can i load a 44 mag case with 44 spl charge?

[bullseyebob47]

in my book i see the 44 spl case is a tiny bit shorter than 44 mag case. i use bullseye powder 8 to 10 grs. and a 200 gr. bullet for 44 mag. could i just use my 44 mag case and charge it with 44 spl 5 grs. of bullseye with the same 200 gr. bullets?

 

[shootniron]

You sure can and that is what most folks with a 44mag shoot, the majority of the time. Much more enjoyable to shoot the Specials.

That 5grs of BE will be pretty light in that mag case...might want to bump it up just a little.

 

[mavracer]

might want to bump it up just a little.

+1 for the most part yes you can but with vary light loads you will prolly want to bump them up a few tenths to avoid problems low pressure and/or poor ignition can cause.

 

[Walkalong]

Yes you can. Start a hair above minimum with .44 Spl loads. Obviously with the mag brass in a mag gun, you can go over .44 Spl max a bit as well.

 

[Lost Sheep]

All smokeless powders operate within (relatively) narrow performance parameters. You want to keep any powder within its performance envelope or untoward events may occur. Slower powders are trickier than fast powders (consult a "quickness" chart).

A slightly larger case than the 44 Special (the 44 Magnum) calls for a slightly greater powder charge so that the operational pressure range of your powder is reached in the optimal time (which I am guessing is before the primer flash dissipates). If the case were VERY much larger, the position and distribution of the powder within the case would probably also be a concern.

The same principles would apply to 38 Special vs 357 Magnum and .357 Maximum and the 45 Schofield, 45 Colt, 454 Casull and 460 Smith & Wesson.

One thing you might consider is to seat the bullet deeper to compensate for the longer case, if you don't get into crimping problems.

Lost Sheep

p.s. I use "Special" level charges in magnum cases all the time.

 

[gotboostvr]

The rule of thumb I use for NON-MAX loads going back and forth between the two (magnum and Special cases) is either add or subtract 10%

Powders like 2400, Win 296, N110, 4227 et al. need not apply.

My lightweight plinking loads with RedDot, Unique and the like +/- %10 seems to keep me around the same pressure.

If it's a load I worked up in 44 mag that shows the slightest ammount of pressure, it get's it's only work up in the smaller case.

But my 6.5gr RedDot under a 200gr RNFP in 44mag brass, shoots just as well with 5.9gr in Special brass.
Same with 7.5gr Unique under a 240gr LSWC, or with 6.7gr in Special brass.

 

[Walkalong]

If you have a chrono you can also look at velocities to see if you are close to what you are trying to match in the larger case.

 

[j1]

As the Three Stooges used to say "Soitanly"

 

[shootniron]

Have you ever tried heavier bullets?

I shoot 44mag, but I LOVE 44 special as it will do 99% of what I do. I have a sack full of Special handguns and they, and the 44mags, prefer the heavier bullets. Matter of fact, the only 44cal bullet that I now cast, is the 429421...it does anything that I need the guns to do.

 

[Sunray]

Absolutely. Same as you can .38 loads in .357 cases. Just use .44 Special data. There's no need to adjust anything.
5 grs. of Bullseye is below minimum for a jacketed 200 though. 8 to 10 of Bullseye sounds over max for a jacketed 200 in .44 Mag too. Don't have any 200 grain data myself and there's none on Alliant's site, but 6 is max for a 240 cast.

 

[mdi]

Yep, no problem. I have reloaded my .44 Magnums with 123 gr balls over a dusting of Bullseye up to 300 gr. T-Rex killers over heavy charges of WC820, in Magnum brass...

 

[Lloyd Smale]

your load would be fine. What I wouldn't do is use 110/296 loads for a 44 special in a mag case.

 

[CraigC]

There's no need to adjust anything.

You do if you want to hit the same velocity.

 

[TimSr]

Yes, unless you are using a powder that can't be reduced. Start at mid rang instead of minimum. Depending on your manual, many have reduced loads for lead bullets.

 

[CraigC]

If I was loading .44Spl loads in .44Mag cases, I would use whatever charge would give me the velocity I wanted. "Working up" would be completely unnecessary.

 

[mdi]

No need for special formula when loading Special data in Magnum brass, just remember listed velocities will be slightly higher than loads of Special levels in Magnum brass. But that's the idea, right? Lighter loads in a .44 Magnum using Magnum brass

 

[Rule3]

If you are using 44 Special load data in a 44 Mag, an increase of 10% would compensate for the slightly large case.

 

[Fuego]

I use Unique in my .44 Magnum, the same powder charge as I use for .45ACP.

A very pleasant to shoot and accurate load with a 230 Gr cast lead bullet. Plus I do not have to re-adjust my powder measure.

 

[DaisyCutter]

I think all of my lead SWC or RN bullets are loaded up with 44 spl power loads.

 

[25-5]

I never reloaded a .44 special case. Mag cases only to special or mag specs. Lead for special and JHP for mags is easy to keep track.