44 colt ?

hey can you shoot 44 colt out of a 44 magnum ?
i have a box of it that i got free
thanks

The .44 Colt idea came from the Richard's-Mason conversions of Colt's 1860 Army percussion revolver.
They bored through the chambers of the cap and ball revolvers to enable them to chamber centerfire metallic cartridges.

The original .44 Colt loading used an outside lubricated bullet, Benet cup and Martin-type primers. Later ammo had boxer primers.

The bullet is .451 in diameter ( the 44 cap and ball revolvers were really 45 cap and ball revolvers)

44 mag is a .429 diameter bullet. So the 44 colt is too large in diameter.

44 colt ammo is very hard to find and is a collectors item. Trying to shoot it is a 44 mag would be a bad idea...


You can shoot 44 Special in your 44 mag. I have seen some brass marked 44 Smith and Wesson Special.

thanks

LD13,

What Float Pilot said is correct to a point. Revolvers are still being chambered in 44 Colt and made to use inside lubed bullets. The bullet resides inside the case like "normal" bullets. These are loaded with .430 diameter bullets and as such would work in your 44 Magnum. Get a micrometer and measure what you have.

Ammo is still available,

http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/index.php/cName/pistol-ammo-44-long-colt

http://www.targetsportsusa.com/c-68-44-colt-ammo.aspx

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/628257/black-hills-cowboy-action-ammunition-44-colt-230-grain-lead-flat-nose-box-of-50

and others.

Strawhat is referring to the modern ".44 Colt" for use in reproduction cartridge conversions.
Just easier for the gun and ammo companies to handle than trying to bring back an obsolete round with heel bullet.

You CAN shoot those in a .44 Magnum. Case and bullet diameters are the same, case length is in between .44 Russian and Special. Rim diameter is smaller so be careful not to get an empty stuck ahead of the extractor in a Hand Ejector. Won't matter in a single action.

Antique true .44 Colt is not interchangeable and worth more than new anyhow.

thanks i thought i could shoot them out of my Black Hawk
but i wanted to run it past you guys
thanks

Ypu can. I shoot factory as well as home brews out of my 44 mags revolvers, 44 specials.