I don't know much about the different ammo out there.

Is .44/40 the same cartridge for rifles and revolvers or is there a slight difference. Thinking of getting another levergun but in .44/40 and having a revolver that could use the same ammo would be nice.

what about the .45 ammo?

Whether Remchester full factory loads or anyone's "cowboy" loads, they are all rifle OR pistol compatible. The "high velocity" or "rifle only" loads were discontinued many years ago.
.45 ? Colt, ACP, S&W?

Whether Remchester full factory loads or anyone's "cowboy" loads, they are all rifle OR pistol compatible. The "high velocity" or "rifle only" loads were discontinued many years ago.
.45 ? Colt, ACP, S&W?


I guess Colt. Isn't that what most .45 single action revolvers use?

Yes. Standard loads sling a 250gr bullet at about 800-850fps. "Cowboy" loads use either a 200 or 250gr bullet at about 700 to 750fps. There are a few special loads for LARGE FRAME RUGERS ONLY by companies such as Buffalo Bore that offer 300gr bullets at 1000+ fps. Again, these are NOT for Colts or Colt copies.
I can see that you are not a handloader and that will make almost any volume of shooting cost prohibitive for you. Why not think about a combination of guns that will take the .357 mag and .38 Special. You can find bargains on these rounds all the time. Use .357's for hunting and .38s for plinking and practice. If you are determined to stay with the big bores, I'd advise the .45 caliber and give serious thought to becoming a handloader. Its a simple and safe hobby with the proper guidance. No, it won't truly save you money, but it will allow you to shoot three or four times as much for the same cash outlay.
Either way, I'd wait on getting any .44-40's. Ammo is more difficult to find and higher priced when you do. Even if you begin to handload, this round is for those with a little experience under their belt. BOL

Even if you begin to handload, this round is for those with a little experience under their belt. BOL
Good advice from Blackhawk, the .44-40 is a fine cartridge and also one that has to be handloaded meticulously. The problem being the casemouth is very thin and if the bullet is not positioned almost perfectly, the reloader runs the risk of crushing or crumpling the casemouth when seating the bullet. There is simply not enough brass there to help guide the bullet into the case. Should the bullet be successfully seated without damaging the casemouth, any excessive runout can lead to chambering problems with tight chambers. It is one of the most tedious handgun cartridges I have ever reloaded.
If you are not an experienced handloader, you would be far better off shooting a rifle/revolver combination chambered for the .38 Special/.357 Magnum cartridges. These are readily found and often on sale whereas the .44-40 is not. Should you insist upon shooting the .44-40 and not reload, I will be most happy to shoot along side of you and pick up any once fired brass that you choose to discard. ;)

One more vote for the 38/357, for versatility and ease of reloading. One more note on the 44-40, most take a 427 bullet, but it can vary from 425 up, so you need to measure both your cylinder mouths and barrel groves to get the proper size bullets DM

Could you hunt deer with a .357/.38 special?
I think the last gun I used to hunt deer with was a .270. how does that compare to a .357?

I haven't gone deer hunting in several years but if i decided to pick it up again, i would like to hunt with a lever gun.

You bet! With a good 158-180 grain SP, you're good out to about 100-125 yards if you point it right. In a long gun, its closer to a .30-30 than most folks realize. The majority of field problems encountered are with pilot error, not equipment failure, a problem we should all work to alleviate.