Making .44 mag brass from .308

[wmitty]

Anyone remember an article in Handloader from 60's/early 70's about cutting down rifle brass and reaming it to allow use in a .44? I'd like to find a copy if it's still available. I'm tired of waiting on Starline...

[armednfree]

That was 45 Winchester Magnum and 44 AMP I believe

[wmitty]

Found it - May/June of '77 by Wayne Blackwell.

[runfiverun]

if you don't mind head spacing on the case mouth it can/could be done.
you'll have to modify your load data some though as I doubt the two have the same case capacity.

[Daddyfixit]

I remember making 44 auto mag w/308 & 30-06 brass.
I bought some brass from this guy a while ago, looks like he still has some once fired cases.
http://shop.kensbrass.com/44-Remingt...44MgMxBr50.htm

[GoodOlBoy]

yeah that's my recollection is that it was 44 automag, not 44 mag. But I dunno for certain.

GoodOlBoy

[PbHurler]

44 mag is rimmed, 44 automag is rimless. The 308 brass would be used to produce the 44 automag "type" brass.

[Firebricker]

The article is .44 Mag from 30/06 and it does work I did one case to try it awhile back. FB

[dale2242]

I have a set of RCBS dies to make 44 Auto Mag brass.
Only one company made brass for the 44 AMP as I recall.
I don`t think any factory is available now.....dale

[Piedmont]

Pbhurler has it. Just like making .44 cases from .45 ACP you leave a vestigial rim for headspacing.

[wwmartin]

Star Line makes 44 AMP brass and is taking backorders. WW

[Tatume]

Midway has Remington primed 44 Rem Mag brass for $39 per 100.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/160...ProductFinding

[EDG]

Yes there was an article on that conversion. To make it headspace he took a punch and pushed the rim forward 4 places to get it thick enough to headspace. All in all more of a stunt than anything practical. I have tried to form .308 brass to .450 head size for several rounds. You can do it but you better need it bad because it is a lot of work. There is no good reason for it with the .44 mag.

[DeputyDog25]

I just bought 300 pcs @ $19.00 per hundred here: http://eastcoastarsenal.com/product/...ss-once-fired/

[Reg]

Best to stay with a factory type of brass for your 44 but in a pinch you can reform 45 ACP brass that will work for milder .44 loads, they even headspace up properly. Can only be used for mild, NOT magnum loads , Had a bit of trouble using them in a Smith M-29 but they worked perfectly in two different single action types and were the best load yet in a single shot Martini. They will not feed through a lever repeater because of the shortened length.
If interested, look up the thread by 454PB

[Hardcast416taylor]

I recall reading that article back then about making .44 Auto-Mag rounds from Mil.Surp .308 brass so you can use them in your Auto-Mag/AMT pistol. There was also an article or more on making ACP .45 brass from rifle cases years before the .44 article. For the price of brass the question arises "Why put so much time and effort into making cases (that might work okay) that can be bought and are ready to load and shoot? Being able to make them is an admirable thing, but what is your time doing this task worth?Robert

[Leadmelter]

Making 44 AMP brass from the 308 family of brass is a real chore and is best done when there is about 10 feet of snow on the ground and you are going out of your mind. Very tedious process. Best to wait for a run of Starline and buy a bunch.
I use the old brass that I formed when I want to shoot and not pick it up in the field. The Starline is much more uniform.
I shoot the 357 AMP, 41 JMP and 44 AMP.
Patience.
Leadmelter
MI

[dale2242]

Good to hear that Starline is making the 44 Auto Mag brass.
Thanks....dale

[Kraschenbirn]

As I was reading this thread, I recalled an old Shooting Times(?) article about modifying an S&W M29 to accept M25-style 'full moon' clips that involved forming 'rimless' .44 Mag cases from .308 brass. Author was building a gun for bowling pin matches and was attempting to obtain the 'knock-down' of full-house .44 loads with the rapid reload of an M25.

Bill

[jonk]

I know you can make .45 ACP out of anything with an 06 sized case head. Reaming is of course required, and load development to reflect the far thicker case walls and reduced powder capacity. Blow by due to the thick case walls is to be expected. But it can be done; and I see no reason why not for the auto mag as well.