Modern 44 Colt

[MikeM.]

Covered this a little in an earlier post of mine but I want to confirm. Can I reload modern 44 Colt cartridges using 44 Special/ Magnum dies or do I need to get 44 Russian dies?? Will the 44 Special shell holder work? Does anybody know where I can find some load data for this cartridge?? I have looked for dedicated dies for this but 44 Russian is as close as I have found. Any tips or advise or even favorite loads would be appreciated. I plan to use a lead RNFP 200 grain .429/.430  bullet and unique powder. Thanks!!!

[R.M. Conversion]

I use .44 Russian dies for this cartridge.  The Lee ones are modestly priced and work great, and come with a shellholder.

The Hodgdon site and manual have lots of loads for them, I use 200g cast (from Chey-Cast).  I started with black powder loads, then moved to smokeless, using the same BP-lubed bullets for both. 

I am also loading plated 200g bullets from Ranier, with the starting loads in the Hodgdon manual using Universal, Clays, HP-38 and Trail Boss and they shoot fine.  Still working up the optimum load for accuracy.

[Back Roads]

Mike,  You can reload the .44 Colt with .44 Spl. dies  The .44 Spl. shell holder will not work. It is too large for the .44 Colt.

I have never reloaded .44 Colt with Unique so can not recommend a load.  I load ffg Goex under a Mav Dutchman Big Lube bollit with good results at NCOWS matches. Have also loaded with Trail Boss with good results. I will put a link below with some load date to help get you started. It does not have Unique listed as the info comes from the Hodgdon web site and Unique is an Alliant product.
I know this is not a lot of information but I hope it helps.

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol

Back Roads.

[MikeM.]

Thanks Guys!!! Does anybody know what shell holder works best for it?? I have heard that a  30-30 shell holder works with it....

[Major 2]

 Lee # 9

[AntiqueSledMan]

2nd on the Lee #9. I use the Lee 44 Mag Die Set, but I don't crimp with the seating die as I'm loading the 44 Colt Original with .451 Heeled Bullet. Fun cartridge to shoot, I'm using Black MZ. I think one could use Trail Boss also.

AntiqueSledMan.

[Coal Creek Griff]

Unique would likely work, but I use a lot of Unique in other cartridges, so I try to save it when I can.  I've been using W231/HP38 for light (open-top appropriate) loads in my modern 44 Colt revolvers.

CC Griff

[MikeM.]

Griff, would you mind sharing the actual loads you use with your modern open top 44 Colts?? I would appreciate it...... thanks everybody, I think I have that holder too!!

[Crow Choker]

MikeM-Wonder why yer posting this again-same questions asked in your previous post, many answers were given to your like questions here on this posting. Not trying to be a wise guy, but go back and read the posts on your original post, the answers are there, nobody was lying to ya.

[MikeM.]

Never thought anybody was lying , just wanted to see what other guys had to say about this and that post was on a different subject so some may not have seen it.. not trying to offend anybody.

[MikeM.]

So no modifications have to be done to 44special/magnum dies to load modern 44 Colts then, right???

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

So no modifications have to be done to 44special/magnum dies to load modern 44 Colts then, right???

I can add a bit to this. I tried using .44 mag LEE carbide dies to load .44Rus, for my 1889 Reichsrevolver, but it didn't size the neck down enough to hold a bullet. I had an old RCBS non-carbide .44 Mag sizing die and tried it. That RCBS die had a two-diameter profile and the forward narrower part caught enough of the neck to do the trick. This might not be a problem, or a solution, for your situation, but there it is.

[Coal Creek Griff]

Griff, would you mind sharing the actual loads you use with your modern open top 44 Colts?? I would appreciate it.

I'm reluctant to give specific load info.  I don't have a pressure barrel, nor have my loads been tested in a laboratory.  Besides that, I'm the proverbial "guy on the internet" who you shouldn't trust anyway.

I will note that I use Lee dies designed for the 44 Russian because that was recommended to me when I was getting started.

CC Griff

[MikeM.]

I figured that the Russian dies would be a closer match...

[MikeM.]

I tried the Lee #9 and the Lee#3 shell holder this morning and believe that the #3 actually fits the 44Colt rims a bit better than the #9 . Just thought I would share that with you guys .

[MikeM.]

About to order my Lee Carbide 44 Russian dies . I think I am going to go with a .430 200gr lead rnfp bullet from Missouri Bullet Company , Starline brass, and Trail Boss powder. Just out of curiosity, does anybody out there make a custom dedicated set of 44 Colt reloading dies??  Thanks for all the help guys!!

[MikeM.]

Can anybody tell
Me if the Lee factory crimp die for the 44 Mag, Special, and Russian will work on the 44 Colt or is the Colt's casing too short for it??

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Can anybody tell
Me if the Lee factory crimp die for the 44 Mag, Special, and Russian will work on the 44 Colt or is the Colt's casing too short for it??

The LEE collet die depends on case length. It seems to me that The .44-40 LEE collet factory crimp die MIGHT work if shortened properly.

Alternatively, those Smiths that cater to reloaders of heeled bullets might have collet dies already done up to the right length. (Is it "Hoof Hearted", Gary Barnes?- having a seniors moment there!)

[MikeM.]

This is modern 44 Colt not the old heeled style. It is basically  a shortened 44 Special with a smaller rim.

[Abilene]

Can anybody tell
Me if the Lee factory crimp die for the 44 Mag, Special, and Russian will work on the 44 Colt or is the Colt's casing too short for it??

I'm not sure about the seat/crimp die that comes with the 3-die set, although I feel like it should easily be able to seat down to 44 Colt.  But the .44 mag/spcl/russ. factory crimp die crimps them all:

https://leeprecision.com/carbide-factory-crimp-die-44sp44ma.html