.44 special brass

[lino]

Is it safe to shorten .44 Magnum to .44 Special? If so, I would alter the head stamp with my vibrating engraver to insure ammo went in the correct gun.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

If I had extra 44Mag cases and had a need for 44spl cases, I'd just swap with someone who is in the opposite situation.

[runfiverun]

that's a lot of cutting.
but you should be able to pull it off if you needed to.

I wouldn't worry about getting a 44 special in a 44 mag revolver.
I shoot special cases in my 44 magnum-magnum [445 super-mag] revolver and magnum length cases in it too and have no issues.

[SSGOldfart]

Yep it's safe,I have very few 44spl cases but many shortened 44 mag cases,you really don't need to change the HS, unless you just want to. It won't be long before you'll notice the shorter case's when you go reload,and besides a 44mag won't fit a 44 spl,a spl is safe in a 44mag.

[marlin39a]

I have been trimming 44 magnums to 1.150 for use in 44 spl for yrs. I keep kroil and a brush handy, and only do 20 or so and walk away. I'll never own a 44 magnum again, but love my 44 specials.

[Crusty Deary Ol'Coot]

Lino,

I guess I need to ask why?

Unless your making cases for a .44 special revolver, in which case your very likely going to need to have shorter brass, but for just lighter loads in a .44 Mag Revolver load the standard .44 mag brass then put a big red "X" on the head of the case and primer to call your attention to the different load levels.

This way, you save time/brass and can load any of your .44 mag brass at any time for both loads.

As has been indicated, there are no safety issues with cutting down the mag brass to "special" length, but why go to the extra effort unless your shooting a "special" chambered firearm.

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

[telebasher]

Once you shoot one of the little "Flattops" in 44 SPL there is no going back. LOL !!

[bangerjim]

Just buy some SPL's from Starline! I bought 1K of them the other day and never looked back. Now I have MAG's and SPL's when ever I need them. I really like shooting the SPL's in my long barrel 44!

Why waste all your time & effort trying to cut the things off?????????? When you could be out shooting and having fun!?!?!?!?!?

banger

[winelover]

I have shortened a few Magnum cases to salvage cases for the Special versions. Usually, because the case was too short to begin with...... most noticeably, Federal. Sometimes, cases with flaws in the case mouth. I don't make a habit of it....too much work.

Winelover

[yenningComity]

Seems like a lot of work. Maybe if you had some split case mouth 44 mag that you wanted to recycle? Otherwise might be just easier to trade.

[Dutchie]

I've done that too, over the years.Especially with Federal cases .I use to trim all my cases and the ones which are becoming too short or damaged go in to a bin.After a while trim them to 44 SPL.

So in my 8" dan wesson, they are trimmed to 1,145" , a cci 300 primer in the butt , 5,0 grain N320 in the middle and a 225 SWC on top. totals 1,510"
A plinking load , at 25 mtrs they go all in the same hole, on a bad day it made an cloverleaf at the target. ( and 5,2 grains N320 in a standard case with a 240gr SIL bullet had the same grouping !)

Yes a lot of work to retrim from Mag to SPL.

grtz...

[telebasher]

I too just ordered 500 new Starline cases, will be here Friday. But what gets me is after checking a dozen places, you can buy new from Starline cheaper than "once fired range brass". I love Starline's brass. Best I've used ... ever!

[rintinglen]

Once you shoot one of the little "Flattops" in 44 SPL there is no going back. LOL !!
Amen to that!
Mine is the most accurate 44 special I have ever had. Perhaps I should say the only accurate 44 Special I have ever had. It is one of the most accurate revolvers period that I have ever owned.
Back when I was poor, I used to salvage 357 and 44 magnum cases that had small split necks and trim them into specials. It is not a problem as all you have to do is stand them up and pick out the shorties--or longies--when sorting fired brass. Nowadays, I just buy cases.

[telebasher]

Woo-Hoo brown truck just left me a box from Sedalia. Too bad the thermometer says 98 out in my shop so no reloading til in the morning. Gonna try to duplicate Skeeter's load with HS-6.

[Wayne Smith]

I think it was Brian Pierce that published that he found a 44Mag headstamped piece of brass in a box of 44Specials. Just out of curiosity he cut several 44Mag and 44Special pieces of brass and found no difference in their construction. They are identical except for length.