I have 500 cartridges in 44 magnum

[thomfantomas]

All brass,no clue if i should sell or possibly trade for actually ammo?

I know many do reloading,so i'd be more interested in learning the fundamental

 

[Huckleberry]

Good enough reason to jump into the deep end with a Dillon Square Deal B

If you find a used one, Dillon used to refurbish the press for you under their No BS policy for the cost of the parts + S&H

Square Deal B

The Square Deal B is our most compact machine, it loads common straight-walled handgun and carbine cartridges from .32 S&W Long through .45 Colt. Featuring an automatically indexed shellplate, it is intended to produce moderate quantities of match-quality handgun ammunition for the user who does...

www.dillonprecision.com

 

[Threeband]

Revolver cartridges are a great place to start reloading, Easiest-peasiest.

 

[brianns]

Looks like the RL550C is cheaper than the Square Deal B. I didn’t see the BL model they used to have that would upgrade into an RL550.

I have the RL550B. I started with that one doing .40s&w back in aught’97.

 

[thomfantomas]

I'll just sell on the classified ads,not worth going through the hassle...

 

[CaptainVane]

Maybe i stumbled on correct thread. I have a 1974 Interarms Virginia Dragoon .44 magnum. Used to load my own. Got out of it for many years. Used to use Hercules Blue Dot. Thats gone.
Now what is a recommended powder for target loads? No hunting, no hot loads. Medium loads. 180 gr hollow point bullets. And what primers for WMR44 brass shells?
PS if you have cartridges to sell im all ears.
Thanks.

 

[lazarus]

Maybe i stumbled on correct thread. I have a 1974 Interarms Virginia Dragoon .44 magnum. Used to load my own. Got out of it for many years. Used to use Hercules Blue Dot. Thats gone.
Now what is a recommended powder for target loads? No hunting, no hot loads. Medium loads. 180 gr hollow point bullets. And what primers for WMR44 brass shells?
PS if you have cartridges to sell im all ears.
Thanks.
View attachment 407538

Check a loading manual or hogdon’s website for 44 magnum for powders and load for 180gr. All 44s use large pistol. If loading non-magnum powders, regular large pistol primers are fine. H110, lil gun, etc want magnum large pistol primers.

 

[Tomcat]

Good enough reason to jump into the deep end with a Dillon Square Deal B

If you find a used one, Dillon used to refurbish the press for you under their No BS policy for the cost of the parts + S&H

Square Deal B

The Square Deal B is our most compact machine, it loads common straight-walled handgun and carbine cartridges from .32 S&W Long through .45 Colt. Featuring an automatically indexed shellplate, it is intended to produce moderate quantities of match-quality handgun ammunition for the user who does...

www.dillonprecision.com

Just happen to have a Square Deal, new in the box (never cut the tape) I’d be willing to part with since I found a deal on a 550 after purchasing it.

 

[HiStandards]

Maybe i stumbled on correct thread. I have a 1974 Interarms Virginia Dragoon .44 magnum. Used to load my own. Got out of it for many years. Used to use Hercules Blue Dot. Thats gone.
Now what is a recommended powder for target loads? No hunting, no hot loads. Medium loads. 180 gr hollow point bullets. And what primers for WMR44 brass shells?
PS if you have cartridges to sell im all ears.
Thanks.
View attachment 407538

Alliant still lists Blue Dot on their site. It may be tough to find.

 

[trickg]

You wouldn't have to load too many boxes of 44 mag before the cost savings would weigh out in your favor, even at today's prices for components. 44 Mag ammo is obscenely priced IMO. Because I reload, I really enjoy shooting mine. If I didn't reload, that gun would sit unused.

Maybe it's because I grew up with a Dad who was an avid shooter and reloader, but I have always thought that reloading was worth the hassle.

 

[linkstate]

If you even think you might like to try your hand at reloading in the next year, hold onto those cases. Brass in anything starting with 44 is hard to find. As Threeband said, straight wall revolver cartridges are about as simple as it gets.

You could always get a Lee Loader and load a few rounds to see what you think without too much cost. Just look at the list of powders listed that comes with the kit and have fun hammering away. Of course you will need primers and bullets as well but you could just buy a small box of Hornady bullets for not too much cost just to try.

 

[Huckleberry]

Just happen to have a Square Deal, new in the box (never cut the tape) I’d be willing to part with since I found a deal on a 550 after purchasing it.

I sure you‘ll be able to find a buyer in MDS classifieds if the OP doesn’t spark to the idea.

I’m happy with my 550B, just not happy I don’t have to time and space to use it.

