I have not seen this ammo before and bought the box because of the "Hmmm" factor AND it was only $20 for a full box.

Remington Kleanbore Winchester 44-40 (44 WCF) ammo with a "160 grain mushroom bullet".  Say what?



These don't appear to be reloads, but an actual full factory box of ammo.  It is a jacketed hollow point.  The box is in pretty rough shape, including missing both end flaps.

Any vintage cartridge collectors out there?  Any idea about when these were made?  At $20, it was actually a good price for 44-40 ammo (I have an "El Tigre" 92-type carbine and a Colt New Service revolver).

Rob

Those were made sometime between 1946-1960.  The 'mushroom' describes what the bullet does when it expands and was part of the advertising at the time.  Remington would later use this term with their core-lokt bullets calling it the deadliest mushroom in the woods.

Nice score!

Very cool.

I was having little luck with straight Google-ing these rounds, but stumbled onto old Remington ammo catalogs.  Finally found this listed in 1937 to 1942!  But NOT in the next catalog in 1946 (that's what is available on the cartridge collector's website linked below).  The 1936 catalog shows a 140 gr "Mushroom" bullet for the 44-40, but apparently was changed to 160 gr for the next 6 years or so.

Remington 1941 Catalog, Page 14

So unless this was available later but uncatalogued (and not showing in the dealer price list), this ammo is pre-WWII!

Something else I found interesting...the 1937 catalog also lists the .43 Egyptian and .43 Spanish cartridges, but says they are being discontinued and are subject to quantity on hand.  Then they are both gone from the 1938 catalog.  Need me some of those!

Here's the site with all of the catalogs:  Remington Catalogs

Rob

Thought you might find this topic interesting. Congratulations on a very nice box

https://www.marlinowners.com/forum/team-44-40/151715-rem-umc-hi-speed-44-40-160-gr-mushroom-ctg-yesteryear.html

Like the old ammo.

That is a very cool find and the price was a steal. However, I would treat that as collectible, not for shooting. Note that it is high speed ammo. It is not safe to shoot in Winchester 1873s or handguns. It was intended for Winchester 1892s and Remington slide action rifles, both of which are considerably stronger than toggle-link locked rifles. It should be fine in your El Tigre. Under no circumstances should you fire it in your Colt.

As an aside, they may have balloon head cases. .44-40 was made with balloon head cases through the 1950s.

The Winchester 73' is/was not as weak as most somehow believe. When Winchester first offered Smokeless powder back in 1895 for the 44-40, the box specifically shows for use in the Winchester 73' with the Winchester 92' only being shown on the side label along with NOT FOR PISTOLS. Red label boxes indicated smokeless powder while green label boxes indicated black powder. Certainly no chance of confusion there. Obviously indicating the pistols were the "weak link" and not the 73'. Here is an excellent read http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,57837.msg735243.html#msg735243

Remington Hi Speed ammunition shouldn't be confused with Winchester's High Velocity ammunition. During the early 1900's Winchester's High Velocity ammunition was packaged in Lavender boxes with ".44-40 Winchester Model 92' Special" on the box but also added "LOW PRESSURE" while the 1910 era to 1938 High Velocity boxes had Yellow labels and produced 22,000cup, once again NOT FOR PISTOLS and NOT FOR THE 73'. Remington's High Velocity boxes indicated "safe for all firearms".

Modern 73's are chambered for the 357's 35,000psi pressures and the 44 magnum's 40,000cup pressures so I feel confident 22,000cup would be fine although I have no desire to shoot such loads in my 73'. That's what my Marlin 1894CB is for as well as my 20" MGM strain gauge fitted test barrel.

Winchester's colorful ammo boxes https://www.44winchestercenterfirecartridges.com/single-post/2018/12/01/Winchesters-Colorful-Cartridge-Boxes

Edited: High Velocity load box side labels specifically say NOT for Winchester 73's. Gotta watch that copy and paste option!

Thanks, guys, for reviving and adding to my thread!  I love old ammo.

Rob