Will 44 special dies work with 44 mag?

brass shower · February 27, 2002, 11:45 PM

A few months ago I traded for a set of 44 mag dies. Well I finally took a closer look at them yesterday and found that they are really 44 special dies. Dammit. I'm curious if I'll be able to use them for loading my 44 mags or do I need to get a real set of 44 mag dies?

Thanks in advance

Jim Watson · February 28, 2002, 12:15 AM

Most brands will.

Johnny Guest · February 28, 2002, 12:19 AM

it is very easy and possible to load magnums on Special dies--.44, and also .38 Spl/.357 Mag. In fact, some dies are "Combination" sets, lmarked, ".44 Spl/.44 Mag," and so on.

My mistake on .44 dies, back in the 1960s, was the other direction. I bought a set of CH brand .44 dies and they turned out to be for mag only. Couldn't screw the crimp die in far enough to crimp .44 Spl cases. Ended up having to order an RCBS .44 Spl seat/crimp die, for extra money.

Some company offers a spacer-washer, exactly .125" thick, to slip around the .44 Spl die, to set it for .44 Mag crimping, etc. I never bothered with such--too easy to readjust the dies.

I feel it is a very good thing to be able to load both ctgs, even if you don't own a .44 Spl revo. You can put up light loads for target, plinking, small game, what have you, in Spl cases, and use mag cases only for heavier loads.

Best of luck on whichever .44 length you choose.

Best,
Johnny

C.R.Sam · February 28, 2002, 12:24 AM

Johnny right.

Sam

brass shower · February 28, 2002, 12:31 AM

Thanks for your input guys!

Ben Shepherd · February 28, 2002, 01:46 PM

Is the 44 spec. resizer die deep enough for a magnum case?

The other 2 dies will work fine.

BTW: If you want excellent loads 44 mag is really a 4 die set.

Johnny Guest · February 28, 2002, 04:04 PM

Never seen one that wasn't long enough.

Four die sets are nice but not entirely necessary on a single-stage press.

I long ago decided to seat and crimp as different operations. I set the die body out far enough that the crimp shoulder doesn't touch the case mouth and adjust seating stem to place the bullet just where it belongs. When done with that operation on all cases to be loaded, I back out the seating stem a good ways and then set the crimp just where I want THAT. Makes for nice looking ammo, with no lead shaved off to interfer with chambering.

All of above has to do with loading on a single-station press, of course. To get benefit of a progressive, you need the separate seating and crimping dies. The Dillon brand is excellent, and has added benefit of pull-pin disassembly to allow for cleaning without having to remove die body from tool head, and messing up adjustment.

Best,
Johnny

Ben Shepherd · February 28, 2002, 05:18 PM

True. However, on the advice of another forum member I've been using a Redding profile crimp die for 357 and 44 mag.

Result:

1. Extreme velocity spread down substantially.

2. Accuracy measureably better.

This is not intended as a know it all post, just sharing my experience.

I also assume most of us who reload are looking for any improvement we can make.

Sorry if I'm off track a little........

Watchman · March 2, 2002, 01:40 AM

Ben...
Are you saying that the Redding Dies are more accurate than the Dillion ?

I reload 14 calibers on a Dillon press, all of my pistol uses the Dillion dies.

I do have a few sets of Redding Rifles . Do you think that the profile crimp makes that much of a difference over the Dillion taper crimp dies ? How much better is your accuracy ? Is it enough to justify buying a set when I already have the Dillions ?

I'll admit I am an accuracy freak. Not so much with the pistols but more so with the rifles. ANY improvement in accuracy is good.

