DesertRanger

Thanks for the sound advice. Although the receiver plate screw didn’t want to budge, I carefully kept at it and got it out. The link joints and associated parts were in remarkable condition, but I’m glad you suggested that precaution. I took the old girl to the indoor range just now and fired away. She shoots and cycles like a dream and grouped well, at 25 yards, anyway. Shout out to the Marine in Oneida who sold me 90 rds of 44-40 on Saturday- thank you!

Sometimes when I ask for advice, I already know the answer I’m looking for. Thank you, gentlemen- “shoot it!” Is the answer I was looking for. I’ll order some Bullseye powder and try to locate some brass. I’ll post the results. I’ve been obsessed with this rifle since I was a kid and first saw Jimmy Stewart in the namesake movie.

I have a Winchester 1873 in 44-40 and I really want to take it to the range, but I would like some advice. First, the stock is intact and not cracked, and I’d like to keep it that way- I’d hate to crack it because I shot it. The bore is bright and rifling seems adequate. The action is smooth and everything seems okay there. My second question is about ammo- assuming I can fire it safely, what powder would be best to use to load rounds for it? I thought the 44-40 was originally a black powder round, so I’m assuming my powder selection would be limited. Thanks.

After the Black Talons went away, we were issued the HydraShock rounds. Good ammunition.

I’m a former backcountry ranger at Rocky Mountain NP and Mesa Verde NP, and on the bear management team at both. Our duty weapon in the early 1990s was a S&W 686, 4” .357mag. We carried the old Black Talon rounds. In 1995 we switched to Sig and we were issued P229 in 9mm or, if we purchased our own -which I did- we could carry P229 in .40, or P220 .45 acp. I chose the P220 with Black Talon rounds. A ranger buddy of mine worked in Alaska. When we had revolvers, Alaska rangers could choose .44 mag S&W and they carried 870 pump 12ga with slugs for the big bears. When we switched to Sig, he chose a P220 in .45. All said, I’m inclined to carry my .357. It’s been on my hip in mid, rain, snow, ice, on foot, horseback, ATV, and I never had a worry about a malfunction. For black bears our orders were , in order: noise, pepper spray, cracker shot, and if none of those worked, 12 ga slug to dispatch the animal. Animal attacks are very rare, but when they happen, they typically happen without warning, so whatever you carry, it should be accessible. You know how the movies show a mountain lion growling to announce its attack? That never happens. In Colorado my concern was always lions. And most bear problems are caused by people who approach the animal too closely, or attempt to feed it-I’ve seen some people take crazy chances for a picture.

Thank you for your replies to my post. I have accepted that the rifle is a wall hanger. It’s a good decoration, anyway.

I recently acquired a family collection that includes a Kentucky long rifle and I’m fascinated with the prospect of firing it. On the practical side, I don’t know if it might have a powder charge loaded. The mechanism is dated 1838 and has some corrosion. Does anyone know a gunsmith knowledgeable enough to check it out? Finding a gunsmith is proving a challenge in Knoxville. I know it’s a longshot- almost 200 years old.