44 magnum help needed

blackhawk8 · July 31, 2014, 05:42 PM

I load 44 magnum. sometime back I bought a bag of 44 brass. Just a few days ago I was checking my brass and on this bag it says 44 Smith & Wesson while my others say 44 Remington magnum. Are these the same or is it a different cartridge ? Thanks

g.willikers · July 31, 2014, 05:57 PM

Yes, er, I mean No.
They are two different cartridges, but,
You can use the 44 S&W cases in your 44Magnum gun, but not with Magnum load data.
They are slightly shorter in length and meant for .44 S&W revolvers.
The Magnum cases are longer to prevent them chambering in older and weaker .44 S&W guns.
But, due to the smaller interior volume, the load data for 44S&W is not the same as for the longer Magnum cases.
Some care is needed.
If the S&W cases are loaded using Magnum data, the pressures will be way too high.
So, you can reload and use them, but with 44 S&W data, not Magnum data.

blackhawk8 · July 31, 2014, 06:03 PM

thanks g. willikers for the help. you never no what your going to run into in this business.

SSA · July 31, 2014, 06:12 PM

44 S&W Special, 44 S&W American, or 44 S&W Russian?

July 31, 2014, 05:42 PM	#1
blackhawk8 Senior Member Join Date: March 26, 2005 Posts: 115	44 magnum help needed I load 44 magnum. sometime back I bought a bag of 44 brass. Just a few days ago I was checking my brass and on this bag it says 44 Smith & Wesson while my others say 44 Remington magnum. Are these the same or is it a different cartridge ? Thanks

July 31, 2014, 05:57 PM	#2
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Yes, er, I mean No. They are two different cartridges, but, You can use the 44 S&W cases in your 44Magnum gun, but not with Magnum load data. They are slightly shorter in length and meant for .44 S&W revolvers. The Magnum cases are longer to prevent them chambering in older and weaker .44 S&W guns. But, due to the smaller interior volume, the load data for 44S&W is not the same as for the longer Magnum cases. Some care is needed. If the S&W cases are loaded using Magnum data, the pressures will be way too high. So, you can reload and use them, but with 44 S&W data, not Magnum data. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

July 31, 2014, 06:03 PM	#3
blackhawk8 Senior Member Join Date: March 26, 2005 Posts: 115	thanks g. willikers for the help. you never no what your going to run into in this business.

July 31, 2014, 06:12 PM	#4
SSA Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2010 Posts: 641	44 S&W Special, 44 S&W American, or 44 S&W Russian?