The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - how to reload 44 remington mag cartridges

Plaz · June 20, 2010, 04:46 AM

Quote:You haven't said which powder/weight you are using, and which primer. Without that info, it would be impossible to say whether the rounds are safe or not.

As for the loose bullets, it sounds like the only thing holding them in place is the crimp. That could cause some problems with setback if you happen to be making some stout loads.

Did you run the cases through the resizing die? A true .429" bullet shouldn't just slip into a properly sized case.

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The following information applies to my loads:
- Lead: from wheel weights
- CCI large pistol primers
- Powder: W231
- Grains of powder per load: varies between 5.2-6.4 grains
- Mold: Lee 429
- Bullet weight: mostly 250 grains

- Bullet diameters: #1 bullet: .427-.430
#2 bullet: .427-.430
#3 bullet: .427-.428
#4 bullet: .426-.429

- Bullet lengths: #1 bullet: .757
#2 bullet: .754
#3 bullet: .750
#4 bullet: .749

- Cases: all brand new Winchester 44 mag cases

- Inside diameter of the sized cases determined with calipers :
(these variations are astounding, however, there is some consistency in the maximum dimensions)
case #1: .414-.423
case #2: 373-.425
case #3 .386-.424
case #4: .423-.425

- Cartridge COL: All close to 1.610

- Dies: All Hornady 44 remington mag dies: sizer, expander, powder measure, powder cop, and seating/roll crimp dies

- Sizing: attempts were made to size several bullets to .430 inches but only once in a while did a spec of lead be removed from any one bullet. I interpreted this to mean that sizing was unnecessary. Perhaps I was wrong.

- Opinion: I am certain that in some instances the bullet is held in place by the crimp, since in those cases I was able to push the bullet into the case by hand.

I hope I can get some opinions on the safety of these loads.

June 20, 2010, 04:46 AM	#28
Plaz Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2007 Posts: 131	Quote:You haven't said which powder/weight you are using, and which primer. Without that info, it would be impossible to say whether the rounds are safe or not. As for the loose bullets, it sounds like the only thing holding them in place is the crimp. That could cause some problems with setback if you happen to be making some stout loads. Did you run the cases through the resizing die? A true .429" bullet shouldn't just slip into a properly sized case. -------- The following information applies to my loads: - Lead: from wheel weights - CCI large pistol primers - Powder: W231 - Grains of powder per load: varies between 5.2-6.4 grains - Mold: Lee 429 - Bullet weight: mostly 250 grains - Bullet diameters: #1 bullet: .427-.430 #2 bullet: .427-.430 #3 bullet: .427-.428 #4 bullet: .426-.429 - Bullet lengths: #1 bullet: .757 #2 bullet: .754 #3 bullet: .750 #4 bullet: .749 - Cases: all brand new Winchester 44 mag cases - Inside diameter of the sized cases determined with calipers : (these variations are astounding, however, there is some consistency in the maximum dimensions) case #1: .414-.423 case #2: 373-.425 case #3 .386-.424 case #4: .423-.425 - Cartridge COL: All close to 1.610 - Dies: All Hornady 44 remington mag dies: sizer, expander, powder measure, powder cop, and seating/roll crimp dies - Sizing: attempts were made to size several bullets to .430 inches but only once in a while did a spec of lead be removed from any one bullet. I interpreted this to mean that sizing was unnecessary. Perhaps I was wrong. - Opinion: I am certain that in some instances the bullet is held in place by the crimp, since in those cases I was able to push the bullet into the case by hand. I hope I can get some opinions on the safety of these loads. Last edited by Plaz; June 20, 2010 at 05:49 AM.