444M to short 444M

tjmga

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Joined
Jul 22, 2011
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47
Location
West Michigan
I hope this is in the correct forum location. If not please move. I live in Michigan and there is a straight wall rule in part of the state. The maximum case length is 1.800". The 444M case length is 2.225". You probably see where this is going. I am wondering if I cut the case to 1.800" (maybe 1.79" to be safe) and work up the appropriate load, can I shoot this in a CVA single shot chambered in 444M? I am thinking the chamber may build up with powder residue like the 44M/ 44Sp, 357M/38 Sp revolver. Being a brake action it should be easy to clean. Is there something I am missing. I do not want to harm the chamber or blow up the gun(hands, face etc. included). It won't be fired more than 2 - 4 times a year after load work up. What do the experts say?
If this plan goes thru, would you start by reducing the best rifle powder or by increasing the best revolver powder?
Thanks in advance
tj
 
It's certainly possible as far as technically, but if I play the devil's advocate, you get contacted by a ranger, a summons, and they present the reloading manual data for case length for 444M. It depends on what their standard is, not necessarily the actual case length, in some cases (think about how they measure knives: is it the blade length, just the sharpened edge, the blade and handle, etc). Odds are slim I know - and the ranger may not know 444M case length or be able to measure case length in the field, but I've heard of overzealous prosecutors wrongly tying themselves up in knots for something that they feel strongly about.

Regarding the powder question, I don't know that answer, but it should definitely be a reduced load of some sort. A suggestion, and this is a non-expert self-educated SWAG: cut a case back, measure case capacity, and find a load for ammunition with a similar case capacity/diameter, then start with the low end load and work up from there. Make sure you think about your primers too. I've never done this, so take it for what you paid for it. Your question on this topic may get more attention in the reloading section, or make a new question in that section for these types of questions.
 
It's certainly possible as far as technically, but if I play the devil's advocate, you get contacted by a ranger, a summons, and they present the reloading manual data for case length for 444M. It depends on what their standard is, not necessarily the actual case length, in some cases (think about how they measure knives: is it the blade length, just the sharpened edge, the blade and handle, etc). Odds are slim I know - and the ranger may not know 444M case length or be able to measure case length in the field, but I've heard of overzealous prosecutors wrongly tying themselves up in knots for something that they feel strongly about.
While it's impossible to predict what a specific LEO will decide about such things, I'd think the fact that the only ammunition the hunter was carrying or had available to him was compliant would make it hard for someone to get prosecuted for this. I also think the fact that folks are loading 'Michigan specials', and that such products could be referenced online, would make it obvious to an impartial trier-of-fact that the hunter had made serious effort to comply with the law.

Does that mean he couldn't get arrested and prosecuted for violating the cartridge restrictions? Of course not. But it seems like reasonable people would see no criminal intent, and direct efforts at compliance.

Larry
 
Thank you everyone for your informed comments. I think I will proceed using H110 powder. I am doing this mostly out of curiosity.
 
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