oneatatime wrote on Aug 3^rd, 2021 at 6:23pm:


I am not familiar with the .406 40 but how about opening up a 303 Savage to 40?  Being a 99 fan from way back I have a soft sopt for the 303.  I also have a supply of brass and a set of dies.  The base of the 303 is a smidge wider than the 30-30.  According to Gail at CPA, the 44 1/2 barrel shank will tolerate the 303 Savage, which is a barrel I intend on getting for 30-cal work.  Thanks for sparking some thought here!

From what I understand the Stevens 44 1/2 is 1/8-inch wider than the 044 1/2 and 1/8-inch narrower than the CPA 44 1/2.  And that CPA enlarged the Stevens to bring it in line with the dimensions of the 1885 Winchester, including the diameter of the barrel shank.  My rifle is a Stevens and not CPA 44 1/2 and I am sure the barrel shank would not support the .348.

Cbashooter wrote on Aug 4^th, 2021 at 12:46am:

 
Eh, no biggie and thanks for jumping in

Is there any of the bullet inside the case on that .38-50??

That's what I've been wondering too.  But not only the length but also the base diameter.  The 38-55 has a base diameter of 0.421 and that might be all the barrel shank of a 44 1/2 can take.  The length of the 38-55 case is 2.085 and the COAL is 2.510.  Does the 38-50 Remington exceed this?

So if stuck with the 38-55 in the 44 1/2 I have another question to ask.  All my previous cast bullet experiece in rifles has been in 30-caliber guns where this question never came up.  When pushing cast bullets to their maximum range, does it require a larger diameter bullet?  In other words, is lead the imiting factor in this technology and the only way to get more range is to go with a larger caliber cartride?  It seems that way to me because the guys who are shooting long range seem to be doing it with 40-caliber guns and larger.  I don't see case capacity being the issue with the 38-55 as though I have been a long time admirer of the round I have never had anything chambered in it and I cannot see the case ever getting filled up with any smokeless powder - BP maybe.  At least I never filed a 30-06, 30-40 Krag or 303 Savage case with smokeless when I was using them for cast bullet shooting in the past.

Ranch13 wrote on Aug 4^th, 2021 at 11:24am:


A few post back I mentioned 303 Savage and I had a conversation with Gail at CPA months ago where she said the 44 1/2 was capable of chambering that round.  The 303 Savage has a larger base diameter than the 30-30 based cartridges.  However I need to double check this with her as well as the capabilities of the 44 1/2 to chamber a 303 Brit and 30-40 Krag.

But oh well, if the 38-50 will not work in the 44 1/2 then maybe that's reason well enough to scratch a rolling block itch!

Dellet wrote on Aug 4^th, 2021 at 11:41am:


Both.  Having said that it looks to me like the 38-55 is it for the 44 1/2.  But there's a bunch of this stuff I know little about.