February 27, 2002, 11:45 PM	#1
brass shower Member Join Date: February 25, 1999 Location: Aurora, CO Posts: 64	Will 44 special dies work with 44 mag? A few months ago I traded for a set of 44 mag dies. Well I finally took a closer look at them yesterday and found that they are really 44 special dies. Dammit. I'm curious if I'll be able to use them for loading my 44 mags or do I need to get a real set of 44 mag dies? Thanks in advance

February 28, 2002, 12:19 AM	#3
Johnny Guest Moderator in Memoriam Join Date: August 28, 1999 Location: North Texas Posts: 4,123	I really believe you're fortunate, brass shower. it is very easy and possible to load magnums on Special dies--.44, and also .38 Spl/.357 Mag. In fact, some dies are "Combination" sets, lmarked, ".44 Spl/.44 Mag," and so on. My mistake on .44 dies, back in the 1960s, was the other direction. I bought a set of CH brand .44 dies and they turned out to be for mag only. Couldn't screw the crimp die in far enough to crimp .44 Spl cases. Ended up having to order an RCBS .44 Spl seat/crimp die, for extra money. Some company offers a spacer-washer, exactly .125" thick, to slip around the .44 Spl die, to set it for .44 Mag crimping, etc. I never bothered with such--too easy to readjust the dies. I feel it is a very good thing to be able to load both ctgs, even if you don't own a .44 Spl revo. You can put up light loads for target, plinking, small game, what have you, in Spl cases, and use mag cases only for heavier loads. Best of luck on whichever .44 length you choose. Best, Johnny

February 28, 2002, 04:04 PM	#7
Johnny Guest Moderator in Memoriam Join Date: August 28, 1999 Location: North Texas Posts: 4,123	Ben--- Never seen one that wasn't long enough. Four die sets are nice but not entirely necessary on a single-stage press. I long ago decided to seat and crimp as different operations. I set the die body out far enough that the crimp shoulder doesn't touch the case mouth and adjust seating stem to place the bullet just where it belongs. When done with that operation on all cases to be loaded, I back out the seating stem a good ways and then set the crimp just where I want THAT. Makes for nice looking ammo, with no lead shaved off to interfer with chambering. All of above has to do with loading on a single-station press, of course. To get benefit of a progressive, you need the separate seating and crimping dies. The Dillon brand is excellent, and has added benefit of pull-pin disassembly to allow for cleaning without having to remove die body from tool head, and messing up adjustment. Best, Johnny

February 28, 2002, 12:15 AM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 19,180	Most brands will.

February 28, 2002, 12:24 AM	#4
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 30, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	Johnny right. Sam

February 28, 2002, 12:31 AM	#5
brass shower Member Join Date: February 25, 1999 Location: Aurora, CO Posts: 64	Thanks for your input guys!

February 28, 2002, 01:46 PM	#6
Ben Shepherd Senior Member Join Date: August 11, 2001 Location: Utah Posts: 1,462	Is the 44 spec. resizer die deep enough for a magnum case? The other 2 dies will work fine. BTW: If you want excellent loads 44 mag is really a 4 die set.

February 28, 2002, 05:18 PM	#8
Ben Shepherd Senior Member Join Date: August 11, 2001 Location: Utah Posts: 1,462	True. However, on the advice of another forum member I've been using a Redding profile crimp die for 357 and 44 mag. Result: 1. Extreme velocity spread down substantially. 2. Accuracy measureably better. This is not intended as a know it all post, just sharing my experience. I also assume most of us who reload are looking for any improvement we can make. Sorry if I'm off track a little........

March 2, 2002, 01:40 AM	#9
Watchman Junior member Join Date: August 9, 2000 Location: ARKANSAS Posts: 484	Ben... Are you saying that the Redding Dies are more accurate than the Dillion ? I reload 14 calibers on a Dillon press, all of my pistol uses the Dillion dies. I do have a few sets of Redding Rifles . Do you think that the profile crimp makes that much of a difference over the Dillion taper crimp dies ? How much better is your accuracy ? Is it enough to justify buying a set when I already have the Dillions ? I'll admit I am an accuracy freak. Not so much with the pistols but more so with the rifles. ANY improvement in accuracy is good.