gutterman
Member
I know this is probably a stupid question, but can you shoot 44 spl rounds in a 44 mag?
Yes you can, but there are a couple of things you should be aware of.
I would avoid shooting non jacketed bullets because of the lead that can build up rather in the cylinder, just in front of the start of the bearing surface. This and gas cutting to the cylinder can permantly damage it. I occasionally shoot them through my 44 mags. and 38's through my .357 mag.. I can see the permanent line developing where the mouth of the shorter specials chamber, so I'm rather certain that a regular diet of specials will eventually cut into the cylinder wall. But a now and then box or two probably won't wear your cylinder out any time soon.
You can shoot lead bullet .44 spl all you want in a .44 mag with out hurting the gun. I have put over 40,000 of them downrange out of a 629 S&W, my reloads 200gn FWC and 240gn SWC cast bullets. Just clean your cylinders good and clean them before shooting .44 magnum ammo. Never seen any flame cutting into a cylinder wall in 20 years of shooting em out of that gun.
Any time you shoot a shorter round like a .38spl in a .357 or a .44 spl in a .44 mag you will get a build up in front of the mouth of the case. If you don't clean the cylinders before shooting the longer magnum rounds they can stick in the cylinders and be very hard to extract.
Here ya goJeff, what's your preferred method of cleaning out the build up from the shorter cases - that stuff is wicked stubborn! And why do you need a good cleaning before shooting the mags?
Lastly, since you reload, why wouldn't you just load lighter in mag cases to avoid the build up and required cleaning? Sounds like you're reloading special cases.
This and gas cutting to the cylinder can permantly damage it. I occasionally shoot them through my 44 mags. and 38's through my .357 mag.. I can see the permanent line developing where the mouth of the shorter specials chamber, so I'm rather certain that a regular diet of specials will eventually cut into the cylinder wall.
Not so.This and gas cutting to the cylinder can permantly damage it.
"Flame cutting" has nothing at all to do with what kind of cases you're using, or with the cylinder itself. That term refers to the line that develops in the underside of the frame's top strap above the cylinder/barrel gap.
This I have heard of before but I have never seen it, and if memory serves me right it was a big issue with the .357 Maximum cartridge.
The problem with the .357Maximum was handloaders trying to make a rifle out of them. Lightweight jacketed bullets at extreme velocity with spherical powders was the culprit. The Max was designed for silhouette use with heavy bullets at appropriate velocities.