425", A MERWIN/HULBERT TO .432", A COLT BISLEY. THE .38-40s DID NOT HAVE THIS MALADY TO ANY GREAT EXTENT. WITH PROPER LOADS, PROPER CHAMBERS, ETC ETC ETC, BOTH WILL SHOOT EXCEPTIONALLY WELL. MY PRE-WWI .38-40 NEW SERVICE IS A ONE-HOLER AT 20 YARDS.

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That had 0.398” throats and a .403” bore. My bullets were .0401”. It shot horribly, worse than my poor skills even. My first old Colt revolver and Lee loader which came with the kit. It fostered a volume of research in the pre-internet days. Some good articles were found in magazines and catalogs, manuals. Things took a little more time, effort back then. I used emery cloth wrapped around a wood dowel in a corded electric drill. No such thing as cordless. I forget what the calipers read, .401 or .403” when I got through opening the cylinder throats. I basically polished them to size. Shooting validated my efforts. Groups were very acceptable to me.

The few factory 180 gr. tightly bottleneck ctgs. I could find looked totally different than my more sloping Lee reloads. But both chambered.

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Gary currently has mine converting it to 5-Shot with his tight custom chambers. I think it will easily match a 41 Magnum.

The Lee Collet Crimp Die makes the difference in loading this cartridge. It crimps the many 10mm bullets without requiring a cannelure.

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CRIMP DIE IS INVALUABLE. I JUST LOADED 500 .357 SIGS AND USED IT ON EVERYONE. ALSO FIND THEIR UNIVERSAL EXPANDING DIE TO BE ESSENTIAL WITH MANY CARTRIDGES. FOR THE .357 SIG I DO NOT EXPAND THE THROATS JUST "KISS" THEM ENOUGH TO START THE BULLET. DON'T NEED TO DO THIS WITH THE 147 HORNADY BOATTAIL 9MMs.

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My Colt has .431" throats and the Uberti is only .0005" smaller. I use .431" cast in both. The cartridges chamber tightly in both guns.

The Uberti is the most fascinating revolver I own and shoots nearly everything into 1" or less. The Colt hovers around 1.5" at best.

I'm using data from you article and Dave Scovill's book. I get around 1200 fps with the 220 GT Hollow Point over 2400. Mushrooms to nickel size at 50 yards.

Shooting the Uberti Flattop Target Revolvers is Therapy #1 for me...

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