Just wondering...

deanadell · March 18, 2011, 10:37 AM

...sitting here at my desk at work, not at my reloading bench, so I can't just look......

I have a Lee carbide pistol die set for .44 Magnum. Can I also load .44 Special with these same dies?

Just bought a Charter Arms Bulldog in .44 Special so I was wondering if I was going to have to pick up another set of dies.....

Thanks

Don

overkill0084 · March 18, 2011, 10:43 AM

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct...tnumber=875273
Yes.

Scorch · March 18, 2011, 10:44 AM

Generally, with a 44 Mag die you can also reload 44 Special, although you will have to adjust the die down to roll crimp the bullets. Resizing is no problem (same case diameter), you will just have to check if the seat/crimp die screws down enough to crimp the 44 Specials.

PawPaw · March 18, 2011, 10:46 AM

I've got a .44 Special set that I use to load .44 Special and .44 Magnum. You may be able to use your set to load both calibers.

On Lee's FAQ page, they say this:

Quote:

Frequently, dies from one caliber may be used to load other calibers. Due to the locations of crimping shoulders, the operation may only work for dies of the shorter caliber to the longer. You may notice a label depicting the shorter die in your set for the longer version of the cartridge, we do this to reduce costs.

The only way to find out is to try. As in all things with reloading, be careful and proceed with caution. However, it wouldn't surprise me if the bullet seating/crimp die is the same in both the .44 magnum and the .44 special sets.

g.willikers · March 19, 2011, 03:47 PM

Lee dies, bless their hearts, will do double duty for 44/44M. 38/357, and others, and are marked as such.
But not all dies will.
I have a set of 357 dies that will not even come close to working for a .38.
So, it does pay to ask and look.

zippy13 · March 19, 2011, 04:32 PM

Quote:

I have a set of 357 dies that will not even come close to working for a .38

A .38 or .44 special die can be raised to accommodate a longer magnum cases. But, a magnum specific die can't be lowered or "smallerized" to accommodate the shorter specials. If that's the case, why would anyone get a mag die? Simple, some shooters don't want to miss that bottom 1/10-inch, or so, of the case when sizing a mag case with a special's die.

March 18, 2011, 10:37 AM	#1
deanadell Senior Member Join Date: April 19, 2005 Location: Upstate, South Carolina Posts: 639	Just wondering... ...sitting here at my desk at work, not at my reloading bench, so I can't just look...... I have a Lee carbide pistol die set for .44 Magnum. Can I also load .44 Special with these same dies? Just bought a Charter Arms Bulldog in .44 Special so I was wondering if I was going to have to pick up another set of dies..... Thanks Don

March 18, 2011, 10:43 AM	#2
overkill0084 Senior Member Join Date: August 7, 2010 Location: Northern, UT Posts: 1,162	http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct...tnumber=875273 Yes. __________________ Cheers, Greg “At the core of liberalism is the spoiled child – miserable, as all spoiled children are, unsatisfied, demanding, ill-disciplined, despotic and useless. Liberalism is a philosophy of sniveling brats.” — P.J. O’Rourke

March 18, 2011, 10:44 AM	#3
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	Generally, with a 44 Mag die you can also reload 44 Special, although you will have to adjust the die down to roll crimp the bullets. Resizing is no problem (same case diameter), you will just have to check if the seat/crimp die screws down enough to crimp the 44 Specials. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

March 19, 2011, 03:47 PM	#5
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Lee dies, bless their hearts, will do double duty for 44/44M. 38/357, and others, and are marked as such. But not all dies will. I have a set of 357 dies that will not even come close to working for a .38. So, it does pay to ask and look. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”