M92 44-40?

[GRV01]

Found one of these at a gunshow last weekend, my first show ever. Wish i liked black guns more it wouldve been great, but while looking for Rossis of any kind i only found two: one if the youth models in 410/22LR and a 92 in 44-40.

I know they did a run of these a few years ago, are they rare now? Sought after much?

[Archer]

Rare is relative. I've seen a few.
Sought after depends as well. There's a segment of folks who like the old cartridges and there's nothing wrong with that.

I personally decided I'd go with the more modern chambering in .44 Mag and .357 on the theory that anything I loaded to spec for those two calibers could be shot in any gun so marked.
You can 'hot' load a 92 action and the .44-40 was available in a 92 only loading but putting that same load in a matching Colt was frowned upon.

So, IMO if you want one it's sought after. If not then it doesn't much matter if other folks want it a lot.

Speaking of black rifles, I had my White Oak barreled AR-15 and my AR-10 AeroPrecision builds out on Thursday after work and I need some practice with them but at 100 yards they weren't bad at all.
My boss was having some issues holding on target. I was able to see at least some of my shots impacting the target (plane bullseye target) in the 9X Leupolds each gun wears or using 7X binoculars. He couldn't pick them out that way and was having problems both holding steady and drawing a fine bead even with the scope.

[Ohio3Wheels]

I personally wouldn't mind having a 44-40 even knowing up front what a PITA it can be to reload, case mouths are thin and mangle easy, but then I did 32-20 for IHMSA field pistol competition so I have a little feel for the situation. Right now I'm concentrating on the 38-55 project and hunting loads for next fall. So maybe sometime in the future, but I've not seen any '92s in 44-40 around here.

Make smoke,

[44WCF]

I sure like mine. Rare? Maybe, it's the only one I've seen. Sought after? I don't think so much. Probably why Rossi didn't build too many. Buying was more a matter of opertunity than seeking, I came across it at an auction and got a real nice price on a NIB old-stock unit. I do kind of like that it's an authentic 92 chambering.

People like to knock the WCF cartridges for the thin mouth and say they are hard to reload, I say they have probably never tried them. I find them to load just fine with no special treatment. I made up a load that works well for deer using 2400 and a 200gr XTP, 1800fps. The wife likes to carry this rifle and I can't blame her, it's a sweet little package. Her and I have each taken a deer with that load.

[Trailboss]

The 44-40 is a pretty rare bird along with the 480 Ruger. Either one is a good find if one happens onto it.

[Silverspruce]

Rossi 92s in .44-40 are scarce if not rare because they didn't manufacture too many. That said, those who ding the old cartridge as obsolete or underpowered don't understand modern reloading and components. If you use Starline .44-40 brass, which is stronger than Remington or Winchester, Hodgdon Lil Gun powder with a 200 grain Hornady xtp jacketed bullet, it performs very close to a .44 magnum. I load 25 grains of Lil Gun with the xtp 200 grain bullet in my 20" Rossi 92, and get 1975 fps across the chronograph. Accuracy at 100 yards with a peep sight is about 2" - 3", which is about as good as my old eyes can do. That load is warm, but not overpressure, feeding and extraction good, and I get 7 or 8 reloadings out of cases. This load should NOT be used in Winchester 73 rifles or reproductions nor in Colt-stye revolvers. It requires a good strong Rossi 92 or Winchester 92 or Marlin lever action.