44 spec vs 44 mag brass

[quiknot]

can the 44 mag brass be used for 44 special?...assuming you can not use the 44 spec for 44 magnum.....or does each 44 have to use its own brass?

also i see reloading dies that will reload both spec / mag....but it says Remington magnum, will they not work on other brass, ie; Winchester, etc.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

I type too slow, but here goes:

44 mag brass will not fit in 44 special guns, but the reverse is true.

You can load 44 magnum brass to the lower 44 special power/pressure levels, but the reverse is HIGHLY discouraged, as someone may accidentally chamber one of the high pressure loads in the wrong gun.

44 Magnum winchester brass will work fine. Any brass that is headstamped 44 magnum should be ok, regardless of the manufacturer.

 

[highlander 5]

If you mean can you load 44 spl loads in 44 mag brass yes, you can just use the low end loads in the 44 mag reload section I would suggest using swaged or cast bullets up to 900 fps they should be very comfortable to shoot.
44 mag brass is 44mag brass makes no difference who's name is on the case. The ONLY difference is some manufacturers brass
may last longer IE number of times the case can be reloaded.
Now if you plan to use both 44 spl and 44 mag brass a little trick
here set the dies up for 44 spl if you load 44 mag instead of reseting the dies use a 1/8' washer under the dies as a spacer and you shouldn't have to reset your dies

 

[Ben Shepherd]

RCBS dies come with said washer. Just so you know.

 

[highlander 5]

OOPS reread your post 44 mag brass will not fit in a 44 spl the mag case is about 1/8' longer. The cases were made that way to keep people from blowing up their 44 spls by inadvertantly loading a 44 mag in the chamber

 

[quiknot]

i have a 44 mag..so from what i am reading ..i can shoot both 44 spl and 44 mag thru it...(S/W mdl 29-2 44 magnum)...

use a 1/8' washer under the dies as a spacer ......just exactly where will this spacer go.....

 

[bender]

Instead of readjusting the dies due to going back and forth between Special & Mag, I just stick with 44mag brass, but load either very light loads, or pretty stiff loads. Easier than readjusting dies all the time.

 

[highlander 5]

Point of interest assuming you are using a single stage press the washer goes on top of the press where the die screws in which puts it under the locking ring. But previous thread makes sense use 44 mag brass and use reduced loads

 

[Steve C]

use a 1/8' washer under the dies as a spacer ......just exactly where will this spacer go.....

A note of clarification reagarding the use of the washer/spacer. The washer is handly for use with the expanding die, seating & crimping die. This eliminates the need to readjust these dies when changing case types. It is NOT used for the sizing die as the proper adjustment of the sizer is just off the top of the shell holder for either the mag or the special.

 

[Nhsport]

Another point. If one takes a particular reload for 44spec (bullet,primer,certain weight of a certain primer)and toss it into a 44mag case instead of a 44spec case the results will be different. In some cases fairly close,possibly quite different. The extra space in the mag case causes the powder to burn differently with different results.Consult a manual and compare the loads of 44sp vs 44 mag.
One risk one runs is a very light 44 special load thrown into a 44 mag case can sometimes burn so poorly as to stick a bullet in the barrel,then the next shot fired may buldge the barrel.
When in doubt read the reload manual,better yet read 3 or 4

 

[Ben Shepherd]

As steve posted, don't use the washer on the sizing die. On the other 2 dies, set them up for 44 special.

Then when you want to load 44 magnum the washer goes inbetween the lock nut on the die and the press. This raises the die up the exact amount that the 44 mag brass is longer than the 44 special case. Make sense?

 

[bender]

One risk one runs is a very light 44 special load thrown into a 44 mag case can sometimes burn so poorly as to stick a bullet in the barrel,then the next shot fired may buldge the barrel.

When I mentioned that I just use 44mag cases so as to not have to readjust my dies back and forth, I was really meaning that for light 44mag loads I'm using either the minimum 44mag load, or the max 44sp load, or between.