Any need to keep both .44 Special and .44 Magnum brass

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BravoWhiskey

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Just bought a .44 magnum (S&W 629 Performance Center). I'll be reloading for targets and for occasional whitetail. My question: any disadvantages to keeping a few hundred 44 magnum casings and just downloading them to .44 Special specs for plinking, so as not to need both specials and magnum brass. For instance, using 6 grain of Unique in a magnum casing instead of a magnum load of 10-11 grains to use for plinking.
 
I had issues keeping the Specials separate and twenty years ago my mixed 44 SPL cases had different internal tapers that made seating bullets deep cause bulges
 
BravoWhiskey said:
My question: any disadvantages to keeping a few hundred 44 magnum casings and just downloading them to .44 Special specs for plinking, so as not to need both specials and magnum brass.
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None at all. Folks do it all the time. I do the same thing with .357 Mag brass in .357s, but not .44 Mag, as I have a .44 Spl. and prefer to shoot it vs download for my Redhawk .44 Mag.

Welcome to THR.
 
If you do have them already then by all means do use them both. Good way to segregate loads. At my private range we use 38 SPL and 44 SPL for indoor range ammo as otherwise the non reloaders would see us with assumed full power ammo and think that they could as well. The indoor range is regulated to lead bullets only. Also 1000 FPS max for anything over .22 LR and 1300 FPS for those .22. Otherwise I would download as you suggest to keep from adjusting the dies all the time.
 
I load .44 magnums light if I want to shoot light loads out of the magnum-chambered revolvers. My .44 special brass is reserved for revolvers chambered in .44 special. No "disadvantage" to what you propose, but no real advantage, either, to my way of thinking.
 
No reason not to do it. I personally don't mind loading both magnum and special brass but if you need to buy brass no reason not to buy just one type.
 
BravoWhiskey said:
Just bought a .44 magnum (S&W 629 Performance Center). I'll be reloading for targets and for occasional whitetail. My question: any disadvantages to keeping a few hundred 44 magnum casings and just downloading them to .44 Special specs for plinking, so as not to need both specials and magnum brass. For instance, using 6 grain of Unique in a magnum casing instead of a magnum load of 10-11 grains to use for plinking.
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The cases I use always match what is stamped on the barrel. I wouldn't use anything as light as an actual 44 Special load, but I might be a notch below minimum for a magnum load. There is usually a gap between special and magnum that if using the same powder can provide some possibilities for target loads. I like magnum guns to shoot pretty stout but not crazy full power, so I use 9.5 gr Unique with 240 gr BHN 18 SWC, either coated or aloxed, phasing out all my coated because of coating left in my barrels that is hard to clean to a shine. I have a couple 44 Specials, but if I didn't I could load the mag even lighter. I just think 6 grains is way too low. I have stuck a bullet in my S&W 629 Classic and am much more careful now about loads that are not actually by the book.
 
I got rid of my .44 special brass years ago. I still shoot plenty of light loads though. I would rather keep reloaded ammo seperate and organized than bother keeping the empty brass separate. Somehow, a couple cases always found their way into the wrong batch.
 
Like Legionnaire stated, I generally just load .44SPL brass for those arms being for .44SPL and load .44Magnum brass for those arms requiring .44Magnum. You can load the .44SPL. as hot or light as you desire, and conversely the .44Magnum the same.
 
The only "problem/drawback" would be storage space. What would happen if you just put the 44 Special brass in a cabinetc for possible future needs (trade, new gun, etc.)?
 
RealGun said:
The cases I use always match what is stamped on the barrel. I wouldn't use anything as light as an actual 44 Special load, but I might be a notch below minimum for a magnum load. There is usually a gap between special and magnum that if using the same powder can provide some possibilities for target loads. I like magnum guns to shoot pretty stout but not crazy full power, so I use 9.5 gr Unique with 240 gr BHN 18 SWC, either coated or aloxed, phasing out all my coated because of coating left in my barrels that is hard to clean to a shine. I have a couple 44 Specials, but if I didn't I could load the mag even lighter. I just think 6 grains is way too low. I have stuck a bullet in my S&W 629 Classic and am much more careful now about loads that are not actually by the book.
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Since the OP didn't say what weight bullet I'm guessing we are all thinking he meant to say a 240gr bullet by the powder weight posted.