 

[trickg]

If you even think you might like to try your hand at reloading in the next year, hold onto those cases. Brass in anything starting with 44 is hard to find. As Threeband said, straight wall revolver cartridges are about as simple as it gets.

You could always get a Lee Loader and load a few rounds to see what you think without too much cost. Just look at the list of powders listed that comes with the kit and have fun hammering away. Of course you will need primers and bullets as well but you could just buy a small box of Hornady bullets for not too much cost just to try.

Bullets for 44 aren't that hard to come by. I still have a big box of cast lead 44 mag bullets - 240 gr Round Nose Flat Point - that I got from a place up in PA, (Mastercast maybe?) and those combined with 9.0 gr of Unique makes for a comfortable and nice shooting load. When I first started reloading, I was looking at a touch of $6/box to load 44 mag with the price of components at the time. You certainly can't buy it for that. I know it would cost more now, but still considerably less than buying it.

I’m happy with my 550B, just not happy I don’t have to time and space to use it.

If I had more space I'd be hitting you up to try to buy it - I could see the advantages of having more than one 550 press, but with my current workshop setup, I really only have room for one.

 

[linkstate]

Bullets for 44 aren't that hard to come by. I still have a big box of cast lead 44 mag bullets - 240 gr Round Nose Flat Point - that I got from a place up in PA, (Mastercast maybe?) and those combined with 9.0 gr of Unique makes for a comfortable and nice shooting load. When I first started reloading, I was looking at a touch of $6/box to load 44 mag with the price of components at the time. You certainly can't buy it for that. I know it would cost more now, but still considerably less than buying it.


If I had more space I'd be hitting you up to try to buy it - I could see the advantages of having more than one 550 press, but with my current workshop setup, I really only have room for one.

I was referring to brass in .44 anything is still hard to come by compared to more common calibers. I've been on a couple lists for Starline .44 Special for awhile. I was able to jump on some 44-40 that Midway got in and it was sold out in a couple hours. I assume the same for .44 mag but I don't load for it.

 

[Biggfoot44]

With the further clarification of desired load type , pretty much Every handgun/ shotgun powder slower than 2400 will do that . Not joking .

Inbetween periods of panic shortages , the default answer would be Unique ( or it's functional clone Universal ) .. But every other person hears that same advice , and Unique is one of the first to fly off the shelves .

 

[Squaregrouper]

I have a sealed pound of new production Blue Dot I would be willing to sell for $35.

 

[Huckleberry]

If I had more space I'd be hitting you up to try to buy it - I could see the advantages of having more than one 550 press, but with my current workshop setup, I really only have room for one.

Shirley, you can’t be serious?

Just because I don‘t have the time and space now doesn’t mean I won’t have it later

 

[trickg]

Shirley, you can’t be serious?

Just because I don‘t have the time and space now doesn’t mean I won’t have it later

I am serious, and don't call me Shirley.

I completely understand - I once had an almost 5 year gap in my reloading. Now that I'm back into it and shooting more, I can't fathom how I went so long without pulling the handle.

 

[lazarus]

You wouldn't have to load too many boxes of 44 mag before the cost savings would weigh out in your favor, even at today's prices for components. 44 Mag ammo is obscenely priced IMO. Because I reload, I really enjoy shooting mine. If I didn't reload, that gun would sit unused.

Maybe it's because I grew up with a Dad who was an avid shooter and reloader, but I have always thought that reloading was worth the hassle.

Some ditto. That said, unless you’ve got some real cheap reloading equipment is 78 cents a round for the cheaper 44 mag I can find. That’s not all that dear. It’s about 28 cents a round to reload for it at current component prices for a soft shooting lead load. A full house magnum jacketed load would be around 35 cents a round.

Even if you said 50 cents a round savings, a reloading manual, basic press kit, 44 dies and you are in around $300. That’s 600 rounds you’d need to reload to break even. Figure a slightly nicer setup and it’s more like $500. That’s 1000 rounds. Not counting your time.

You still have to load and shoot a lot to break even. Or you need to enjoy reloading so you can’t count your time spent on it, or the break even point gets a ton worse.

 

[trickg]

If you can find 44 Mag at 78 cents a round, more power to you. The cheapest I’ve seen it recently is about $60/box.

You also have to ask yourself what it’s worth to shoot higher quality ammo, as well as what it’s worth to be able to tailor the loads to exactly what you want them to be. Then ask what it’s worth to not have to worry about availability. (Provided you maintain a decent stock of components.) 44 mag isn’t stocked like 9mm and 45.