.44Spl. loads in .44mag brass?

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Historically I have not downloaded the .44 Mag, I just shot my .44 Spl, but lately I have been thinking of doing so just to be able to shoot my Redhawk more. Yea, I know, I could shoot my .44 Spl loads in .44 Spl brass in it.... :)

After my success with BE-86 in midrange .357 Mag loads, that is what I would try.
 
Ruger Super Blackhawk 7 1/2 Barrel 44 mag

44 mag case "Starline"
CCI 300 primer
OAL 1.580
240 GR RNFP "RMR"

BE 86

9.5gr 1031 avg velocity
10 gr 1083 avg velocity
10.5 gr 1130 avg velocity


I find BE 86 versatile just like unique but unique has so much proven loads and data out as it has been around
awhile unique may be more forgiving I do not know
 
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I only shoot .44 Spl brass in my .44 Spl revolvers. In the .44 mags, I load from mild to wild using Trail Boss at the low end, Unique for intermediate loads, and 2400 for stout magnums. Trail Boss is great for mild loads in magnum cases, .44 or .357.
 
Yea, I know, I could shoot my .44 Spl loads in .44 Spl brass in it.... :)

Right.

Since I reload, it gives me the option of down loading ammunition loaded in 44 Magnum cases.

I know some folks differentiate their magnum loads versus soft loads by the case, Special vs Magnum, that they use. That is a good way to to do it.

I load different bullets using jacketed bullet for magnum round and cast bullets for the powder puff stuff.

Do what works best for you. Just keep good records on what is loaded in the case.

As I said before, since I have 44 Special and 44 Magnum revolvers, I prefer to use the 44 Magnum case in the 44 Magnum revolver and save the 44 Special cases for the 44 Special revolvers.
 
Right.

Since I reload, it gives me the option of down loading ammunition loaded in 44 Magnum cases.

Same here.......and it's still .44 magnum. It's not about the load, but the case the bullet is in. Never understood why downloading calibers like .357 and .44 are such a mystery. Plenty of info in reloading manuals and legitimate and reputable online sites to find .357 mag and .44 mag recipes that give .38 special and .44 special velocities, pressures and recoil.
 
I always load 44 special loads in 44 special brass and 44 magnum in 44 magnum brass. Same with .357 magnum & 38 special. That way there is never any confusion down the road. And if you are worried about a carbon ring that comes from shooting specials in magnum revolvers get yourself one of these. otisbrassborebrush.jpg
 
I'm curious what the loss is when loading like for like. I'm loading 240g lead projectiles in special brass over 7.5g of Unique and got an average of 918 fps from them. In a magnum case, I'm curious what the fps loss would be.

Related... but not quite.

I started loading cast for all my lever-actions... including a 170grn .309" bullet for both the .30-30 and the .308 (Savage 99) over the same charge of IMR3031, IMR4198, or IMR4227. I was surprised at the significant difference in velocity between the two... chalked up to differences in case volume, almost all else being equal. .308 Norma is correct... it translated to about 10-12% between the loads.
 
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