On a regular basis.

Yes, why do you ask?
A great black powder cartridge!

I was reading about it on the web and don't see it mentioned hardly at all.

Either in the pistol or rifle areas.

Although not offered in tons of choices.
I was wonder who was using it and for what

When I was shooting Cowboy Action Shooting there were quite a few guys shooting this round. Check out the SASS Wire you may find info you are looking for from the cowboys there.
https://forums.sassnet.com/ind.../forum/12-sass-wire/

I have a family hand me down Winchester but I don’t shoot it on a regular basis. I’ve toyed with getting a companion revolver but that will likely wait until retirement when I have more free time.

One of the guys I shoot with every week shoots one on a regular basis.

Pretty much every month at Cowboy matches. Lots of smoke.

There's a plethora of these old black powder cartridges like .44-40 that still have small niche followings among BP or Cowboy enthusiasts. As a result, there are a few "old school" revolvers and lever action rifles still being produced today in these BP chamberings, and obviously a bunch of old guns chambered in them still out there.

But from the viewpoint of practicality, performance, firearm availability, or ammo availability, these various late-1800s black powder cartridges pale in comparison to more modern loadings. As a result, their popularity is quite limited. That's why you don't see much discussion about them today, outside of posts or forums dedicated to antique Old West guns or the Cowboy Action Shooting competitions.

.30-30 is probably the most popular of these old black powder loadings these days, and I'm sure you've heard of that one. Funnily enough, this has resulted in a chicken/egg situation, where .30-30 remains popular because it has been modernized and is widely available, and it has been modernized and widely available because it remains popular (unlike the other BP cartridges of its era).

But even .30-30's popularity is waning fast nowadays, as modern cartridges like .300 Blackout and 7.62x39 take over its "shorter ranged .30 caliber hunting round" territory.

I know a guy who rolls his own .44-40 using a hand press from circa 1880. It took a while to figure the gizmo out, but it does it all, decap, cap, size, bullet start, seat, and crimp. He even found a smokeless load with pressure data that lets him shoot indoors.

I cast bullets for it and load with blackpowder to shoot in an antique Colt SAA and Lightning rifle. I have one of the older Ideal all in one tools that I use for the mold but generally load the brass with standard dies. I also have a Winchester '73 in 38-40 that I will be loading for as soon as I get a mold. In addition to those, I also cast and load 45 Colt and 45 Schofield in BP.

I shoot several hundred rounds a year through a HRA "Original" Henry, a Winchester/Miroku SRC, a Colt "Frontier Six Shooter", and a Cimarron/Uberti Old Model.

I believe the 30/30 was one of the first cartridges designed for smokeless powder.

Of course! I have the only Spanish firearm I'd ever give 2 cents for-an El Tigre (copy of the 1892 Winchester)in excellent, excellent condition that shoots 'em all right where the front sight is pointed.

I had wanted an El Tigre since I was a youngster way before the GCA '68 passed, but never had the money. A friend pulled this one out a few years ago and I wouldn't leave till I bought it.

And I have a modern copy of a SAA that I got from Forum Member Armfel a few years ago.

I love the 44-40.

Bob

I never did shoot a lot of 44-40, but do load and shoot a ton of 38-40. No black powder for me.....been there--done that!!

I shoot between 1k-2k a year in CAS. I load mine with HP-38 and generally a 200gr bullet. I use mainly Starline and Winchester Brass. I have shoot them out of a Rossi SRC65, Uberti 1873 SR, Uberti 1873 pistol, and a Pietta 1873 pistol.

I am not sure what constitutes "a regular basis". I have a S&W 544 revolver, a Colt New Frontier in 44-40. I also have a Colt Sheriff's Model with both 44-40 and .44 Special cylinders. I also have a Cimarron copy of an 1873 Winchester in 44-40. I don't shoot them as much as my K-22, but I shoot them more than my Broomhandle Mauser. I don't shoot them as much as my S&W Model 28-2, but I shoot them more than my 03-A3 Springfield.

Good information ironworker,

So primarily target shooting only ,
No hunting use
I guess
Thanks to those who share