Colleagues…some ignorant questions…..forgive me…I have never reloaded.

I am a plinker….I would plink more with my Ruger lever 44….but you are not supposed to use 44 special in it….and even if you could…they are as expensive as 44 mag. Furthermore….44 mag is frankly unpleasant to plink with. So me thinks….if I were to load my own 44 mag cartridges….I could use mild loads…and plink with my 44. Good idea? Bad idea?

So…if I pursued this….is the 44 mag easy to reload? Is it a straight walled case (which I understand are easier to reload)? I am thinking that using mild loads….I could probably reuse a 44 mag case indefinitely? If this is a fools errand…please do disabuse me of my folly.

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Hi

I have loaded 44 mag and 44 special for years

Hot loads, mild loads and even blackpowder loads.

I find that if I use mild target loads I can load a case at least five times.

It is an easy case to load in my opinion. (worth just what ya paid for it)

Hope that helps
Kid

I shoot all kinds of reduced loads in my .44 Mag Redhawk. Best thing you could do is buy a good reloading manual and read up on reloading procedures and recommended loads. There are certain powders that should not be used in reduced loads and others that work fine. Case life is great. I can't remember the last time I threw away a damaged .44 case.

Yes it is a straight walled case and if you use carbide dies you don't even need to lube the case prior to resizing. There is a ton of more information that could be shared with you but as I said studying a manual would be the way to go.

Jack

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BE HALF THE MAN YOUR DOG THINKS YOU ARE!!
2005 Co-Champion Series 2 Scope Class/Unmodded Barrel

Thanks gentlemen....what manual would you recommend?

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The major bullet and/or reloading equipment manufacturers all produce loading manuals. They are all sufficient for your needs. I have a Hornady set that I like. The Lee manual is reasonably priced and has lots of down to earth info.

Jack

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BE HALF THE MAN YOUR DOG THINKS YOU ARE!!
2005 Co-Champion Series 2 Scope Class/Unmodded Barrel

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" If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would send an entertainer..... our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent a Savior."

Go for it jumpluff you won't be sorry. I did the same thing for my .45 ACP. With a lite load I can shoot it more and more often and not suffer the wrist problems that used to put me off my feed.

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"If you don't like the way I'm live'n Jus' leave this long hair'd country boy alone"

Don't forget the Lyman Cast bullet handbook. It contains lots of data for cast bullets which are much cheaper to shoot than the major companies' jacketed bullets. For plinking, why not save much money? It also seems like there are more and varied powders listed in the data than any other source although Modern Reloading by Richard Lee comes close.

If it will fed them, you can use 8or9 grains of unique behind a 245gr Kieth style lead bullet, they are accurate and cases will last a long time.
If you want something that his harder use the same bullet with 18-20 gr 2400.
I have used these loads for years in a Blackhawk revolver.

If you are thinking of making your own bullets go to a tire place and ask if you can have there old wheel weights. Most places will give them to you. Give them a 5gal bucket to put them in. Then stop by in 2 weeks and get them. They do make good bullets. I use LEE bullet lub after I size them. GOOD LUCK

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man that loves guns Big Little X NAVY 375 Dan 357 M 41 M 44 M Long guns 22 223 243 25.06 270 30.06 Black powder 45 cal 50 cal hand and longe guns. I load all that I shoot