.40 cal pistol

[Don]

I've been hankerin for a new pistol for a while now and I saw an old Dixie gunworks pistol in .40 cal on line. Do any of you guys have a pistol in .40? If so what loads do you shoot in it and how does it perform?

Thanks,

Don

 

[Zonie]

I own a .40 caliber pistol which is superbly accurate.
That doesn't mean that another .40 caliber gun would also be accurate. There are just too many things that accuracy depends on.

I built my .40 after the fashion of a French dueling pistol using a 3/4 inch Vernon C. Davis pistol barrel and a old plastic model gun for a guide.

The Vernon C. Davis company was bought by Stonewall Creek Outfitters www.stonewallcreekoutfitters.com

Getting back to the Dixie gunworks pistol, it may be great but because I don't own one I can't say if it is a good pistol or not.

 

[Don]

What kind of powder charges do you load in your .40? What would you consider max load?

Don

 

[Zonie]

I shot this group with 20 grains of Swiss 3Fg powder under a patched .395 Hornady roundball.

A 24 grain powder load opened up the group but some patch shredding was evident perhaps because the barrel was brand new and not broken in.

I must confess that after 5 years, the barrel is still not broken in because when I go to the range I seem to forget to take this gun with me.

 

[Don]

Thanks, and BTW that is a very sweet pistol you have there and sweet groups to boot.

Don