Rifle · Proprietary
.40-60 Winchester
Winchester Model 1876 and Model 1886 black powder cartridge for large North American game; popular in the American Northwest for elk and bear..
- Caliber
- 0.406″ · 10.312 mm
- Introduced
- 1884
- Case
- Rimmed
- Status
- Discontinued
- Introduced
- 1884
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- Winchester
- Standard
- Proprietary
- Status
- Discontinued
- Availability
- Rare
- Primer
- Berdan Large Rifle
- Case type
- Rimmed
- Max pressure
- 22,000 psi
- Eff. range
- 150 yd
Ballistics
Velocity only, no drag model: no published ballistic coefficient is on file for .40-60 Winchester, so this is the shape gravity alone gives the advertised velocity. Drag would steepen it. The tool below solves real loads through their published G1 or G7 model.
Open in Ballistic Compare- Parent case
- —
Representative trajectory — modeled from a single velocity input (no published BC for this cartridge yet).
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
SAAMI · approximate| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 10.31 | 0.406 | ~ |
| Neck ⌀ | — | — | |
| Shoulder ⌀ | — | — | |
| Shoulder angle | — | — | |
| Base ⌀ | 11.61 | 0.457 | ~ |
| Rim ⌀ | 12.88 | 0.507 | ~ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | — | — | |
| Neck length | — | — | |
| Case length | 47.82 | 1.883 | ~ |
| Overall length | 56.90 | 2.240 | ~ |
Missing a dimension for .40-60 Winchester? Some case measurements aren't in a published SAAMI/CIP drawing yet. Have a factory or reamer print? Send it → — verified hard-to-find data earns a free Lindcott sticker.
Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.
Firearms chambered in .40-60 Winchester
7 models in the database chamber .40-60 Winchester. Browse all →
Connected reference
History
Developed for the Winchester Model 1876 in 1884, the .40-60 was also offered in the Model 1886. It was a popular hunting cartridge in the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain regions for elk, bear, and other large game during the black powder era. Less common than the .45-70 and .45-60 but well-regarded for its effectiveness.
FAQs
- What bullet diameter is .40-60 Winchester?
- .40-60 Winchester uses a 0.406″ (10.312 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .40-60 Winchester still in production?
- .40-60 Winchester is discontinued; typical availability is rare.
Sources & provenance
- Manufacturer Buffalo Arms Co. — 40-60 Winchester Black Powder Ammo (.406" 210 gr) · bullet ⌀, grain weights archived
- Secondary Wolfe Publishing / LoadData.com (Brian Pearce) — Handloading the .40-60 WCF — Brian Pearce · velocity, grain weights, bullet ⌀ archived
- Secondary Wikipedia (pointer) — .40-60 Winchester · year, velocity archived
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →