The .405 Winchester cartridge was introduced in 1904 for the Winchester Model 1895 lever-action rifle. A straight-walled, rimmed cartridge, it was originally loaded with a 300-grain bullet at a muzzle velocity of around 2,200 feet per second. Known for its heavy bullet and significant stopping power, the .405 Winchester was favored for big game hunting, including in Africa and North America, especially for animals like moose, elk, and even dangerous game such as buffalo.
The cartridge famously gained a reputation after being touted by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt as his "medicine gun" for lions during his African safari. Today, it is considered more of a specialty or nostalgic cartridge and is less commonly used than modern magnum big-game cartridges. Its historical significance and connection to traditional hunting make it a cartridge of interest to collectors and enthusiasts of classic firearms.