Hi I hope to get some help here and this is not to off topic
I need the Price for the following cartridges in 1873 or about, 44-40, 45LC and 45-70
Also the salary for a cowboy, skinner and shooter/hunter in 1873, I need this for a television program to bee made soon.

Riis

This is from an old Remington Catalog, however it's not dated. I would guess that it's from about 1880;

mriisj assra Life wrote on May 10^th, 2015 at 2:46pm:


I don't have payrolls or significant historical documents to show. I have read many books and visited museums on the theme. The men were paid $1/day or about 20/month, as far as i know, but also received horse, food, lodging, and sometimes clothing. They had to have their own boots and saddle. 

So a box of shells for your 44-40 would cost a day's pay or more.

waterman wrote on May 12^th, 2015 at 11:07am:


About, but many of the men did not have pistols, especially in the 1880s, and did not go blazing left and right. Many did not drink alcohol either, unlike those depicted in movies. Disease and accidents were their enemies, more than anything else. 
I can't remember the authors, but I've read several accounts written by trail cowboys in the 1870-1880. Ammunition and firearms were barely mentioned. On one drive from Texas to Kansas, they had to shoot one horse and that was the only shot fired on the entire trip. Those trail cattle really spooked easily and stampeded for hours. Gun fire and whip cracking were forbidden.

J. Wright Mooar paid his wagon drovers $50. per month, in 1873-74.  No doubt somewhat hazardous duty as other wagons loaded with flint hides were ambushed by hostiles in 1874.  They drove two wagons hitched together pulled by six oxen.  Two such teams and two skinners, a cook and a helper to take care of one hunter.  Mooar preferred a 50-2 and one half Sharps (50-90 or -110) and lung shots.  He took 100 pounds of lead, lots of powder and about 200 cartridges, 2,000 primers and did lots of reloading.
My Rywell book shows an undated ad with 50-100 patched at $53.00 per 1000 ammo cost and another mid 1870's list of 44WCF at $20.00 and 45 Colt at $26.00 per 1000.  Black powder was $1.00 per pound.
Just got back from the West Texas Historical meeting so this is fresh old information.
James

Interesting to note that in the 1875 WRA catalog, the lowest priced Model 1873 was the Carbine which listed at $38.00.
1000 rounds of 50-70 Musket cartridges were priced at $37.50, while 1000 rounds of Martini Henry cartridges listed at $40.00.
Also stated is that "All bullets, from the smallest to the largest sizes, are swaged by patented machinery ...".

waterman wrote on May 12^th, 2015 at 11:07am:


I paid $70.00 for a 50 round box of Winchester 44-40 cartridges in 2013.  Haven't seen any more lately.