Cwiseman,
I probably do not belong here now because I have let my membership lapse. But, I belonged to NCOWS for 15 years from 1998 to 2013. I figured I paid a lifetime membership through those years but, oh well. I did all this, as just an independent person having no affiliation with a shooting club or posse. My time and participation in NCOWS were extremely fun and the people I met were friendly and knowledgeable. I was even the 2nd person to be accepted into the Original Class, after the originating first three members.
What I am leading to is --- first join the NCOWS group; pay your membership dues; get the booklets.
You have already gotten the costliest objects for the sport, the firearms. Buying loaded ammo these days is going to be costly. Look at reloading NOW. The initial expense with be well worth it in the end.
AS FAR AS brass and primer you are AS stuck as the rest of us. Starline is the place to go for brass. I got the 44/40 supply that I wanted finally last September in 2022 after a yearlong look. I had to save the link to their 44/40 listing and check it daily and then got luck to catch their availability/order time. See below.
https://www.starlinebrass.com/44-40-brassMost common dealers that I use to buy from just no long have brass supplies. So, you are going to have to buy direct and pay the higher prices for larger quantities, like I just did.
Primers are the next component in short supply and the prices have skyrocketed from when I started back in 1988, with reloading.
Join up and maybe some of the members will share -- to help you out. Good luck and have a lot of fun.
PS -- the good thing with you only using 44/40 firearm is you buy a press; one set of dies; and the right size/weight bullet with a crimp and you are finished. No need for extra Lee factory crimp dies or Lee sizing dies. If you want to cast bullet just buy the standard 205 210gr bullet mold and a Lee sizer. ALL GOOD.