Hard to Find 44-40 Ammo

[crolfe1984]

Looking for a local source for 44-40 ammo!

Didn't think it would be this hard to find, but the usual online sources like Midway, Brownells, etc. are out. Even some of the specialty cowboy action sites are out too.

Any tips for finding some local, or IPs/vendors that have 44-40 in-hand?

 

[TheOriginalMexicanBob]

You might give a try to Taylor's & Company in Winchester...it's been awhile since I was last there but they stocked it.

 

[linkstate]

I'm not sure if you are looking for fun/cowboy loads or hunting loads but:

Good luck. I'm setup to reload for it but like to keep some factory on hand. I just shoot that caliber for fun so I haven't looked for like Hornady hunting rounds.

Atlantic guns used to (usually) have a good supply of Black Hills in the 'cowboy calibers' but no 44-40 lately.

I also like Georgia Arms reloaders. I asked them at Nations about 44-40 and they told me they can't get brass. Sure enough, I can't find Starline 44-40 anywhere.

ETA: Forgot I saw Buffalo Bore has some if you need a little more than cowboy load power for about $54 for 20 rounds...

 

[crolfe1984]

I'm not sure if you are looking for fun/cowboy loads or hunting loads

Good question. This is for a lever action 1892, and I'm looking for target loads. Shooting it just for an original Western experience in a caliber that was correct for the time.

 

[crolfe1984]

You might give a try to Taylor's & Company in Winchester...it's been awhile since I was last there but they stocked it.

Just called them. Amazing collection of historic firearms, and they normally stock Black Hills 44-40, but they've been out for a month.

 

[linkstate]

Good question. This is for a lever action 1892, and I'm looking for target loads. Shooting it just for an original Western experience in a caliber that was correct for the time.

Gotcha. Same here. Check your PMs.

 

[JohnnyE]

OP, IIRC Georgia Arms, a commercial ammo loader/reloader, offers that caliber at their tables at the Nation's Gun Show in Chantilly. Check their website. I've shot a few dozen thousand rounds of their ammo w/o issue, and continue to do so. Check their website.

ETA: Sorry, I was ready/fire/aim. They show nothing, but check in from time-to-time.

 

[linkstate]

OP, IIRC Georgia Arms, a commercial ammo loader/reloader, offers that caliber at their tables at the Nation's Gun Show in Chantilly. Check their website. I've shot a few dozen thousand rounds of their ammo w/o issue, and continue to do so. Check their website.

ETA: Sorry, I was ready/fire/aim. They show nothing, but check in from time-to-time.

Agreed, they are good people and so is their ammo.

I mentioned up thread asking them at the last show about 44-40 and the guy told me they can’t get brass for it.

 

[The Saint]

Looking for a local source for 44-40 ammo!

Didn't think it would be this hard to find, but the usual online sources like Midway, Brownells, etc. are out. Even some of the specialty cowboy action sites are out too.

Any tips for finding some local, or IPs/vendors that have 44-40 in-hand?

I got plenty of 44-40 BP sub authentic target loads readily available. Sent PM...one of my favorite cartridges and one I've spent a ton of time behind developing. If anyone needs 44-40, I can sort you all out and have plenty to spare. Just PM me...

 

[crolfe1984]

Can't thank the community enough! Lots of PMs and replies. Found a local source and picked up 150 rounds. I'll surely keep the brass for possible reloading later on.

 

[Biggfoot44]

OP, IIRC Georgia Arms, a commercial ammo loader/reloader, offers that caliber at their tables at the Nation's Gun Show in Chantilly. Check their website. I've shot a few dozen thousand rounds of their ammo w/o issue, and continue to do so. Check their website.

ETA: Sorry, I was ready/fire/aim. They show nothing, but check in from time-to-time.

It was mentioned up thread also ; Georgia Arms availability at any moment is constrained by their availability of components , particularly less common brass .

 

[JohnnyE]

It was mentioned up thread also ; Georgia Arms availability at any moment is constrained by their availability of components , particularly less common brass .

We're all resource-constrained

All I know is their 148 grain .38 special wadcutters have won me and a friend some competitions, their .40 S&W TMJ ammo is flawless in 25K rounds or so of practice sessions, and their 9mm works great in my class 3 SMG's. Keep an eye on these cats.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Oh , definitely good ammo . Just spotty and intermittent available of ( other than 3 most popular loads each . for 5 or 6 most popular cals ) .

But they do actually try , and are *willing * to load them as they get dribbles of components.

 

[Bryan Austin]

Factory 44-40 is definitely getting scarce and extremely expensive. Starline failed me my last backorder, no telling now when I will get some new brass.
50 round Cowboy ammo was $45 before Biden, now $100-$175
50 round Hunting ammo was $75 before Biden, now $150-$200
Primers are non-existent unless you want to pay $200 on what used to be $35
Powder is next
My shooting has all but stopped except for varmints and deer.

Oh, just royally screwed up my first hunt this year with the 73'
Hopefully I'll get another chance at the big one.

 

[crolfe1984]

Factory 44-40 is definitely getting scarce and extremely expensive. Starline failed me my last backorder, no telling now when I will get some new brass.
50 round Cowboy ammo was $45 before Biden, now $100-$175

Just when 9mm is coming back down to planet earth, I pickup a few guns that are reminders that ammo is expensive. 45ACP is still high, 50AE is plain stupid, and now 44-40 is $$$ if you can even find it!

 

[Bryan Austin]

Just when 9mm is coming back down to planet earth, I pickup a few guns that are reminders that ammo is expensive. 45ACP is still high, 50AE is plain stupid, and now 44-40 is $$$ if you can even find it!

Yeap. Just looked at gunbroker and most are even higher now....brass is $1 per case, use to get 100 for $25

To much of an increase for my paycheck to justify

 

[Naptown34]

I got a couple boxes of factory 44 mag for sale in the classifieds.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[TheOriginalMexicanBob]

Just when 9mm is coming back down to planet earth, I pickup a few guns that are reminders that ammo is expensive. 45ACP is still high, 50AE is plain stupid, and now 44-40 is $$$ if you can even find it!

At the last Frederick gun show I attended I found two boxes of .44-40 from different vendors. Both were older production...maybe 20-30 years old from the box art. One vendor wanted $100 and the other wanted $125. I left them both.

 

[The Saint]

44-40 has been uncommon for many years, a specialists and reloaders cartridge. If you don't reload, there is absolutely no practical reason to buy a 44-40 over a .45Colt in today's market. That being said, I own and load for both, and love both pretty much equally. As I've said...if anyone needs Black Powder 44-40 loads, I have ya covered.

 

[TheOriginalMexicanBob]

The only piece I have I shoot .44-40 is a Colt New Frontier in that caliber and a .44 Special cylinder. .44 Special is much easier to find so that's what I shoot. The .44-40 cylinder seems to get no love as it just sits and waits to be fired.