Hello! I am not a gunsmith, but am seeking the opinions of experienced gunsmiths on a particular matter:
Taurus recently introduced the Raging Judge Magnum, a revolver designed to fire .45 Colt, 3" .410 shells, and the 65,000psi .454 Casull. Thus, we have a cylinder capable of handling cartridges that are 3" long, in a pistol that is capable of handling the pressures generated by the mighty .454 Casull. So, this got me thinking...
According to my research, .454 Casull generates pressures of around 65,000 psi. .444 Marlin only generates pressures around 45,000 psi. I understand that the .444 Marlin casing is basically the same dimensions as a .410 casing, and that some people even make .410 ammo by reloading .444 Marlin casings.
So...
Do the experts here think that the Raging Judge Magnum should also be able to safely fire .444 Marlin? It's 20,000psi less than .454 Casull, and the cartridge fits the cylinder. Is there some factor that I'm missing? Perhaps due to slight differences in dimensions? Here are the numbers (from wikipedia, except for .410):
.444 Marlin
Bullet diameter .429 in (10.9 mm)
Neck diameter .4530 in (11.51 mm)
Base diameter .4706 in (11.95 mm)
Rim diameter .5140 in (13.06 mm)
Rim thickness .0630 in (1.60 mm)
Case length 2.250 in (57.2 mm)
Overall length 2.55 in (65 mm)
.454 Casull
Bullet diameter .452 in (11.5 mm)
Neck diameter .480 in (12.2 mm)
Base diameter .480 in (12.2 mm)
Rim diameter .512 in (13.0 mm)
Rim thickness .057 in (1.4 mm)
Case length 1.383 in (35.1 mm)
Overall length 1.77 in (45 mm)
.45 Colt
Bullet diameter .454 (lead), .451 (jacketed)
Neck diameter .480 in (12.2 mm)
Base diameter .480 in (12.2 mm)
Rim diameter .512 in (13.0 mm)
Rim thickness .060 in (1.5 mm)
Case length 1.285 in (32.6 mm)
Overall length 1.600 in (40.6 mm)
.410 Bore
Rim diameter .533" 13.35 mm
Head OD 9.4685" head OD 11.91 mm
Mouth 0.4675-0.4630 11.57-11.87 mm
Length 2," 2 ½," 3" 51, 64, 76 mm
Yes, I realize the .444 bullet is slightly smaller, and probably won't engage the rifling very well. I'm not concerned about accuracy, I'm just trying to get a more-or-less definitive ruling on whether or not it would be safe to fire factory-manufactured .444 Marlin in this revolver.
In terms of answers, I would really appreciate some technical specifics. Something more than "I wouldn't do it," or "It's not a good idea," or "Only shoot what's stamped on the side of the barrel" (which isn't even true, see .357 Magnum), or "Ask Taurus" (duh, of course Taurus is going to CYA and say don't do it).
IF you believe that .444 Marlin would be unsafe to shoot in this revolver, PLEASE give me some specific, technical reasons why you think it would be unsafe to shoot. If you think it would be safe to shoot, I would also like to hear your technical reasons why.
Taurus recently introduced the Raging Judge Magnum, a revolver designed to fire .45 Colt, 3" .410 shells, and the 65,000psi .454 Casull. Thus, we have a cylinder capable of handling cartridges that are 3" long, in a pistol that is capable of handling the pressures generated by the mighty .454 Casull. So, this got me thinking...
According to my research, .454 Casull generates pressures of around 65,000 psi. .444 Marlin only generates pressures around 45,000 psi. I understand that the .444 Marlin casing is basically the same dimensions as a .410 casing, and that some people even make .410 ammo by reloading .444 Marlin casings.
So...
Do the experts here think that the Raging Judge Magnum should also be able to safely fire .444 Marlin? It's 20,000psi less than .454 Casull, and the cartridge fits the cylinder. Is there some factor that I'm missing? Perhaps due to slight differences in dimensions? Here are the numbers (from wikipedia, except for .410):
.444 Marlin
Bullet diameter .429 in (10.9 mm)
Neck diameter .4530 in (11.51 mm)
Base diameter .4706 in (11.95 mm)
Rim diameter .5140 in (13.06 mm)
Rim thickness .0630 in (1.60 mm)
Case length 2.250 in (57.2 mm)
Overall length 2.55 in (65 mm)
.454 Casull
Bullet diameter .452 in (11.5 mm)
Neck diameter .480 in (12.2 mm)
Base diameter .480 in (12.2 mm)
Rim diameter .512 in (13.0 mm)
Rim thickness .057 in (1.4 mm)
Case length 1.383 in (35.1 mm)
Overall length 1.77 in (45 mm)
.45 Colt
Bullet diameter .454 (lead), .451 (jacketed)
Neck diameter .480 in (12.2 mm)
Base diameter .480 in (12.2 mm)
Rim diameter .512 in (13.0 mm)
Rim thickness .060 in (1.5 mm)
Case length 1.285 in (32.6 mm)
Overall length 1.600 in (40.6 mm)
.410 Bore
Rim diameter .533" 13.35 mm
Head OD 9.4685" head OD 11.91 mm
Mouth 0.4675-0.4630 11.57-11.87 mm
Length 2," 2 ½," 3" 51, 64, 76 mm
Yes, I realize the .444 bullet is slightly smaller, and probably won't engage the rifling very well. I'm not concerned about accuracy, I'm just trying to get a more-or-less definitive ruling on whether or not it would be safe to fire factory-manufactured .444 Marlin in this revolver.
In terms of answers, I would really appreciate some technical specifics. Something more than "I wouldn't do it," or "It's not a good idea," or "Only shoot what's stamped on the side of the barrel" (which isn't even true, see .357 Magnum), or "Ask Taurus" (duh, of course Taurus is going to CYA and say don't do it).
IF you believe that .444 Marlin would be unsafe to shoot in this revolver, PLEASE give me some specific, technical reasons why you think it would be unsafe to shoot. If you think it would be safe to shoot, I would also like to hear your technical reasons why.