Where have all the 40's gone?

[THOM]

Pete Seeger wrote it.... :snore: :snore:

 

[CoyoteJoe]

Actually, I don't think "where have they gone" is quite the right question. I don't recall there ever being a lot of factory made .40 calibers. T/C made a limited run of their "Cleland" model and Dixie Gun works, that's about it for mass produced .40's.

 

[TN.Frank]

IIRC DGW's first "KY Rifle" came out in 40cal and it seems that they used to stock at least 3 or 4 different rifles in that caliber.
I think of the 40cal as the ".243 Win." of the muzzle loading world. Many people don't think that the .243 is enough gun for deer yet every year many fall to this caliber. Shot placement is everything when hunting and having an accurate rifle and keeping your shots close(under 50 yrds.) one should have no problem killing a deer with a 40 cal. Plus, if you don't see any deer you can take a few squrriel or rabbits and not tear em' up as bad as with a 50 cal or larger. For plinkin' the 40 will give you about twice as many balls per lb. as with a 50 cal. Powder is about half as well. It's a much cheaper caliber to shoot, still can take a deer with proper shot placement and is an excellent small game gun.
I think the 40cal, just like the ol' 41 Mag., deserves more of a look by mass production muzzle loading manufactures. Every KY style gun that's in 45 could be made in 40 cal too with just a simple barrel change, it would cost the manufactures next to zero to do, just buy the barrel stock.
I guess for the time being going with a semi-custom is about the only way to go.

 

[Swampman]

I can't see any use for anything smaller than a .50.

 

[CrackStock]

Louisiana and several other states have adopted an attitude that limits what they term "Crossover hunting" which means that they want you to hunt one type of game at any given time rahter than shooting targets of opportunity. They also do not want you to shoot a deer with an undersized ball, but will permit you to shoot one with a .22 LR!!! I agree that the .40 is under powered for deer, but the hypocrisy annoys me.

On the other hand, there is a back door. By Louisiana state law the caliber of the gun is whatever is stamped on the barrel. No other testing is performed on the balls carried or the bore. :rotf:

As to people not making rifles in .40, Matt Avance of TVM, Mike Brooks or Tip Curtis could set you up if kit building is not your thing.

I have 3 rifles in .40 at the moment and like them all. I also cobbled them all together and will scrupulously comply with state law when I return to Louisiana! Yup, still got some stamps from Harbor Freight for just that purpose. :winking:

On the other hand, I also have a great .36 and plan to build another before long, so maybe I will just use those.

CS

 

[capnwilliam]

On the other hand, there is a back door. By Louisiana state law the caliber of the gun is whatever is stamped on the barrel! :rotf:

I have 3 rifles in .40 at the moment and like them all. I also cobbled them all together and will scrupulously comply with state law when I return to Louisiana! Yup, still got some stamps from Harbor Freight for just that purpose. :winking:

CS

Crackstock, you are a rascal! :applause:

Capt. William

 

Hmmmm...there is nothing stamped on the barrels of my longrifles--what do they (F&G Officers) do in that case? My .40 shoots a .395 ball--does that make it legal for small game? I think I'll stick with the rules for now and use my .45 or .50 for deer and .32 for small game. Hopefully you won't encounter a dedicated officer with a bore gauge!