The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

This is probably a really stupid question but do you need 2 different sets of dies for 44 mag and 44 special or are they the same die?

Cheers
Dave

44 Spec will do both...not sure if 44 Mag can be adjusted down the extra length to do the shorter cases

In my experience they are the same dies; the RCBS set I have came with a spacer (like a washer, with a bigger hole) which is the thickness which compensates for the difference in size between .44 Special and .44 Mag. The idea is that you can set up the dies so that with the spacer in place, the case is .44Mag, and without the spacer, .44SPL. (Note that there is no need for the spacer with the size/decap die -- only the expander and seat dies.)

Or you can simply ignore the spacer, and set up the dies for the cases you use, if you only have one or the other. That's what I do with .44Mag, but the same system operates with .357Mag/.38SPL. There I set up my expand die for both, and have paid the price in many ruined cases over the years, due to forgetting to use the spacer when working with .357Mag cases.

David.

Cheers for the quick replies. Will mainly be using special anyway but might want to use magnums when extra noise is required

You can usually use 44 spec for 44mag but not the other way round.

The issue is the crimp die, a 44 mag crimp die won't crimp a 44 spec because of the extra length of a the magnum round, szing dies are usually the same.

As has been said RCBS just use a spacer, but other have different dies.

dromia wrote:You can usually use 44 spec for 44mag but not the other way round.

The issue is the crimp die, a 44 mag crimp die won't crimp a 44 spec because of the extra length of a the magnum round, szing dies are usually the same.

As has been said RCBS just use a spacer, but other have different dies.

I knew there was a good reason why I chose RCBS dies, way back when -- now I know why!

David.

Running Special through a Marlin (should you be using this rifle) is recommended that the COL is loaded to Magnum length to reliably function. My Rossi didn't like special length either. Likewise, you'll need a regular cleaning regime to avoid the build up of carbon/lead in the chamber at the mouth of the special case which will make it difficult/impossible to chamber magnum cased ammunition if this ring gets too large/hard.

Avoid it. Stick with magnum length cases and load special data...

Sim G wrote:
Avoid it. Stick with magnum length cases and load special data...

This.
Better in the long run.

So looks like I'll be using mag cases then. Once again, thanks very much.

My load, which has proved safe and accurate in my Marlin is; Starline magnum cases, CCI primers, 6.0gns Unique, all behind a bulk shop bought, hard cast 240gn LRNFP or 240gn SWC.

One hole ragged groups at 25m and two inch groups at 50m. Runs out of steam howver, for anything beyond this.

The teeth rattling load, again safe in my gun, 200gn jacketed Hornady and 29gns of H110. Shot this out to 300m with decent success!