Do any of the old timers on here remember a write up in a gun magazine about making 44 shorts out of 45 acp cases? At least 40 years ago?
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Do any of the old timers on here remember a write up in a gun magazine about making 44 shorts out of 45 acp cases? At least 40 years ago?
Had a friend from northern California that had 45 ACP resized to shoot in 44 Mag. Got no idea how he did it. Several years later tried but I don't have anything with enough power to swage the web of 45 acp down. Hoping someone with more memory pops up. GW
I made some cases. Trying to remember what I loaded them with. I ran the 45 cases up in a crimp die and over crimped them so they would start in the 44 sizer. I know I just had a RCBS reg press back then. I pushed them all the way in with a primer swagger. Had to drive them out with a punch. Used lots of lube.
I did that back in the 70's with a 44 Mag sizing die in a vise. After about 15 pieces the die split. Cant remember the load I shot. I'll see if I can find it in the old Handloader Magazine.
old Hand Loader mags. are a great wealth of info.!
Russ Gaetner was the author of the articles. Handloader #42, page 24. He used a vise, and a 44 sizing die, and a knockout rod. Commercial cases were preferred. Flaring the case mouth was done with a ground off die, or a ball bearing. He special ordered a seat/crimp die that was short enough to crimp the cases. A 44 Russian might do, or a ground off seater die. A crimp was necessary. The case mouth walls were so thin .433-.435 bullets worked best. If you have a S&W with oversized cylinder throats, this might be a good path to follow.
Like I said I pushed them up with a primer pocket swagger. I cut the bottom off a 44 special die with a dremel tool. I am making some cases but can't remember what I loaded them with. I have a 115 gr wadcutter mold. That will make a bullet wider than it is thick! LOL
Russ Gaertner used 185 gr SWC bullets and Bullseye powder. Said 4.0 gr Bullseye gave best accuracy.
Pretty neat. Thanks for sharing. What’s the purpose of doing this?
They were plinking loads, I think before 44 Russian became available enough due to Cowboy Action Shooting. Just a guess.
Just for fun I think. Ultra light loads. I loaded them way back for a Charter arms Bulldog.
Dang it! Another project to try out:bigsmyl2:
Hmm. I have some 45 brass. I have a steel 44 sizer set. I might give it a go.
Any ideas on what powder and charge to try with my 115 gr wadcutter?
OK, what am I missing. How does this 44 Short made from 45 ACP brass headspace in a 44 Mag single action cylinder?
You swage down everything but the rim. Shot them in my Ruger SBH.
Made a bunch and still use them. Use commercial cases, with a good lube push into 44 Mag FL die but stop just short of the rim, tap out with brass punch. Do not use carbide die or it will crack the carbide ring , so far have had no primer pocket issues. I cutback a extra 44 seating die for seating and a standard expanding did works just fine. Due to decreased capacity use for lighter loads only or you will have pressure issues. These have worked fine in several different single actions but have had ejection problems in a Smith 29. Worked very well in a Mag single shot but I can see feeding problems in lever actions. I didn’t dream this one up but rather it was well covered here about ten years ago. Try it. It really works slick!!
Thanks for the explanation! I will try it.
I’m thinking it’s a way to make small primer 44 cases. That way I can use small primers when I have them available. Maybe small rifle primers even, as I have no other use.
I have the Lyman ram prime system. It has a flat shell holder. Should work just fine. Be easy enough with a brass knockout rod. We’ll see how it goes. Preciate the ideas.