.44 Mag factory ammo preference for subsequent reloading?

[Buck13]

I have a used Redhawk on the way, and I kinda doubt I'll be able to get all the dies and components together to reload for it immediately. Local store says they have (as of yesterday, anyway) Fiocci, Remington and Winchester .44 Mag in stock, so I'll buy a box or two to shoot in the short term. Anyone have an opinion as to which brand's brass will be better for subsequent reloading, or does it not matter?

 

[Certaindeaf]

Out of the blue I'd go with Remington.. WW in the old days for all ammo was about the lightest/thinnest.

 

[oldpapps]

Of the three listed brands, they all are a go to me.

Any brass can fail. For reloading, skip on steel and aluminum (does anyone commercially load 44s in that stuff?).

I prefer Star Brand brass, it's good stuff. Also, if you are going to load light/er target/pleasure rounds you have the option of .44 Specials. But also think of this, when firing Specials, the brass is shorter and often a gunk ring will be left in the chamber at the end of the brass. This is not a problem to clean out but loading full length 44 loads can become less than smooth. With this, I only buy mag length brass. My wimp loads work very well in the longer brass

Enjoy the new toy.

 

[jr_watkins]

I'd vote Remington as well, not that there is anything wrong with the other two options, just I have used mostly Remington without any issues.

 

[jstein650]

I've had good luck with Hornady. CBC, (MagTech) though, seems to get beat up pretty quickly.

 

[bigdaa]

I like Winchester. RP is good, too. I have plenty of both through acquisitions, but tend to use my Starline brass as go to stuff.

Either one, you will be OK in my book.

 

[blarby]

Anything that doesn't have that crimp ring halfway down the case.

 

[HighExpert]

I bought 1000 pieces of IMI several years ago. It is REAL brass. Cases weigh about double what a Remington case will. It will make you think about case lube even with carbide dies but it just keeps on working. I have 20 loadings on some of it and I am loading for rifle with 240gr and plenty of horsepower. Good stuff.

 

[jstein650]

Without a doubt, IMI brass, at least the stuff I got some years back was far and away THE best, toughest brass I have ever reloaded.

 

[Maj Dad]

I've been reloading the 44 mag since 1976, and I have yet to notice a significant difference in brass, barring excessive roll crimping or significant over-pressure loads (I do not suggest that I have used every single brand, but I have used most). I use new/once-fired brass for full-power loads 2 or 3 times, then relegate them to the moderate box, where they seem to last forever. My moderate load is 9-10 gr Unique with a 240-250 gr Keith LSWC cast from wheel weights or similar alloy, and it is still stout enough to drop a deer in its tracks at 50 yds.

I would say to buy whichever load you like best, or if no preference, get the cheapest of the 3 choices, especially if you're just biding your time until you start reloading.
HTH,
George J.

 

[jstein650]

^True enough. Most of my loads have been pretty much full-power. In the .44, I've never really had brass that did not give good neck tension, most last forever. But when the headstamp is ironed out after 2 loads, I think the brass is on the soft side.

 

[gamestalker]

They should all do very well for that cartridge. I get so many loads out of my revolver brass anyway, that it would be quite difficult to know which is the best in terms of longivity.

Enjoy that new to you Ruger!

GS

 

[7075-T7]

I personally like the remington cases and have reloaded them many several times with no losses. I have winchester and hornady as well, and I find the winchester to be the least agreeable. I still load them anyway

.44 mag seems to be easy on brass, though I'm not trying to push the limits with my loads either.

 

[under_dawg]

I bought 500 starline cases 3 or 4 years ago when I got my 4" Redhawk. Real good brass. I've loaded near max H-110 loads with 240gr Sierra JHC and Hornady XTP's through several cycles with no ill effects on brass. My favorite load now a days is a Mastercast (Mike in Il) 240gr lswc and 10.0 gr of Unique. Plenty of power, and easy too shoot.

I bet I haven't prepped over 200 of the 500 (300 still in original box) and have yet to throw any away from failure such as cracked neck from flaring and resizing etc. I just keep reloading them over and over.