44W brass Vs. 44 Magnum

[Pripyat]

I went to a store today that sells used brass. I picked up a bag labeled ".44 Magnum" and noticed that one of the pieces looked different. It was labeled "44W". I brought it to the store attendants attention and he said that the piece of brass in question was different looking but still a .44 magnum casing.

I asked for a different bag and apologized for my paranoia.

I get home with the new bag and lo and behold the other bag has some pieces of 44W in it. I google it and learn that 44W means .44 Winchester. Not to mention some casings in the bag are clearly labeled "44 SPL". I bought this brass specifically to load near maximum .44 magnum loads using H110 and magnum primers.

Should I try to return the brass or is this a non issue? If I had even known that they consider .44 special to be equal to .44 magnum I wouldn't have even bought it in the first place.

 

[BYJO4]

I would return the brass and get what you really want.

 

[Pripyat]

I want that the label said - .44 magnum mixed headstamp brass.

Now I've got to drive an hour to return 12 dollars worth of spent brass.

 

[cfullgraf]

The 44W is probably 44-40 WCF cases and they are not the same as 44 Magnum.

The 44 Special cases are shorter than 44 Magnum and would work in your 44 Magnum. If they are modern cases, the base is probably the same as the 44 Magnum but not necessarily. the 44 Special cases would require different loading due to the shorter length. Personally, I would not load the 44 Special cases to Magnum levels regardless on the off chance they get used in a 44 Special revolver.

I suspect whoever sorted the cases use some automatic system which does not, and cannot, distinguish between the three different cartridges.

Depending on the percentage of off cases would depend on what I would do. A percent or two, I would not return it but never shop at that store again.

If it is a significant number, you may be able to trade or sell the cases and recoup some of your losses.

 

[rcmodel]

Now I've got to drive an hour to return 12 dollars worth of spent brass.

Cut your losses!
Not worth the gas to return it.

Use the .44 Mag brass, and keep, or toss the rest.

It ain't that big a deal in the grand scheme of things.

rc

 

[Rule3]

I would not bother either. I also would be hesitant to load max loads in this brass as who knows how old it is and how many times has it been loaded??

 

[gwalchmai]

Sounds like their QC dept isn't doing their job.

The .44 SPL could be loaded and shot in your .44 MAG, but I wouldn't load it to .44 MAG levels, in case someone fired it in a real .44 SPL. But .44 Winchester is .44-40, isn't it? That wouldn't work at all.

 

[Sam1911]

If you don't want the .44 Spc. cases, plenty of folks would. Count them and put them up for sale for $0.25 per case (or whatever) plus a couple of bux for shipping. Someone will buy them.

 

[Hondo 60]

I could call the store and explain that you're an hour away.
They may help you out if you tell 'em what you paid for vs what you rec'd

 

[buck460XVR]

Like others, my concern would be how many of the bag are not correct. Many times mixed headstamp brass has a few extra thrown in for just this reason. They say 100 on the bag, but when you count 'em out you got 106. If there's 7 that are unuseable or wrong, in reality, you're only out one case. Depending on what you paid, it may be a moot point and not worth the bother. I would call the shop and tell them the story. They may give you a credit or make up for it next time you're in. They may or may not know there's a problem with the brass. But if the attendant said .44W and .44 special was still magnum brass, odds are they don't know any better and may have sorted it themselves. If they blow you off, then I'd go somewhere else next time.

 

[TenDriver]

If you don't want the .44 Spc. cases, plenty of folks would. Count them and put them up for sale for $0.25 per case (or whatever) plus a couple of bux for shipping. Someone will buy them.

Bingo. I've thought about loading both but don't have any SPL brass. I've also seen a few folks on here seeking it out.