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44-40 Ammo

Old-School Roots. Real-World Performance.

Old West doesn’t mean “old performance.” The 44-40 ammo (aka .44-40 Winchester) is one of the original do-it-all American calibers: lever gun, six-gun, and a whole lot of history in between. It was built for black powder days, but it still shines today when you want a smooth-shooting, easy-handling load that feels right in classic rifles and revolvers.

  • 44-40 Winchester 200 gr Ammo
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    44-40 Winchester 200gr Cowboy RNFP 50 Count

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Why Choose 44-40 Winchester Ammo

Here’s why .44-40 Winchester ammunition refuses to die:

  • Classic lever gun + revolver pairing: One caliber, two platforms when your rifle and revolver share the same chambering, life gets simple.
  • Easy recoil, big fun: 44-40 ammo is friendly on the shoulder and the hand. Great for long-range sessions without getting beat up.
  • Old-school reliability: The design has been proving itself for well over a century. It’s not trendy. It’s tried-and-true.
  • Perfect for “heritage” firearms: If you shoot vintage-style guns, 44-40 ammo just fits the look, the feel, the whole experience.

At Steinel Ammo, we don’t write fairy tales about “legendary stopping power.” We build 44-40 Winchester ammo for what this caliber does best: reliable function, clean shooting, and the kind of accuracy that makes range days and cowboy matches a whole lot more fun.

Recommended Uses & Load Selection for 44-40 Ammo

If you’re buying 44-40 ammo, you’re usually doing one (or more) of these: range time, cowboy action, or running a lever gun the way it was meant to be run: fast, smooth, and grin-inducing.

Steinel 44-40 Load: 200gr Cowboy RNFP (50 Count)

This is a purpose-built “load” for classic guns: simple, consistent, and easy to shoot.

  • Bullet: 200gr Cast & Coated RNFP
  • Velocity: ~750 FPS (6″ barrel)
  • Brass: New Starline
  • Powder: Hodgdon
  • Primer: CCI
  • Use case: Light plinking through revolvers or lever guns (exactly what it was made for)

Why this load works: RNFP profiles tend to feed well in lever guns, and the light recoil makes it a great choice for volume shooting, practice, and match-style work where control matters more than brute force.

FAQs: 44-40 Ammo

Q1: What is 44-40 ammo and what is it used for?
A: 44-40 ammo is a classic American caliber known for lever guns and revolvers. Today, it’s most commonly used for range shooting, cowboy action, and general fun with heritage-style firearms.

Q2: Can 44-40 ammo be used in both rifles and revolvers?
A: Yes, as long as the firearm is chambered in .44-40 Winchester. It’s one of the reasons the caliber became such a legend: the same ammo can run in a lever gun and a revolver (when both are chambered for 44-40).

Q3: What bullet weight is most common for 44-40 Winchester?
A: 200 grain is the classic, most common bullet weight you’ll see in 44-40 Winchester ammo, especially in traditional/cowboy-style loads.

Q4: What is the difference between 44-40 and .45 Colt?
A: They’re both classic. 44-40 is typically a bottleneck case design (great history with lever guns). .45 Colt is typically a straight-wall case. They also differ in bullet diameter, case shape, and common factory load profiles, so don’t treat them as interchangeable.

Q5: Is modern 44-40 ammo safe to use in antique firearms?
A: Antique guns vary wildly in condition, metallurgy, and headspace. It is always advisable to confirm the exact chambering marked on the barrel. Use standard-pressure ammo appropriate to the firearm. Lastly, get it checked by a competent gunsmith.