.440 Cor-bon
Encyclopedia
The Cor-Bon
company produced the .440 Cor-bon cartridge in 1998. As is fairly typical in the wildcat cartridge
industry, this cartridge necked down from an existing cartridge, the .50 AE
to accept a .44-caliber
(.429 in) (10.89 mm) bullet
.
from Magnum Research
1991, and shortly thereafter shooters began wondering whether there was an alternative to the relatively small selection of factory ammunition, and, for sensitive shooters, the recoil
of the .50 round, but still with more substantial stopping power
than the .44 Magnum
.
In designing the .440, Cor-bon created a lighter recoiling round than the .50 AE with greater penetrating power than the .50 AE and 44 Magnum. The round has a flatter trajectory, and leaves the barrel considerably faster than either the .50 AE or the .44 Mag. However, the cartridge has never taken off, and has remained fairly expensive.
round rather than a defense round for a number of reasons. Its excessive penetration and recoil make it unsuitable for self defense. Also, as it is physically a very large cartridge, commonly chambered in a very large pistol such as the Desert Eagle, it is not particularly feasible to carry it concealed.
It is effective at disabling and killing large animals, able to penetrate large bones such as the shoulder in deer
. Some gunsmiths are chambering lever-action rifles to take full advantage of this cartridge on large game.
Cor-Bon
Cor-Bon is a brand of small arms ammunition produced by Dakota Ammo Incorporated. The company, based in Sturgis, South Dakota, was founded in 1982 by Peter Pi....
company produced the .440 Cor-bon cartridge in 1998. As is fairly typical in the wildcat cartridge
Wildcat cartridge
A wildcat cartridge, or wildcat, is a custom cartridge for which ammunition and firearms are not mass produced. These cartridges are often created in order to optimize a certain performance characteristic of an existing commercial cartridge.Developing and using wildcat cartridges does not...
industry, this cartridge necked down from an existing cartridge, the .50 AE
.50 Action Express
The .50 Action Express is a large caliber handgun cartridge. It was developed in 1988 by Evan Whildin of Action Arms. The .50 AE is one of the most powerful pistol cartridges in production.-Overview:...
to accept a .44-caliber
Caliber
In guns including firearms, caliber or calibre is the approximate internal diameter of the barrel in relation to the diameter of the projectile used in it....
(.429 in) (10.89 mm) bullet
Bullet
A bullet is a projectile propelled by a firearm, sling, or air gun. Bullets do not normally contain explosives, but damage the intended target by impact and penetration...
.
History
The .50 AE was introduced in the Desert EagleDesert Eagle
The Desert Eagle is a large-framed gas-operated semi-automatic pistol designed by Magnum Research in the U.S. and by IMI in Israel; the pistol is manufactured primarily in Israel by IMI...
from Magnum Research
Magnum Research
Magnum Research Inc. is a privately held corporation based in Fridley, Minnesota which manufactures and distributes firearms. The majority owners, Jim Skildum and John Risdall , have been with the company since its founding in 1979...
1991, and shortly thereafter shooters began wondering whether there was an alternative to the relatively small selection of factory ammunition, and, for sensitive shooters, the recoil
Recoil
Recoil is the backward momentum of a gun when it is discharged. In technical terms, the recoil caused by the gun exactly balances the forward momentum of the projectile and exhaust gasses, according to Newton's third law...
of the .50 round, but still with more substantial stopping power
Stopping power
Stopping power is a colloquial term used to describe the ability of a firearm or other weapon to cause a penetrating ballistic injury to a target, human or animal, sufficient to incapacitate the target where it stands....
than the .44 Magnum
.44 Magnum
The .44 Remington Magnum, or simply .44 Magnum, is a large-bore cartridge originally designed for revolvers. After introduction, it was quickly adopted for carbines and rifles...
.
In designing the .440, Cor-bon created a lighter recoiling round than the .50 AE with greater penetrating power than the .50 AE and 44 Magnum. The round has a flatter trajectory, and leaves the barrel considerably faster than either the .50 AE or the .44 Mag. However, the cartridge has never taken off, and has remained fairly expensive.
Uses
The round is generally considered to be a huntingHunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
round rather than a defense round for a number of reasons. Its excessive penetration and recoil make it unsuitable for self defense. Also, as it is physically a very large cartridge, commonly chambered in a very large pistol such as the Desert Eagle, it is not particularly feasible to carry it concealed.
It is effective at disabling and killing large animals, able to penetrate large bones such as the shoulder in deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
. Some gunsmiths are chambering lever-action rifles to take full advantage of this cartridge on large game.