44 Special and 44 magnum cartridge length

CMichaud

CMichaud

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OK guys...

Am waiting on an 1894 Marlin in 44 Spcl/44 Mag. My thoughts were to load 44 special for my colt SAA and use some 44 special as plinkers in the Marlin.

While waiting for the rifle I have been reloading 44 special and have since noticed that some people/sites claim that the minimum OAC length for the Marlin is 1.535" for it to cycle properly.

My reloading tables indicate an OAC length of 1.45" for 44 special.

I am using Winchester brass and Bullet Barn cast lead 240gr RNFP bullets. These 1.45" cartridges fit the Colt SAA fine and seat exactly at the crimp groove on my cast RNFP bullets.

If I seat the bullet further out with no crimp I can make them 1.535" however they then do not seat in the Colt SAA. The max length I can go in the Colt (from trial and error) is approx 1.525" and this means seating the bullet just in after the lube groove with no crimp (something I would like to avoid with a lever gun).

On top of all this, I see that some sites claim that the OAC length for 44 special is almost the exact same as 44 magnum although they note that the case length is approx 1/8" longer in a magum.

Can someone educate me on what I am missing here?:confused:

Thanks
 
Try your loads in the Marlin.

They might not cycle as smoothly and get the occasional hiccup, but it won't be that bad.

I had more issues with longer .44mag cartridges than anything, and there was a mod that addressed this issue.
 
I wouldn't do too many up ahead of time in case they don't feed and jam, then you'll have a lot you can't use, patience my friend.
 
mark k said:
What's the mod for longer bullets?
Click to expand...

Basically just grinding down the back of the shell carrier so that it allows the longer cartridges to clear the mag tube.

Not what you want though at all.

I don't think you will have the problems you think you will. I think Marlin has done some work on the carrier to improve function quite a bit over the years.

I was looking at replacing the carrier in mine with what is called a new improved cartridge carrier that is sold by Brownells.

If yours is a new model I believe it comes with it.
 
ben hunchak said:
I wouldn't do too many up ahead of time in case they don't feed and jam, then you'll have a lot you can't use, patience my friend.
Click to expand...

Ack that. I have ceased my production line at this time. All the 1.45 will go down the revolver if they don't cycle in the rifle.

Does anyone have any factory 44 special on hand? If so, I woudl be curious to know the OAC length of the factory stuff.

Thanks guys
 
I do the same thing yer doin with a SAA and an 1894.
Factory Remington Express 44spl feed like silk in the Marlin as do my handloads in 44mag and 44spl.
Simplify partner...you are over thinking things a bit ;)
 
Tried the 1.45" OAC in the Marlin and it had big issues cycling them. Eventually jammed and had to push the stuck round out through the feed tube.

This is a pre-cross bolt safety so not sure if there are any mods that can be done to improve it. Otherwise I guess I look at seating bullets further out and crimping outside the crimp groove or going with a longer cast bullet...
 
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