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Thread: 44 shorts

  1. #1
    Boolit Mold
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    44 shorts

    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?

  2. #2
    Boolit Buddy

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    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

  3. #3
    Boolit Mold
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    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.

  4. #4
    Boolit Buddy
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    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.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master
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    old Hand Loader mags. are a great wealth of info.!

  6. #6
    Boolit Buddy
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    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.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master

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    Quote Originally Posted by toot View Post
    old Hand Loader mags. are a great wealth of info.!
    The key word of this post is "old". The newer Handloader magazines are not near the quality of the older ones.

  8. #8
    Boolit Mold
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    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

  9. #9
    Boolit Buddy
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    Russ Gaertner used 185 gr SWC bullets and Bullseye powder. Said 4.0 gr Bullseye gave best accuracy.

  10. #10
    Boolit Grand Master Bazoo's Avatar
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    Pretty neat. Thanks for sharing. What’s the purpose of doing this?

  11. #11
    Boolit Buddy
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    They were plinking loads, I think before 44 Russian became available enough due to Cowboy Action Shooting. Just a guess.
    Last edited by Brasso; 12-11-2022 at 11:56 AM. Reason: Typo

  12. #12
    Boolit Mold
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    Just for fun I think. Ultra light loads. I loaded them way back for a Charter arms Bulldog.

  13. #13
    Boolit Grand Master


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    Dang it! Another project to try out
    Old enough to know better, young enough to do it anyway!

    Men who don't understand women fall into two categories: bachelors and husbands!

  14. #14
    Boolit Grand Master Bazoo's Avatar
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    Hmm. I have some 45 brass. I have a steel 44 sizer set. I might give it a go.

  15. #15
    Boolit Mold
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    Any ideas on what powder and charge to try with my 115 gr wadcutter?

  16. #16
    Boolit Master
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    OK, what am I missing. How does this 44 Short made from 45 ACP brass headspace in a 44 Mag single action cylinder?
    COME AND TAKE IT
    Let’s Go Brandon!!!!

  17. #17
    Boolit Buddy
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    You swage down everything but the rim. Shot them in my Ruger SBH.

  18. #18
    Boolit Master

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    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!!
    Facta non verba

  19. #19
    Boolit Master
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    Thanks for the explanation! I will try it.
    COME AND TAKE IT
    Let’s Go Brandon!!!!

  20. #20
    Boolit Grand Master Bazoo's Avatar
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    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.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check