Pedersoli is the largest mfr. of BPCR in the world and is probably the largest mfr. of muzzle loading rifles, pistols and shotguns as well.
The shop floor has just so much space available for machinery and the old timers who run those machines are working their butts off already. It is not easy to obtain dedicated apprentices who will come into this sort of business and endure the crap and hassle the "journeymen" hand out to apprentices.
These are but a few of the many factors which have made Pedersoli decide to discontinue certain items and versions of items.

Dealer orders for 45 caliber guns is so strong that we actually can hardly make 45 cal barrels to our tough match grade standards fast enough to fill the orders in our promised 30 day time frame.
Orders for 40-65 cal rifles are extremely small by comparison. I don't have actual figures but estimate that only 3-4 out of 100 were for 40 cal guns.
We needed to free up shop time and machines from making 40 cal barrels , so as to make 45 and others to satisfy dealer orders.

The 2004 catalog will show that they make the Rolling Block model now in the following cal.
357 mag, 44-40,30-30 WCF,45Colt,,45-70,45-90 and 38-55 WCF.

The 1874 Sharps is made in the following calibers.
45-70.45-90,45-110,45-120,50-70,50-90.

The trapdoor is in 45-70 only.

Our Kodiak double rifle is available in 45-70,9.3x74R and the old Mauser 8x57JRS calibers (these last two being in the 50000+ psi range).

From all the above you get the idea of how much demand is being made on rifling machinery, chambering reamers, quality control inspections etc. etc. which ALL have to meet our normal match grade tolerances.

After a somewhat poor 2002 and 2003 sales year, we are glad to see dealers again filling their shelves but we MUST fill their orders in a fast manner and this did require dropping some Sharps and RB calibers and models, which ended up being the 40-65 caliber.

There are 40 cal guns in inventory at various dealers and buyers should phone around for such info and price details.
In the future, perhaps we would again make 40-65 caliber rifles but there is no such plan at this time.

BTW, the Sharps Gemmer model and Sharps Scheutzen model are also discontinued but stocks are in some dealers hands.
Check the web at www.davidepedersoli.com and call the dealers listed.
Remember that each main dealer services a network of small gunshops and sporting goods shops as well as their own main store.
Any of these hundreds of shops could have a new rifle in stock and the main store should know where they shipped to and who likely has what you are looking for.