Note that the dies are not carbide, since the cartridge is slightly necked, so plan on lubing everything.
Well, never thought of that aspect of the 44-40 that cases of this style can't use a carbide die. Never crossed my mind, I've never paid much attention to reloading procedures for them. Have always read where necks can be buckled easy and such, I don't reload for 44-40 or any other pistol calibers of this style, but makes sense. No different than bottle neck rifle calibers not being able to use a carbide die to resize. Wish you could use a sizer for bottleneck brass that doesn't require lubing cases prior to resizing, PIA to have to clean off lube IMO. I know, could use spray, I'm old school when it comes to resizing. Figure half the spray your using when spraying a loading block of cases ends up elsewhere (waste) and I believe someone does offer a lubeless die, but I'm not going to rush out and replace all of my bottleneck rifle dies. Took me along time to go from cassettes to CD's and from VHS to DVD's. What does that tell ya.
Edit: RCBS does offer a sizer die with some sort of lube chamber-have never heard/read how well they work, only offer three of the eight calibers I reload. Guess I'll leave em be and get along as I've always done, lube pad and cleaning rag.
You will need a different shell holder since the 44 Colt has a smaller rim.
MikeM: You mentioned reloading 44 Colt with 44 Special dies (can reload 44 Russian too if you desire) and as Ablene pointed out you need a different shell holder. Very true, can't recall the size diameter difference offhand, but the 44 Colt is slightly smaller. I've found that a Lee size 2 or RCBS size 3 works very well. There was once a report that shell holders for 41 Magnum (#30) works "Wrong"-I bought one and its to tight, at least the RCBS offering was. The Lee #2 or RCBS #3 both have a tight, non-wobble fit. Can't say what numbers of other manufacturers will do, a cross reference chart will tell. Although I haven't used it for 44 Colt, I just checked a #1 Redding with a 44 Colt case and its a good fit also. (Cross reference's with RCBS #3).
Edit: Forgot to add, reference using a Lee#2 or RCBS #3 shell holders for 44 Colt in the RCBS Rockchucker press I use, I use a #9 Lee Auto Primer shell holder for the priming operation. A Lee #2 is too tight (if not using a Lee Auto Primer its of no significance). Why this is, don't ask me--I only know what I've found that works as very few reload manuals, reloading manufacturer product info instruction pamphlets, or website sites provides info what to use when reloading 44 Colt.