Why wasn't 45 Colt used in original Leverguns?
Original .45 Colt cartridges were unsuitable for lever-action rifles due to their small rims, causing extraction problems. The .44-40, with its shoulder and thin neck, offered superior sealing against black powder fouling. The evolution of lever-action cartridges progressed from the Rocket Ball and .44 Henry Rimfire to the .44-40, which became the standard Winchester cartridge.









