.44 mag for deer
A. Lloyd
I'm interested in hunting whtetails and mule deer with a .44 magnum
using an iron-sighted 7.5" Superblackhawk at 50 yards or less. Concerning
load choice, there seem to be two schools of thought. One is: use a 240
gr., or better yet, 300 gr., soft-point to maximize penetration and punch
a hole right through them. The other is: use a 180-200 gr. HP screamer
that will maximize lung damage - just don't try to shoot them through the
shoulder. Any advice? I'm seeking informed comment based on experience.
Thanks.
-al
Tom Rutledge
Al -
I've clobbered a couple deer with a .44. I quit using hollow points
'cause I was blowing up too much meat.
I shot my first handgun deer at about 12 feet with a Speer 225 grain
three-quarter jacketed SWC-HP, broadside, hit the spine, tore out 3
vertebrae and "bloodshot" most of the rest of the deer.
I made almost the same hit with a Hornady 240 grain HP, and also messed
it up pretty bad.
My last handgunned deer I used an LBT 300 grain WFN I cast myself. I made
the same hit. There was a nice 2" hole through the deer. Minimal loss
of meat.
All three deer I hit in almost exactly the same place. For some reason,
I consistently pull the shot UP and centerpunch the spine directly above
the heart. Could have something to do with sighting in with a bench
rest, then shooting offhand in the field.
Tom
Bterr
For whitetails use the Remington 210gr. SJHP. For Mulies try the Rem.
265gr. "Core Lokt".
mabe...@aol.com
In article <Pine.SOL.3.91.970206135618.20071A-100000@howard>, "A. Lloyd"
<howard!al...@uunet.uu.net> writes:
snip.....
>I'm interested in hunting whtetails and mule deer with a .44 magnum
>using an iron-sighted 7.5" Superblackhawk at 50 yards or less.
If you stay within your intended range of 50 yards or less - I don't
believe a deer shoulder is going to stop a 180 / 200 grain bullet. I've
hit deer in the shoulder with a 180 grain soft point from a tree stand, I
lost my shoulder roast and there was an exit hole coming out the other
side of the chest cavity.
I've gone through the same internal debate that you are going through -
and tried both ends of the spectrum; smaller and faster or heavier and
"more punch". For some reason (probably my own poor reloading practices)
I've shot better groups with the 180 grains speedsters. I have taken deer
up to 100 yards with this round and "never" had one not go down because it
got stopped by bone. Maybe I've been lucky ? But I have taken my share -
so I'll take some of the credit for selecting good shots and practicing.
Mark A Berger (Master Hunting Safety Instructor)
Madison County (Upstate NY)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Someone who thinks logically provides
a nice contrast to the real world.
"tom_rutledge_(by_way_of_alex_vitek_<alexvit@ix.netcom.com>)"
Another thought on this subject: while I prefer the 300 grain cast
bullets 'cause they don't damage as much meat as a 240 grain HP expanding
or even coming apart, I like the 180s for accuracy.
Of the 13 .44 mags I've owned, all but two shot their best groups with 2
loads: 180 grain Remington factory load, or a roughly equivalent handload
using either WLP or F155 primers, WW or Rem cases, 29.0 gr. H110, and the
Remington 180 grain JHP.
In my current .44, a Super Blackhawk Hunter model, w/ Leupold 2x, with
.432 cylinder throats and a .431 bore, this is the ONLY jacketed bullet
load that shoots acceptably. I think that bullet is "soft" enough to
obturate and fill the oversize bore. Other more heavily constructed
jacketed bullets won't, and shoot very poorly. Cast bullets sized .432
to .433 shoot fine; cast bullets sized .429-.431 suck, and the smaller
they are the worse they suck.
Of the other two, 1) a blued R-series redhawk, shot best with a 240
Sierra, Rem. brass, F155 primer, and 24.5 gr WW296, and 2) a 9.5" Super
Redhawk, shot best with a Hornady 240 RXT (think that's what they called
it), WW case, Fed 155, and 25.0 gr WW296. And yeah, that's over max by
the books ... except Winchester's own powder manual.
When folks say a handgun won't shoot, I cite my experience with that
Super Redhawk and that load: it'd shoot 1.25 - 1.5" 6 shot groups at 100
yards day in and day out. Much as I hated the rubber grips, I still kick
myself for swapping it.
