44 Mag/44 Special Question

[jtsteiert]

I just picked up a S&W 629 in 44 mag, I am wanting to reload for this gun but do not know if the die set for 44 mag will also load 44 special?
I'm not new to reloading just new to this caliber.

thanks for your guidance.

 

[MikeyB]

Most die sets today will do both.

 

[Krogen]

Check the box or the dies, they should show something like 44Mag/44Sp if they'll do both. Older 44 Mag dies sometimes placed the crimp ridge too high to crimp 44 Special, but that's about the only difference. If you have one of those sets, you could by a Lee factory crimp die to use with them for 44 Special.

 

[Larry from Bend]

My RCBS carbide dies even came with a spacer that covers the different case lengths.. I also recommend the use of a profile crimp die ---- Mine's a Redding.

 

[jtsteiert]

Thanks everyone, that's what I was hoping... Now to find some once fired brass.

 

[moxie]

The only difference is using the supplied washer (spacer) with the sizer die.

 

[bambambam]

If you have mag brass why not load it to special velocities? Would save you from having to buy more brass.

 

[retired_diver]

The only difference is using the supplied washer (spacer) with the sizer die.

most die sets for handguns come with 3 dies, sizing/decap, flaring and seating/crimping. If you set the dies up to load 44spl then you can use the spacer to load 44 mag. The spacer must be used with both the flaring and seating/crimping dies.

You can load the 44 mag cases down to not punish your arm or hand depending on your pain tolerance I have a 4" 629 and it is just to painful to shoot more than say 18 "full house" rounds through it at a session anymore. (I have had it for more than 30 years and getting close to 10k rounds thru it) I have a load that shoots well and feels "good" with 6.5gr of w231 and a 240gr swc hardcast bullet that I can shoot all day and still have "fun". You can start there if you want?

 

[Harry_Callahan]

44Special dies will always reload 44Magnum

the other way around no

check the note one the Lee's:

3 Die Set 44 Spl Carbide - Lee Precision

the 44Magnum have no note for 44Special

http://leeprecision.com/3-die-set-44mag-carbide.html

the problem is with the bullet seader die, if you have the 44Magnum dies you can't screw bullet seader in enough for the 44 special shorter chase

I found this out with the Lee 38Special Dies and 357 Dies...the 357 weren't correct for 38 special


so I follow a little rule: the dies for the shorter cases will always reload the taller case(example: 38Spl is ok for 357. 44Spl is ok for 44Magnum, in Italy 9x19[9 Luger] is okay for 9x21)

 

[moxie]

most die sets for handguns come with 3 dies, sizing/decap, flaring and seating/crimping. If you set the dies up to load 44spl then you can use the spacer to load 44 mag. The spacer must be used with both the flaring and seating/crimping dies.

Thanks to retired diver for the correction. Yes, the spacer is used with the expander and seater/crimper dies. Use the sizer die without the washer.

 

[jtsteiert]

Thanks for the information guys, lots of good info here!
I bought some brass from a awesome member on this site, he pulled out of his own personal stash and sold it to me so I could get started. I will pick up the die set and some lead this week and start loading my test rounds. I am using Unique for my powder, I also have large pistol primers and large pistol magnum primers, which should I use for 44 spl loads? I m thinking the regular non mag primers but would like to hear from some that have more experience with this caliber than I have .

 

[SteveFi]

stick with the large pistol for .44 special - most data should be for the non-magnum primer - save your magnum primers for the full bore .44 mag loads. Unique sure doesnt need a magnum primer

 

[Neumann]

The only difference is using the supplied washer (spacer) with the sizer die.

The sizing die is set the same for either case - just touching the shell holder. A spacer is for the expander die and seater/crimper die.

 

[scouse]

I have been loading Lyman Keith bullets over a.44 special load of Unique ,in magnum cases with phenominal results.

 

[fredj338]

AS noted, most dies should reload both. I gave up on 44sp & 38sp years ago in my magnums. Just download the larger cases. You don't have to fuss with the dies & you don't get the carbon & errosion in the cyl throats from shooting a steady diet of the shorter cases.

 

[tlay]

I know the dies for 44 special/44 mag. can be used for both but I have bought dies for each separately. I find with my Lee Turret press that I don't have any of the hassle if I have each with their own setup. I did the same with 38 special/357 mag. If you buy the Lee dies it is not that expensive.