Author Topic: .44 mag shell holding .44spec loads? (Read 1175 times)

henry1 · « **on:** November 25, 2004, 05:34:08 PM »

He guys, Was thinking about cutting some .44mag shells down to .44 spec shells but then I thought why? Why do that when you could just take the powder and the bullet that you would put in the .44spec and put it in the .44 mag. It would be 3gr of tightgroup and a 240gr lasercast bull. I was wondering if it would be safe to do this or not. wasnt sure if I could do it or not so thats why I came to you guys. Thanks for the info and advise. Hank

Paladin · « **Reply #1 on:** November 25, 2004, 05:52:49 PM »

according to my info 3 grains of tightgroup is 1 grain under load in a 44 special. 4.7 grains in a 44 mag minimum!! I seen the cylinder blown out on a ruger super black hawk with to light a load of 450. do not under load it's very dangerous

henry1 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 25, 2004, 07:02:30 PM »

mmmmm, maybe I aint as safe as i thought i was. I used the little pamplet(SP) thing that Hodgden gives out. The load that they list for the .44 mag with 240gr bullets is 10gr. The one that they have for the special is 4.8. I chose to go under this load in the special case cause those are max loads. I read my scale off by 8grs last Feb. and ended up with 18grs of tightgroup in a mag case. It blew my sweetie up. :cry: I sent it back to ruger and got a deal on another one. So now I am damn sure that I read that scale right and that I am a few(1-2)grs under the sugested load. Thats why its so low. Maybe i should kick it up to 3.5grs?

Graybeard · « **Reply #3 on:** November 25, 2004, 11:02:06 PM »

Maybe you should buy you some manuals and a new scale with digital read out and load what the books say to load. You've blown up one and survived, I assume with all body parts intact. I did the same. Now is the time to follow the books to the letter. DO NOT assume less is better in all cases. Some times it's as bad as too much. Load what the books say to load. Don't second guess them.

Paladin · « **Reply #4 on:** November 26, 2004, 02:00:58 PM »

henry1 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 26, 2004, 05:47:39 PM »

Ya, since then I have aquired about 3 other books now. Fortanatly nobody was hurt. The creator was without a doubt, looking over all of us that day. There was about 6 of us, and nobody got a scratch. We were verry lucky.
Anyway, back to the question, Do you think that I would be better off cutting them to .44special specs.? or would it be safe just to leave them? Let me know. thats why I am here asking questions, so i dont blow another one up. Thanks for all the input guys I appricate it. Thanks Graybeard. Hank.

henry1 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 26, 2004, 05:49:28 PM »

Thanks to you too Paladin

Graybeard · « **Reply #7 on:** November 27, 2004, 05:10:44 AM »

Since you're using a .44 Magnum chamber I'd just leave them full length. BUT use .44 Mag data NOT .44 Special data and use it as the books show it.

henry1 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 27, 2004, 04:37:59 PM »

Ok, Thanks for the advice. Its appriciated. Hank. :grin:

gino · « **Reply #9 on:** November 28, 2004, 02:19:39 AM »

I have a sign posted over my loading bench that says: "Follow Thy Loading Instructions Lest Thy Breech Rise Up And Smite Thee!". Always found that to be good advice!
gino

Dan Chamberlain · « **Reply #10 on:** November 28, 2004, 05:33:11 AM »

Henry;

You're a cheap and foolish man! Buy some .44 special brass and reload proper .44 special loads! Godalmighty!

Dan C

henry1 · « **Reply #11 on:** November 28, 2004, 04:33:35 PM »

Dan,
You sound like you use 100 dollar bills to replace your TP. I dont think I am cheap, just short on green bills and overflowing with white ones. I dont think I am foolish either, just seein if theres another way to save money. Just seeing what all you guys thought. But thanks for sharing your thoughts and making me feel good about myself. If you think I am cheap and foolish then I am gona have to think that you are a unconsiderate !@#*ole. You dont even know me, nor i you. So since you expresed your judgement I will have to return the favor. Thanks abunch buddy. Thanks to all those who held their negative thoughts. Henry.

inluvwithsara · « **Reply #12 on:** November 29, 2004, 03:34:16 AM »

when making a "new batch" I make 15 rounds of three different loads...and try them out...figure out which one is best for my needs...then crank them out...

For a softer plesent shooter in a 44mag...find a loading manual for cowboy loads...my wife loves my SBH with those...my nephew likes to shoot nasty full loads...I mark and document every box and the hot stuff brass is marked ...nothing gets produced without alot of reading...
to save money I switched from Acurate #7 and remington 240grain SJHPs to Unique and 300 grain cast lead this has droped my prices alot...
Just a thought...

henry1 · « **Reply #13 on:** November 29, 2004, 11:12:45 AM »

inluvwithsara,
Thats a great idea! thanks for the info. Do you have any loads that are relativly light? Would you want to share em with me? I was looking for lighter loads and made some but I dont have verry many .44 spec. shells. thanks again man, I appriciate it. Hank

Dan Chamberlain · « **Reply #14 on:** November 29, 2004, 02:12:06 PM »

Henry;

First, let me apologize. Since you admitted you had already blown up a gun and were still in the theoretically experimental stage, I was mildly astonished! There is no need to make .44 special cases if all you have are .44 maggies if the gun is a maggie. Your money would be better spent on different powders. For the large cases, you need to get away from the powders that are in the 3 and 4 grain range and go to powders that do a better job of filling the cases. There are powders that will give you .44 special velocities and pressures in .44 Mag cases. Unique is one of my favorites with a 240 grain cast lead, I can shoot 800fps easily. Accurate Arms #5 will give you a bit more velocity, around 1000fps, but still within the warmer .44 special realm.

