Cutting down Mag brass

[oldgunclub]

I have cut 44 mag to 44 special.What is a good way to permanently mark it? Thanks Sam.

[cjw3]

I used one of those carbide tip engravers for that on a few (blurring out the MAG). I found it was just easier to keep them in their own well-marked box and pay attention to what I was doing.

[tappedandtagged]

I thought you did mark them when you made them shorter....

[Zappa]

Originally Posted by tappedandtagged

I thought you did mark them when you made them shorter....

This ^

I tumble my brass of close diameters all together, .45 ACP, .45LC, .44M, .44Sp, then I sort them into trays. It's obvious when you have a .44M in a tray of .44Sp and vice versa.
Just take all the other trays off the bench when you're loading so only one caliber is within reach at a time.

[Maximumbob54]

Originally Posted by oldgunclub

I have cut 44 mag to 44 special.What is a good way to permanently mark it? Thanks Sam.

Why do you HAVE to do this? Is there really just zero available facory loads you could buy for reloading the brass or brass you could order???

Just curious.

[MichiganScott]

It's a lot less work just to load down the .44 mag unless you are loading for a special.

Starline lists both .44 Special and Russian brass in stock at good prices direct.

[SMSgt]

I've tried markers, brass black, etc., and it all came off in the tumbler. Now I just run them all together and then sort them by length.

[Engineer1911]

Vinegar will give a lovely brown patina that won't come off in a tumbler.

I have gathered brass from a range that is covered with pine needles. The brass is 'chocolate brown' and nothing takes it off except steel wool. Resize your 'special' cases to remove the primer, place a handfull of pine needles in a 1 quart pcooking pot, cover needles with brass cases, and simmer on the stove until you get the right color. To maintain a happy home life, consider using an empty coffee can to'brew' the brass.

[Rule3]

Originally Posted by Engineer1911

Vinegar will give a lovely brown patina that won't come off in a tumbler.

I have gathered brass from a range that is covered with pine needles. The brass is 'chocolate brown' and nothing takes it off except steel wool. Resize your 'special' cases to remove the primer, place a handfull of pine needles in a 1 quart pcooking pot, cover needles with brass cases, and simmer on the stove until you get the right color. To maintain a happy home life, consider using an empty coffee can to'brew' the brass.

Especially nice this time of year. Brings that Holiday scent into the air.

Thanks Martha!

[oldgunclub]

Past Postings asked why I want to cut down 44 Mag brass to 44 special. The 44 Mag brass is wore out from cripping. It is free and it works fine and my 44 specials, which I have three. I cannot load down 44 Mags to fit in a 44 special gun. I guess it is the same reason I reload to save a buck.

Thanks Sam

[Rule3]

Originally Posted by oldgunclub

Past Postings asked why I want to cut down 44 Mag brass to 44 special. The 44 Mag brass is wore out from cripping. It is free and it works fine and my 44 specials, which I have three. I cannot load down 44 Mags to fit in a 44 special gun. I guess it is the same reason I reload to save a buck.

Thanks Sam

I have never done it but any markers or paint would come off. I think the best sounding idea was to gently use a Dremel and sand down the MAG on the head stamp..

[lebomm]

How 'bout just file a small notch in the rim ?

[BlueOvalBandit]

Dykem machinist dye... choose a color and dye the entire case. It will survive a number of tumblings before it needs to be reapplied, as it really has to be scratched off.

Here's an example of 308 brass dyed blue to find a chamber burr