44 Colt

A

AzDP

Inactive
I have a 44 Magnum lever action rifle and was given a box 44 Colt ammunition. Does anyone know if I can shoot the 44 Colt out of my rifle? I know I can do 44 special, but not sure about the Colt, and I don't want to screw up my gun.
 
No. The 44 Colt uses a heeled bullet, the bullet is the same diameter as the outside of the case and is actually closer to .45 caliber. The .44 Mag on the other hand is actually a .429 or .43 caliber.
 
True, if it is antique ammunition.
BUT
There is a modern .44 Colt made for reproductions with standard .429" barrels and chambers for inside lubed bullets. It is the same case diameter as .44 Russian/Special/Magnum and length in between Russian and Special. Rim diameter is reduced for the conversions.

It would shoot ok in a .44 Magnum revolver, but I don't know if the length would feed and the narrow rim would extract in a lever action.
It won't blow it up, so if you want to risk the jam...
 
Add in to that mess that the SAAMI bore specs for the .44 Magnum rifle and 'pistol' are different...

Pistol .429" groove
Rifle .431" groove
 
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