Cartridge comparison
.38-40 Winchester vs .45 Colt
.38-40 Winchester and .45 Colt are both in the reference; see the full spec comparison below.
Side by side
| .38-40 Winchester | .45 Colt | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Pistol | Revolver |
| Introduced | 1874 | 1872 |
| Bullet diameter | 0.4004″ | 0.452″ |
| Case length | 1.3051″ | 1.285″ |
| Max pressure | 14,000 psi | 14,000 psi |
| Recoil | 3.5–5.5 ft·lb | 10–25 ft·lb |
| Effective range | 50 yd | 100 yd |
Highlighted cells hold the clear edge where both sides have a number. Every figure is a range maximum from the reference; typical loads run lower.
Case profiles, to scale
Drawn to the same scale, so the proportions are true. Physical size varies with your screen.