[This message has been edited by Scott H (edited 12-24-2001).]
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"if you are to busy to
hunt, you are too busy."
I read that in COTW as well, but I don't believe it's correct. I have several brand new 445 Super Mag cases sitting on my desk as I type this -- along with a 44 mag and a 444 Marlin. The 44 mag and 445 Super Mag both measure .453" just ahead of the rim, while the 444 Marlin measures .465".
The Super Mag series was designed by Elgin Gates, and according to an article he wrote for an earlier edition of COTW:
quote:
. . . the 445 Super Mag which was the basic 44 Magnum stretched out to the same 1.610-inch length . . . I used 30-40 Krag rifle brass for the prototypes . . .
I couldn't find a reamer print for the 445, but according to Clymer, a 44 Mag chamber is .460" just ahead of the rim.
So, to answer the original question, you could use 30-40 Krag brass, and 444 Marlin brass might work if the chamber is a little on the sloppy side. In either case, I think there's a good possibility that the resulting cases would be too thick at the mouth and require neck turning or inside reaming.
I'll stick with the Starline brass in mine. It's good quality stuff, and the hundred cases I've got will probably be a lifetime supply.