Making 44 special brass

[303 hunter]

I have a bunch of 44 magnum brass. I was wondering if I could cut it down to 44 special length with a case trimmer safely. Are the internal dimensions of the magnum/special similar if cut to the same length?

 

[MMCSRET]

Save yourself a lot of time consuming labor and offer them for trade in the classifieds. Set your terms and see what comes your way.

 

[rcmodel]

Are the internal dimensions of the magnum/special similar if cut to the same length?

No. The magnum cases have a thicker case web and thicker base which makes for less powder capacity then a thinner .44 Spl case.

I agree it can be done, but people will buy .44 Mag brass.
Maybe even trade you some .44 Spl brass for it?

rc

 

[highlander 5]

Unless you have a 44 Spl revolver why not use lighter loads? Using 44Spl brass in a 44 mag just makes more work to cleam the cylinder/chambers.

 

[Hunt480]

No. The magnum cases have a thicker case web and thicker base which makes for less powder capacity then a thinner .44 Spl case.

RC, thought I would ask...does this also mean you can shoot a hotter 44Spl load with the cut 44mag brass? You got me thinking...It would seem the cut 44mag brass is tougher than standard 44Spl...

I have been thinking about cutting down some 44mag brass but I did'nt know there was these actual differences you descibed...

 

[rcmodel]

No.

.44 Spl revolver cases don't fail due to too much pressure.
.44 Spl Revolver Cylinders fail due to too much pressure.

IMO: I think cutting .44 Mag brass would actually be counter productive.
They would have less powder capacity, so you couldn't use as much powder without exceeding pressure limits.

More case capacity of standard .44 Spl brass would give you more powder = more expanding gas to drive the bullet faster at the same or less pressure.

rc

 

[Walkalong]

People will be glad to buy them, or trade with you. Way too much trouble to make suedo .44 Spl cases from them.

 

[joneb]

I have a bunch of 44 magnum brass. I was wondering if I could cut it down to 44 special length

I had the same problem, a shortage of .44 spl brass and a abundance of .44mag.
Most of my 44spl brass has been trimmed to 1.148" for the sake of happy crimping. I trimmed 50ct 44 mag. cases to 1.158", you'll want to have a in/outside chamfer tool.
I loaded the trimmed 44 mag cases with 200gr Nosler JHP and backed off my load of W231 .4gr. They shot fine.
I think a 240gr bullet would have a more pronounced bullet base bulge in the case, as this would be about where the case thickens.
This is a 44 mag case trimmed to 1.158" with a 180gr Sierra JHC .4295"

After trimming 50 you may find its not as fun as you thought it would be

 

[joneb]

Just for fun I weighed a sized .44spl W-W case trimmed at 1.147" it weighed 104.7gr
then I weighed a sized .44mag W-W case trimmed at 1.158" it weighed 101.5gr

PS,
this is telling me as far as W-W cases are concerned there are no differences between .44spl and .44magnum cases other than the length and the headstamp.

 

[FROGO207]

The weight of water in the primed/fired case less the dry case weight will give you the water volume and that could be different than just weighing the casing alone. I would try this on at least a couple of each you want to check. Web thickness, wall thickness, rim thickness/dia., and primer hole size all play a role in the total weight of a casing. Variation in the 44 SPL--MAG construction will allow differences in water capacity while weighing close to the same when trimmed identically. If shooting it in a 44 MAG firearm the point is moot. In a 44SPL there could be a problem especially with older firearms. I would investigate well before attempting something without pressure measuring equipment available.