.44 Russian in .44 Mag dies?

[Sam1911]

Hi!

I'm looking into switching to .44 Russian for running in my 629 in IDPA. (Shorter case = faster reloads and more positive ejection.)

Will I be able to load the Russian cases on my .44 Mag. dies, as I do with the Specials now? Or are they just too short to activate the charging mechanism (Dillon 550) and to seat/crimp?

If not, what should I get? A whole .44 Russian die set, or just certain parts?

Thanks!

-Sam

 

[Walkalong]

You won't be able to crimp with your .44Spl/.44 Mag dies, and seating may be a problem as well. I bought some Lee .44 Russian dies when I wanted to try the shorter cases.

 

[Floppy_D]

I've used my Lee 44 mag set to do 44 Russian without problems; try a case and see if you can do it (I suspect you can). If any steps won't work (such as crimp) you could probably find that specific die cheaper than a set. Give it a whirl and take some measurements.

 

[Sam1911]

Thanks for the quick responses, guys!

I certainly do plan on trying it first, but I'm worried because the shell plate on the 550 seems to block the dies from coming much farther down than where they're set now for .44 Spc.

I suppose I will give it a try and let everyone know.

Thanks!

-Sam

Edited to add: I forgot I actually have one .44 Rus. case I picked up off the range long ago. It looks like my only problem will be at the seat/crimp station. I measured just over 0.18" length difference between my .44 Spc. and the .44 Rus. I won't be able to get nearly 2/10" more depth out of my .44 Mag crimp die, so I'll need a .44 Rus. seat/crimp die body. That's only $11.00 from Lee. I couldn't find proper seating stem or adjusting cap in my quick search, but I'm sure they'd set me up if I called.

Of course, the entire Lee carbide set for .44 Russian is only $26 from Midway. Not like I'm out a fortune either way.

Thanks for helping me think through this, guys!

 

[Walkalong]

Of course, the entire Lee carbide set for .44 Russian is only $26 from Midway

That was my thought, and then I did not have to readjust either my .44 Spl or .44 Mag die set.

 

[Landric]

I got the Lee .44 Russian set so I didn't have to adjust my .44 Special dies. Lee doesn't make a factory crimp die for the .44 Russian though, so given that I'm loading on a LCT and therefore have four stations, I got a .44Mag/Spl. FCD and it works fine with the .44 Russian cases.

 

[Sam1911]

Lee doesn't make a factory crimp die for the .44 Russian though, so given that I'm loading on a LCT and therefore have four stations, I got a .44Mag/Spl. FCD and it works fine with the .44 Russian cases.

I bought a Lee FCD for .44 and used it for quite a while. It worked well enough for .429 jacketed bullets, but I just got sick of forcing .430 or .431 cast lead bullets through it. (And I shoot 1000:1 lead to jacketed...) Every pull of the handle was so rough/violent as that sizing ring hung up and had to be forced over, that I found myself "cheating" and using two hands to work the lever as I got tired.

The last 5,000 rds. or so have been crimped with the standard seat/crimp die. Loading is smooth and easy, I can crimp just as tight as I want, and I've never had a single problem with a cartridge being oversized.

Can't imagine putting the FCD back into service when I switch to .44 Russian.

-Sam

 

[Landric]

I only use the FCD on cartridges I load on the LCT. Before I got it and was loading all my ammo on a Rockchucker, I always seated and crimped on the same stage.

I like the FCD, and even though I load almost exclusively lead bullets, I haven't had any problems using the FCD or any problems with the ammo. I've heard it causes lead bullets to be slightly undersized. Perhaps it does, but given my use of the ammunition (IDPA and plinking) I haven't noticed any negative effects, leading or reduced accuracy. All my ammo is still minute of down zero.

I've never loaded a .44 Russian cartridge with a jacketed bullet.