Reloading dies for 445 Supermag

[Joe VTANG]

I recently bought a 445 Supermag but am not yet a capable reloader. My buddy said he would load some of the brass which came with the revolver and claimed he could use his 44 mag dies. This evening I was browsing EBAY and saw an actual 445 supermag die set. Can Supermags be reloaded with mag dies or do I need to get a set specifically for 445 Supermag?

     I have my eye on a blued Supermag in 357 maximum so I guess I should pose the same question about 357 mag/357 maximum dies.

[unspellable]

Depends.  If you get the carbide ring type dies, some 44 mag sets wil lreload 445 at a slight risk of case crumpling.  I load my 445's with a Lee 44 mag carbide set and have never had any problems related to the dies.

Same applies to the 357, but be aware that the Dan Wesson 357 SuperMag is actually chambered for the 357 SuperMag cartridge, not the same cartridge as the 357 Maximum.  Never figured out why DW marked the side of the revolver as 357 maximum unless it was just because you could buy the 357 maximum across the counter.  The 357 maximum has a nominal case length of 1.605 while the 357 SupoerMag has a nominal case length of 1.610.  (I buy 357 Maximum brass and it usually measures 1.610.)  The principal difference is in the overall length where the SuperMag is .125 longer, allowing effecient use of heavier bullets.  If you can come by some genuine 357 SuperMag loading data you will get better results than with 357 Maximum data.  The 357 Maximum is a sterling example of the big boys taking a wildcat commercial and fixing what ain't broke.

Now if I could only figure where the h**l I put my 357 SuperMag data...

[Joe VTANG]

Thanks unspellable, I didn't know that about the 357 Supermags.

I bought a Lee Anniversary Press kit years ago but never started reloading, mostly because everything I had up 'til now I could get factory loads for. The dies I saw on EBAY were RCBS. Is anyone making 445 or 357 Supermag dies now or do I have to find some used ones?

[unspellable]

I use Lee 357 mag and 44 Mag dies for my 357 SuperMag and 445 SuperMag with no problems.  I'm not sure that just any brand will allow a SuperMag case to go in far enough to full length resize.

Theoretically, the SuperMag dies would give better concentricity and better accuracy, but if you are splitting hairs that fine you are a serious silhouette competetitor and you should be telling me how to do it.
 
There are dies made for the 445 SuperMag and the 357 maximum.  I doubt you will find 357 SuperMag dies, but the 357 maximum dies will work or even 357 mag dies.

[Joe VTANG]

Well, I guess I'll grab some brass, head over to my friend's house one of these evenings, get some loaded up and a reloading lesson at the same time. Thanks Unspellable.