If we are talking about a 240gr cast bullet there is nothing to fear from a charge of 6.0gr Unique in .44 Magnum brass. According to Alliant 6.3gr is the max charge in .44 Special brass with a starting charge of 5.7gr Unique. I see no reason why 6.0gr in magnum brass would be too light a charge as to cause a squib. A slightly higher charge might burn cleaner but it's not a bad place to start IMO.
 
Not disposing of 'em is a reason to buy a GP100 in .44 Special. Or a Smith 624 or 21-4. Or a Colt SAA. Well, it's more of an excuse than reason, but .44 Special brass can be difficult to come by on occasion.
 
Sunray said:
Not disposing of 'em is a reason to buy a GP100 in .44 Special. Or a Smith 624 or 21-4. Or a Colt SAA. Well, it's more of an excuse than reason, but .44 Special brass can be difficult to come by on occasion.
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Be looking real hard at that GP100. Have one in .357 magnum. Those things are built like tanks.
 
I only have a 4" 629-1. So I have loaded only mag brass without any issue for decades. Titegroup, and lead for specials. W296, mag primers, and JHP for magnums. I knew up front that I didn't want to sort the brass,
 
Generally, I shoot only magnum cases in magnum chambers and special cases in special chambers. I prefer to not have to clean out the carbon ring that develops in front of the special case when fired in a magnum chamber.

I do load light 44 Magnum rounds in 44 Magnum cases for plinking in my 44 Magnum guns. No trouble telling the hot loads from the plinking loads just by using different bullets and properly labeling the ammunition boxes.

Besides, I save the 38 Special and 44 Special cases for my revolvers chambered for 38 Special and 44 Special.
 
I'm not familiar with Smith & Wesson revolvers but can anyone tell me if they have a 44 Special only revolver and what model it is?
 
ArchAngelCD said:
Since the OP didn't say what weight bullet I'm guessing we are all thinking he meant to say a 240gr bullet by the powder weight posted.

If we are talking about a 240gr cast bullet there is nothing to fear from a charge of 6.0gr Unique in .44 Magnum brass. According to Alliant 6.3gr is the max charge in .44 Special brass with a starting charge of 5.7gr Unique. I see no reason why 6.0gr in magnum brass would be too light a charge as to cause a squib. A slightly higher charge might burn cleaner but it's not a bad place to start IMO.
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But respectfully, you are not backing that up with any test data or report of actually doing it. It is way off the scale for 44 Magnum case volume and proven loads. What I would suggest is something closer to actual magnum loads. If that is too hot, then there is the question of having the wrong gun or needing to use 44 Special cases that align with proven loads.
 
I was always of the thought that the reduced case capacity of 44 Special should give you more consistent burn and efficiency. I don't have any test data to back this up but seems to make sense to me.

I only have 44 Mag guns but load and shoot both Special and Mags. Specials only get loaded with 200 grain hard cast lead for target, plinking and occasional jack rabbits. Mags get the 240 grain either lead or jacketed loaded to book mag loadings. I just realized my Super Blackhawk with barrel shortened to 5 1/2 inches has only seen the Specials for the last couple years and my Super Red Hawk has only seen the Mag loadings. I shoot Specials to Mags probably three or four to one.
 
I have 3 .44 magnums and 2 .44 Spls, all S&W N frames. The Spl is loaded just a little on the hot side but not very. Now to the magnums, I have never fired a magnum load in any of my N frames. My load is 15.0 gr of 2400 with a 250 gr Keith style LSWC. I see no reason to beat myself or the gun up.

I always get a kick out of going to the range. There will always be someone there shooting a box of .44 magnums. I watch them shoot about 20 rounds and put the gun away while I may fire 100 or more rounds in mine.
 
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