Again, you didn't deserve my derision and I spoke out of turn. However, please, please understand you are dealing with hand grenades if you make a serious error.

Dan C

henry1 · « **Reply #15 on:** November 29, 2004, 02:24:15 PM »

Dan,
I am sorry too. I think I was caught at a bad time last night and took it a little to far. Your apology is accepted, and i hope you accept mine. Thanks for sharing the info, I really appriciate it. After all thats why i posted. Thanks again man. I am gona half to do like you said and buy some different powders and make some loads up that you were talking about. Thanks again guys, to all of you. Hank.

oso45-70 · « **Reply #16 on:** November 29, 2004, 05:14:19 PM »

Henry 1,

Dan has it right, For plinking loads i use Unique a lot. For a light load i would start with 7 1/2 to 8 grains of Unique. After trying these loads you may want to either go up or down. I think you would be better off using
your 44 mag. brass, your accuracy will be better. Stay safe.......Joe......

inluvwithsara · « **Reply #17 on:** November 30, 2004, 01:11:17 AM »

I use 7-8 grains of unique as well in starline 44mag brass under a 300grain lead bullet...
10 grains I use for those moments I want more umph...but those are getting far and few between these days...I use 6 grains for my Cowboy loads...
Note...I am a reloader, not a reloading manual...take my recipes as opinion, not fact...

Dan Chamberlain · « **Reply #18 on:** November 30, 2004, 02:03:44 AM »

Henry;

Also, if your gun is chambered for .44 maggie, using .44 special brass allows for a bit of bullet jump before you reach the chamber throat. Lead can build up there and it can be difficult to clean. Even a better reason to use .44 mag brass. But if you need .44 special, email me your address and I'll send you 50 to start.

danchamberlain@hotmail.com

Dan C

henry1 · « **Reply #19 on:** November 30, 2004, 02:22:10 AM »

k, cool. Thanks a bunch guys, i really appriciate it. Thanks again guys. Hank

unspellable · « **Reply #20 on:** November 30, 2004, 02:33:36 AM »

I use 44 Mag brass for all my loads in 44 mag chambers. I also have 44 Special chambered guns. IFor these I simply buy 44 Special brass, why go to the toruble of shortening 44 Mags?

There is plenty of loading data around for mild loads in the 44 mag. For years I've used 10.6 grains of Unique behind a 245 grain bullet for 1000 fps from a 6.5 inch S&W. While mild, this is probably still too hot for serious target work, especially on an indoor range.

henry1 · « **Reply #21 on:** November 30, 2004, 02:03:28 PM »

Cause it costs money that i dont have :eek: . Good idea though.

Longfin · « **Reply #22 on:** November 30, 2004, 04:45:42 PM »

Hello Henry 1,
I traveled down this same trail about a year ago looking for a 44 special or .44-40 range load to shoot in my Marlin 1894CB w/24 inch barrel. My yongest daughter loves to shoot 44 Specials in that rifle, but they are expensive and I have lots of magnum brass. Also the crud ring build up was not desirable. Anyway, I did the research and read lots of posts on the old Marlin Talk site. Tried several loads and the following worked the best for me in that rifle. All loads with 205 grain RNFP from NBC.
10 g of Blue Dot
8 grains Universal
4.7 g Titegroup
6.5 g 700X.
The 6.5 of 700X proved to be the most accurate load without changing sight setting.
Best of luck with finding the load your gun likes. Check the Hodgdon site for load info.
Longfin

inluvwithsara · « **Reply #23 on:** December 07, 2004, 06:52:09 AM »

Because I do have to buy new brass from time to time, I save up and buy Starline...and man is it worth it...I have never tried to reload 44 special...only 44mag for the same reasons that some others have listed...and so I can tell the loads apart outside of the case, I color code the bottom of the shell with a sharpie marker...

The other reason for not switching brass for Mag to Special is the anoyance of re calibrating each time...

Steve P · « **Reply #24 on:** December 08, 2004, 04:06:46 PM »

Here are a few more tips that I hope will help you.

When I am using smaller loads of powder in larger capacity cases, I use little round wads of filler to help hold the powder in the case. Use an old brass of same diameter, drill out the primer hole, and put a nail thru the primer hole from the inside. (head of the nail is inside the case.) Use the brass case to push thru one of those foam trays that you get your meat in at the super market. After 3 or 4 or 5 wads cut, push on the nail and the head will push the wads out. As you drop your powder, put a foam wad on top and tamp it down to to hold the powder in place. Less chance of getting a spike and usually more accurate loads.

Like the prior posts said, read your reloading manuals. They will tell you which powders become dangerous when using lighter loads. Powders that come to mind are H110 and 296. Dont ever go lower than manual loads with these.

I like Unique and also Clays and Universal clays in light 44 loads. Loads are right on the Clays bottles.

Have fun, shoot straight, be safe. Enjoy.

Steve