What twist rate does .44-40 Winchester use?

.44-40 Winchester typically uses a 1:36 twist rate.

What bullet diameter is .44-40 Winchester?

.44-40 Winchester uses a 0.4272″ (10.85 mm) diameter bullet.

Is .44-40 Winchester still in production?

.44-40 Winchester is active; typical availability is common.

What is .44-40 Winchester used for?

.44-40 Winchester is primarily used for cowboy action, self-defense.

What are the best powders for .44-40 Winchester?

Reloading powders commonly listed for .44-40 Winchester include No. 2, Universal, HP-38, Herco, among 6 suitable options.

Lindcott Armory

Pistol · SAAMI

.44-40 Winchester

Also known as .44 WCF · .44-40 WCF · 44-40

The original Winchester-Colt cartridge — the first designed to work in both a lever-action rifle and a revolver.

Caliber: 0.4272″ · 10.85 mm
Introduced: 1873
Case: Rimmed
Primary use: Cowboy Action, Self-Defense
Status: Active

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VelocityBeing verified

EnergyBeing verified

Typical grains200 · 205 · 225 gr

Identity

Introduced: 1873
Type: Pistol
Origin: United States
Inventor: Winchester
Manufacturer: Winchester Repeating Arms
Standard: SAAMI
Status: Active
Availability: Common

Build

Case capacity: 40 gr H₂O
Twist (typical): 1:36
Primer: Large Pistol
Case type: Rimmed

Pressure & range

Max pressure: 11,000 psi
Eff. range: 100 yd
Max range: 300 yd
Recoil: 6–10 ft·lb
Subsonic: Capable

Introduced by Winchester Repeating Arms

Ballistics

Published velocity/energy data isn't available for .44-40 Winchester.

Performance

Best for Withheld until verified

Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds

Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.

CIP TDCC · approximate

Measure	mm	in	✓
Bullet ⌀	10.85	0.427	✓
Neck ⌀	11.25	0.443	✓
Shoulder ⌀	11.60	0.457	✓
Shoulder angle	4°	—	~
Base ⌀	11.97	0.471	✓
Rim ⌀	13.34	0.525	✓
Belt ⌀	n/a
Rim thickness	1.65	0.065	✓
Neck length	7.36	0.290	≈
Case length	33.15	1.305	✓
Overall length	40.44	1.592	✓

Size vs familiar rounds

Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. .44-40 Winchester is highlighted below.

Factory loads

Verification

Being verified

Advertised FPS, energy, and BC are withheld until loads clear verification.

Suitable powders

6 reloading powders listed for .44-40 Winchester, fastest to slowest. Cross-reference in the finder →

Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory

Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.

Powder $/lb Charge (gr) Bullet $/ea Primer $/ea Brass reuses Brass $/ea

Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.

Firearms chambered in .44-40 Winchester

12 models in the database chamber .44-40 Winchester. Browse all →

Henry Repeating Arms Big Boy X Model .44-40 Win 17.4-inchHenry Repeating Arms Big Boy Carbine .44-40 Win 16.5-inchHenry Repeating Arms Big Boy Side Gate .44-40 Win 20-inchHenry Repeating Arms Henry Big Boy .44-40 Win 20-inchWinchester Repeating Arms Model 1892 Deluxe .44-40 Win 24-inchHenry Repeating Arms Big Boy Steel .44-40 Win 20-inch StainlessWinchester Model 1873 Deluxe Sporter 45 Colt 24-inchHenry Repeating Arms Frontier .44-40 Win 24-inchChiappa Firearms 1892 Trapper TakedownWinchester Repeating Arms Model 1873 Sporter .44-40 Win 24-inchWinchester Repeating Arms Model 1892 .44-40 Win 24-inchWinchester Repeating Arms Model 1873 Lever Action .44-40 Win 20-inch

Lineage

Family TreeOpen .44-40 Winchester in the interactive cartridge family tree

Connected reference

Loads50 factory loads for .44-40 Winchester Reloading6 suitable powders — cross-reference FirearmsFirearms in .44-40 Winchester

History

Introduced with the Winchester Model 1873 — 'The Gun That Won the West.' Colt chambered the Single Action Army for it in 1878 at customer request, creating the first rifle-revolver pair sharing a cartridge. Became the most popular cartridge in the American West by the 1880s. Billy the Kid, Pat Garrett, and Buffalo Bill all used rifles chambered for it.

FAQs

What twist rate does .44-40 Winchester use?: .44-40 Winchester typically uses a 1:36 twist rate.
What bullet diameter is .44-40 Winchester?: .44-40 Winchester uses a 0.4272″ (10.85 mm) diameter bullet.
Is .44-40 Winchester still in production?: .44-40 Winchester is active; typical availability is common.
What is .44-40 Winchester used for?: .44-40 Winchester is primarily used for cowboy action, self-defense.
What are the best powders for .44-40 Winchester?: Reloading powders commonly listed for .44-40 Winchester include No. 2, Universal, HP-38, Herco, among 6 suitable options.

Sources & provenance

Standard SAAMI — SAAMI cartridge & chamber drawing — .44-40 Winchester archived
Standard C.I.P. — C.I.P. TDCC — Tables of Dimensions of Cartridges and Chambers
Standard SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute) — ANSI/SAAMI Z299.4 – 2015 (Centerfire Rifle) — Velocity & Pressure / Cartridge & Chamber Drawings · grain_ballistics, representative_gun archived
Manufacturer Winchester Ammunition — Super-X Rifle — 44-40 Winchester 200 gr Power-Point (X4440) · grain_ballistics, representative_gun archived
Manufacturer Magtech — 44-40 WIN 225GR LFN (4440B) · grain_ballistics, representative_gun archived

Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 39 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →