44 special brass with 44 Mag Loads in a 44 Mag

[renaissance]

I"m talking a Ruger Super Redhawk here.
7.5 inch barrel - 100% condition.
Intend to use 240 Lead SWC & "probably" Unique ( I could be swayed on that)

44 is a new caliber for me
I have a Lee 4 die set on the way
& intend to load on a rockchucker
single stage.

I have a small supply of 44 Mag Brass
(range pick up)
but a LOT MORE 44 Special brass.

Is it feasible to put 44 Mag loads into 44 Special Special brass
& get NEAR 44 Mag performance out of it?

I know accuracy may suffer somewhat because of the longer "jump"
but
Is is Safe?
Is it Reasonable?
Anyone with experience doing this out there ??

Any susggestions on recipies?
(44 Mag loads in .44 Special Brass)
(44 Mag loads in .44 Mag Brass)
(44 Special Loads for 44 Special brass)
(44 Special Loads for 44 Mag Brass)

 

[LHB1]

Quote: "Is it feasible to put 44 Mag loads into 44 Special brass & get NEAR 44 Mag performance out of it?"

NO, it is NOT safe to put a .44 Mag load into a .44 Spl case. The powder charge takes into consideration the CASE VOLUME among other things. The .44 Spl case is .100 shorter than the .44 Mag case and thus has smaller volume, so the same powder charge from Mag case will give much higher pressure in Spl case.

You CAN load .44 Spl to NEAR Mag velocities BUT be sure to use a load specified for .44 SPL CASE when doing so. The eyes and hands you save may be your own. Good luck

Good shooting and be safe.
LB

ps: See two or more major published loading manuals for suggested loads.

 

[ChristopherG]

Short answer: No.

Longer answer: You can't just cram a .44 mag load into a .44 special case, REGARDLESS of the gun, because the case is not made to contain that much pressure, and the pressure in such a load would actually be GREATER than that in a .44 mag--since there's less space, and the same amount of propellant.

In a .44 mag, you CAN load .44 special to a higher level than you could safely load it for a .44 special--because the gun is made to contain the higher pressures. And, of course, this is how Elmer Keith developed the mega-.44 special loads that were the immediate precursor of the .44 mag. I'd recommend, if you don't get the answers you're seeking here, that you go on over to handloads.com, and search their forums for lots of information on advanced reloading for the .44 special, including some traditional Keith loads, I'm sure. Read all the cautions and warnings, though, and not just the data, and start with .44 special loads published by major component manufacturers before proceeding upward. Good luck!

 

[RecoilRob]

I have long admired Elmer Keiths' work with 44's. He preferred Hercules (now Alliant) 2400 in .44s' and used [REMOVED] grs. under his 250 LSWC for 1200 or so fps.

Don't know if this load is in any modern book but I have loaded and fired many, many hundreds of them and can attest to their accuracy and power.

I even shot some of these in a Charter Arms Target Bulldog. Pretty stout performance and this is the load I carried back then. Still love 2400 for heavy .44 loads....both Special and Magnums.

 

[snowtigger]

Any way you look at it, it's not worth the risk. New brass is less than $20.00 a hundred. Used brass is even cheaper on e-bay or from on-line sources.
Load up some .44 special loads and go have fun. That is what this sport is all about. It's not about finding new ways to get to know ER Doctors.

 

[bakert]

.44 mag loads in .44 sp. brass or .357 loads in .38 brass. Others do it but not me. Too easy for that ammo to get into the wrong gun, maybe a friend's. I've read a lot of Elmer Keith's writings and have a lot of respect for many of his opinions but he was an experimenter. I aint!! Too much brass for sale out there at decent prices.

 

[renaissance]

OK I hear you all

OK
I hear you all
Your recommendation's are gratefully taken.

I checked out Steve's pages.

He has allowable ranges in both 44 Mag and 44 Special
For both Unique and Bulleye. with 240 grain bullets.

The low end of his allowable for 44 Mag; starts just above the HIGH end of his allowable range for 44 Special.
This is the case for both BullsEye AND Unique.

I get the picture.

Will go on accordingly

Thank you all.

Steve: (I know you are lurking)
You ARE the MAN!

renaissance