I loaded 900 rounds of .44 Russian. I found a bunch of available brass and lee had dies. 240 grain SWC. These are traveling at over 800 fps. Nothing wrong with the Russian.
Maybe a target load 45 acp if you are shooting an antique. Original BP load was 750fps with a 246 grain bullet at 360 foot pounds so definitely no slouch in power even by modern standards.
Remember to check it to be sure it's a 44 Special. Mine is but other manufacturers could be chambering them in 44 Russian. This is a really nice pistol. Everyone who has tried it loves it.
I’ve got three (2 of which get a lot of CAS use). Now, you got me thinking about checking them out. Maybe, I’d get away with just reloading 44 spl for these as well as my carbine.
Ammosmith Reloading yeah so what would a well made gunsmith do? if the caliber is to powerful make the hinges made for the caliber. Am I right on that?
Ammosmith Reloading yes that’s what I was trying to say. The lock on the top if possible should have a new lock that’s on top of the frame should be made for the power of the .44 mag. So that away the guns lock doesn’t fall down or break from the kick of the .44 mag
My two from Navy Arms are about 1/8" short of chambering a .44 spl, but it would be a simple matter to fix that with a chamber reamer if you were so inclined.
4 years later we have the same issue. The sell them as Russians yet at least some seem to be specials. The Russian is a fine round but while most 44 Magnum rifles will feed specials fine most will not feed Russians. So for CAS one would want specials so that you don't have to keep ammo separated. It would be a shame to order two $1300-$1500 pistols just to have to go to the trouble and expense of rechambering them.
