Hi there,

Just a quick one, is the 44-40 chambering banned (classe 1?) in France as an ex military round, or can it be owned by a hunter/civilian etc...

I'm sure that it's not a "Premiere categorie" caliber; anyway, even military "premiere categorie" arms can be owned in France, with some restrictions though.

The 44-40 Winchester is a Category 5 cartridge, meaning that no special authorization is required to purchase it, other than showing you have a valid current membership in a gun club. That is as far as buying the ammunition is concerned. However, since it is a chambering for both handguns and rifles you are in the very French gray area concerning munitions. A handgun chambered for 44-40 is a Category 4 weapon which requires authorization for ownership. To purchase a rifle in 44-40 requires just proof of current membership in a gun club, which means you have a card recognized by the Federation Francaise de Tir (FFT). I believe a current valid hunting licence will also allow you to buy Category 5 firearms. So, the short answer is yes, it is possible to purchase 44-40 ammo and rifles in France with no special authorization compared to any other firearm. A handgun in 44-40 requires special authorization.