dig4gold

Any reason you couldn't shoot .44 SP through any .44MAG?

nchawkeye

I do it, no problem...As you probably know the .44 mag was developed by making a .44 Special case longer...Like the .357 vs the .38 Special...

Vapodog

Nope....no reason except for the possible use in the semi auto rifle from Ruger. The specials may not function the mechanism.....but I'm guessing.....I don't own Ruger long guns!

bigcountry

I have learned the hard way with 454 Casull, if you want a 45Long, get a 45long. After several thousand rounds, I had trouble getting 454 rounds in and pressure signs. I had to get my gunsmith to slightly ream out the cylinder. Since then I load down 454 casulls.

Most people can go thru life and never have issues like this, but if you do sparse cylinder cleaning and shoot several thousand rounds, you will end up with issues one day.

UncleNorby

If you are talking revolvers see the advice above. I wonder whether the Marlin lever action in 44 Mag would shoot specials. I think loaded down mags would be the better choice.

lovethebigguns

I have shot a hundred or so specials through my Winchester Model 94 44 mag with no problem. They're simply a little cheaper way to "plink".

That is an interesting situation big country. Are you saying if I keep my .357 clean, I'll have no problems shooting .38's through it? Not to mention, I'm just talking a hundred or so per year max.

bigcountry

Not just clean. You really have to clean that cylinder with something abrasive like JB's IMO. Everytime you fire, you get carbon buildup over thousands of rounds. I am not totaly sure you can get it all out. I just reload my 357mag brass and 454brass down and up as I want. That way, don't have to worry about it.

dylan_b

i remember years ago my father had a winchester 1906 .22 gallery gun that he got working for a fair. it had thousands of .22 shorts through it, even though it was a .22 long rifle chamber. the "chamber ring" apparently started as a ring of residue but as the years past the ring became pitted and the rest of the chamber was completely eroded out (likely due to the sandblasting effect of early rimfire powder). i am not 100% sure if this will happen with a lever .44 and im not to familiar with revolvers so im only guessing that you might get problems if you dont clean it often.

skb2706

No reason you can't load to 44 special level in 44 mag brass. Problem solved.

But I shot 38 sp., .357 mag and .357 maxs out of my max for years with no trouble. Just cleaned it as I would anyway.

98Redline

I have had the same results at BC regarding chamber buildup in my .357.

If I shoot a bunch of .38s out of it, depending on the particular load, it is often times difficult and sometimes impossible to get a .357 into the cylinder. Normally a good cleaning takes care of this and I have never had to resort to a reamer to clean out the debris, however I could see how a much hotter .45LC could make the issue more pronounced.