Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers Where is the 405 win ammo?

I have seen more 1895 Winchester rifles online and in the wild in the last year than ever.
Where is the ammo for these new rifles? It just doesn't make any sense.

Gojoe.
Maybe the Win 1895 shooters are all ammo reloaders?

Do they make them in .556, .308, or 350 Legend? If they don’t, ammo is tough to come by.

I don't doubt that they need to be. But the want to buy adds show a big demand for ammo and brass.
Locally the gun shops all seem to have rifles, but no ammo for them.

Any rumors about Hornady making a run of 405 ammo or brass?

Interesting situation for sure. I contacted Hornady about brass and they informed me it is forever discontinued. They did tell me a run of ammo was planned “in the future”. What that means is anyone’s guess. So, if a production run happens no choice but to buy ammo and save the brass.
Also contacted Winchester. They told me they haven’t produced 405 ammo in decades and had zero plans to do it in the future. Next I asked them why they still produce 405 rifles if no ammo was being produced, they never answered me.
Also contacted Bertran. Their answer was they were also planning a production run of brass, in the future.

We need to keep on bugging Hornady, Bertran, and Winchester. Otherwise we will not see it soon. I also put a bug in Starline’s ear asking them to make some. If shooters sit on their azz and don’t make emails or telephone calls no one is going to produce any.

You can find ammo if you are persistent. But it isn’t inexpensive. I managed to pick up 5 boxes of Hornady ammo in the last 6 weeks.

That’s good info, Snowwolfe.

Bertram makes a living supplying oddball cases, so sooner or later he’ll make a run. If it’s in reasonable demand, Starline might start making brass.

Hornady seems to have abandoned several levergun calibres by discontinuing bullets. They still list a 300gr pill for the 405, so if you don’t cast your own I’d be stocking up on jacketed pills.

Interesting === sounds as if someone does not like the .405 being so successful on big game!
Mine handily dispatched this Cape Buff in Africa. It is a very effective cartridge, so why kill it?

I wrote to and received a response from Starline brass this morning. In a nut shell, they are very busy with their current product line. If in the future things slow they may consider adding additional items.

I've been pushing this issue as well with the usual suspects. Hornady stopped producing it because they claim Winchester did not hold up their end of the bargain by producing more 1895s. NOBODY has any plans of producing either brass or ammo. Fortunately I have a lifetime supply of everything, but the point is once again the ammo manufacturers really DGAF about nostalgia or tradition. Hell, Winchester stopped making 375 H&H brass years ago. They just care about profits. If anybody is in dire straits for components, PM me and I might be able to let go of some once fired stuff.

I have 40 rounds of once fired brass and 100 new brass. I don't think that would qualify as dire. I am curious as to the useful life of brass in this caliber. I've had the rifle going on two years and haven't fired it yet. Why I just don't know lol. At this rate the brass will last forever.

I've fired my used cases at least five times and they are fine.

I've fired my used cases at least five times and they are fine."

Mine have been fired almost that much and there are plenty. Guess that I need to get back to Africa where there is plenty of game.

From 2018

"Hornady's site shows .405 Winchester brass as discontinued. The usual web sites all are out of this brass. Ken Waters Pet Loads Volume 2 shows the use of reformed .30-40 brass ( but shorter than normal .405 but useable) or 9.3x74R. Both Norma and RWS brass had rim thickness less than his WW brass but worked with both his rifles (Winchester single shot and Winchester Model 95."

Interesting thread on the Cast Boolit Forum:
https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?456589-40-72-cases-formed-to-405-Winchester

Decided not to wait to see if, or when, Hornady might make another run of ammo. Ordered 100 cases from Bertran today. Ouch at $350! Better be safe than sorry. Bertran USA had them in stock when I placed the order.

I still plan on buying a case of Hornady ammo if it ever appears.

[quote=Snowwolfe]Decided not to wait to see if, or when, Hornady might make another run of ammo. Ordered 100 cases from Bertran today. Ouch at $350! Better be safe than sorry. Bertran USA had them in stock when I placed the order.

I still plan on buying a case of Hornady ammo if it ever appears.[/quotes


At that price mine will stay in the safe, mostly.

Interesting thread

I really really really want to buy a new Winchester 1895 High Grade, product number 534286154

One thing stopping me is the lack of ammo

Would put a Williams receiver sight on it and slay some deer

Good Gravy, Randy! $350/100 is STEEP. If there are any folks interested in .405 Win once fired brass there might actually be a small batch up here. PM me if you are interested. I have to contact a local range member and see if he is still picking up cases--old guys who need a hobby are a great resource for the obscure.
It might be nice to lay in a small store so that you have a long supply of these cases.

Bob

You can make 405s from 30-40 or 303 Brit cases.
Not perfect but they will work.