Should I get a .40?

[smoothshooter]

I have a Tip Curtis .45 flint rifle with a swamped 38” barrel and sliding wood patch box. Shoots very well with about any powder charge from 25 to 80 grains.
Have wanted a .40 for decades.
I shoot a .433” ball in the .45. A .40 would use a ball around .390”, give or take .005”.
The difference between the two calibers is only around .050” +/- .
Don’t remember about the bullet weight difference.
Maybe that is the more important.
And I like that the .40 uses a little less lead and powder on average than the .45.
Is there enough of a difference to justify a new gun?
Is there enough of a power difference to justify another gun?

 

[user 31257]

Well no and no, but don’t let that stop you from getting one.

 

[Rod Man]

There is a thread going right now about the caliber. Flying by phone here let’s see if this works,

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/everything-40-cal-muzzleloader.149306/page-4#post-2107310
As far as the rifle goes, sounds like as good a reason as any I have heard.

You want one.

RM

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Honestly…in the times that we live in…why go through life with regrets. If you want it, and you can afford it…get it.

 

[deermanok]

Why not

 

[2 shots]

justify???????????????? just do it.....

 

[cynthialee]

You said you wanted one for decades...

There is no other reason than that. We don't get younger. If you can afford it get it!

 

[BlazingIron]

Get it! You only go around once in life.

 

[Fly Navy]

I think if its something you really want, go for it.

 

[1sgt]

I have three .40 cal. muzzleloaders. I have one setup with peep sights for matches that allow them. The other two are open sight rifles for open sight matches. For me the .40 cal. shoots good at 25, 50, and 100 yards. Perfect for target matches and small bore silhouette. I don't hunt. I have other calibers, .32 for fun, .36, .38, .45 for woodswalk and other steel targets, .50 and a .54. I shoot the .40's at Friendship and at local matches. Two of my .40's are Hoyt rebores with round bottom rifling. the other is a Green Mountain barrel. Part of the fun for me is to try to get the best accuracy from the rifle. The rest is up to me. If you find one that suits you I wouldn't hesitate. I have spent most of my life trying to justify everything I buy. Not being wasteful of time or money. I am 71 and retired and I just want to have fun doing what I like.

 

[BillRob]

Dude - If you have wanted something for decades, GO GET IT! It's not immoral; it's not unethical. It sounds like you can afford it - get it while you can!!

 

[Coinneach]

I have a Tip Curtis .45 flint rifle with a swamped 38” barrel and sliding wood patch box. Shoots very well with about any powder charge from 25 to 80 grains.
Have wanted a .40 for decades.
I shoot a .433” ball in the .45. A .40 would use a ball around .390”, give or take .005”.
The difference between the two calibers is only around .050” +\~. Don’t remember about the bullet weight difference.
Maybe that is the more important.
And I like that the .40 uses a little less lead and powder on average than the .45.
Is there enough of a difference to justify a new gun?
Is there enough of a power difference to justify another gun?

I have three .40 cal. muzzleloaders. I have one setup with peep sights for matches that allow them. The other two are open sight rifles for open sight matches. For me the .40 cal. shoots good at 25, 50, and 100 yards. Perfect for target matches and small bore silhouette. I don't hunt. I have other calibers, .32 for fun, .36, .38, .45 for woodswalk and other steel targets, .50 and a .54. I shoot the .40's at Friendship and at local matches. Two of my .40's are Hoyt rebores with round bottom rifling. the other is a Green Mountain barrel. Part of the fun for me is to try to get the best accuracy from the rifle. The rest is up to me. If you find one that suits you I wouldn't hesitate. I have spent most of my life trying to justify everything I buy. Not being wasteful of time or money. I am 71 and retired and I just want to have fun doing what I like.

Thank you sir I needed to read this, I have a .36, a 20 gauge Smooth bore, and currently building a Jim Chambers Isaac Haines in .50 (all Flintlocks).

I was lamenting the small difference between .36 and .40 but now feel a .40 will be worth the trouble and expense.

 

[olskool]

absolutely not! they are notoriously inaccurate and all of them are ugly too!

 

[Johnny Tremain]

Have one 45 cal. It prints using the Davenport Formula, A standard load is 54.5gr @ 1633fps
VS 75gr max load @ 2033fps.
Had to go with a 45, smallest legal hunting caliber here. Woulda got a 40.

 

[BigAl52]

Is there enough of a difference to justify a new gun?
Is there enough of a power difference to justify another gun?

This right here sounds like my wife. Go for it

 

[SDSmlf]

I have a Tip Curtis .45 flint rifle with a swamped 38” barrel and sliding wood patch box. Shoots very well with about any powder charge from 25 to 80 grains.
Have wanted a .40 for decades.
I shoot a .433” ball in the .45. A .40 would use a ball around .390”, give or take .005”.
The difference between the two calibers is only around .050” +/- .
Don’t remember about the bullet weight difference.
Maybe that is the more important.
And I like that the .40 uses a little less lead and powder on average than the .45.
Is there enough of a difference to justify a new gun?
Is there enough of a power difference to justify another gun?

Using your worries and logic one could also talk themself out of a 50 cal if they already have a 45. Or out of a 54 if they have a 50. It goes on……. Not to leave out the redundancy of two guns of the same caliber. Muzzleloaders, like many other things in life, come in a variety of flavors and sizes. If you can afford it, buy what you want. Or don’t and then lament about it for decades if you can keep waking up every day long enough.

Post photographs of your new 40 caliber when it arrives.

 

[wdtiffin]

If you know how many guns you have you don't have enough.

 

[Dave Dworshak]

You may save a couple cents to fire a round with a .40 to buy the rifle. ok!! why not get a .32 or a .36. its all ok

 

[sportster73hp]

You may save a couple cents to fire a round with a .40 to buy the rifle. ok!! why not get a .32 or a .36. its all ok

32 and 36 dont always knock down steel on a woods walk, get the 40.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

32 and 36 dont always knock down steel on a woods walk, get the 40.

I love my .32 calibre. It’s incredibly accurate. But on those metal targets…I need a spotter to tell if I hit or not. Just doesn’t have the OOMF of a bigger calibre.

I love my .40 calibre