Tom
"harry_jiles_by_way_of_alex_vitek_<alexvit@ix.netcom.com>"
> I'm interested in hunting whtetails and mule deer with a .44 magnum
>using an iron-sighted 7.5" Superblackhawk at 50 yards or less. Concerning
>load choice, there seem to be two schools of thought. One is: use a 240
>gr., or better yet, 300 gr., soft-point to maximize penetration and punch
>a hole right through them. The other is: use a 180-200 gr. HP screamer
>that will maximize lung damage - just don't try to shoot them through the
>shoulder. Any advice? I'm seeking informed comment based on experience.
>Thanks.
>
>-al
I have taken whitetail with loads using both 240 gr and 300 bullets.
I have never used loads with the lighter hollow point bullets you
mentioned, so I cannot really comment on them.
My favorite hunting load for whitetails is a Hornady 240 gr XTP over
24 gr of 2400 with a standard Winchester primer. This load is more
than adequate to put down a whitetail quickly on a lung shot. I have
used this load more than any other for my deer hunting. I am
considering trying a 300 gr XTP for next season.
This last season I used a 300 gr hard-cast SWC over 21 gr of H110 with
a standard Winchester primer. I hit a doe in broadside in the
shoulder on a 45 yard shot. The bullet broke the shoulder on entry
and broke her other front leg on exit and put her down immediately. I
think shot placement is more critical with this load. A shot through
the lungs would just punch a clean hole and result in a long tracking
job, but a shoulder shot is devastating.
"brian_d._nelson_(by_way_of_alex_vitek_<alexvit@ix.netcom.com>)"
I hunt with a 7 1/2" Ruger Super Blackhawk. I've shot several whitetail
and 2 elk with it and have never had a problem with bone stopping the
round. Of course, I shoot a 240 grain JSP.
--
Brian D. Nelson, Missoula, Montana
Montana Flyfishing and Hunting Outfitter
http://www.montana.com/dno/dno.htm
http://www.montana.com/dno/hunt.htm
"a._lloyd_(by_way_of_alex_vitek_<alexvit@ix.netcom.com>)"
> >I'm interested in hunting whtetails and mule deer with a .44 magnum
> >using an iron-sighted 7.5" Superblackhawk at 50 yards or less.
>
> I've shot better groups with the 180 grains speedsters. I have taken deer
I can shoot a 200 gr. bullet much better as well. The 240-300 gr.
bullets loaded hot just kick too hard, so my groups open up. I've been
loading a lot of Hornady 200gr. XTP's with 13.0 gr. Unique. I'll give
that a try.
-al
lafrenay@.adsdesign.analog.com
I killed a deer with my Ruger Redhawk .44 this year. Open sights, about
30 yards. Flipped over dead on the spot. I used a hornady JHP magnum load that
was the hottest factory load I could find. I think they do about 1600 ft/sec.
Those magnum loads may be excessive. The recoil is so great I'm sure I
would
not have been able to get off a second well aimed shot had I missed. I think
1000ft/sec
with a 240gr jacketed soft point would be plenty out to 50 yards or so. That's
the farthest I'd try a shot without a pistol scope. I feel very confident I
could make
that shot. 100 yards? I haven't tried that yet.
EL
A1gunner
My Super Blackhawk likes: 16 grains of Blue Dot behind a 240 grain Hornady
XTP...I would prefer a solid lead 240 grain .433 SWC. I get 3/4 inc
groups at 50yds, and have taken 17 deer with this load...My two cents
worth---Jim
A1GU...@AOL.COM
The US Constitution spells out our rights, we must secure them ourselves.
"philip_f._schempf_(by_way_of_alex_vitek
What's the general opinion of folks in the group on the best .44 mag.
revolver for hunting? I have an old Model 29, but am thinking of getting
a new revolver that will take heavy loads better than the old Smith.
Phil
igg...@isomedia.com
> Of the 13 .44 mags I've owned,
Have you ever owned/shot/tested one of those Thompson Center
Contenders? I am wondering how they shoot. I know folks hunt with
them. Opinions?
Dave
Harry Jiles
I have taken a deer each of the last two seasons with my S&W 629
Hunter using a 300 gr. FN hard-cast bullet over 21 gr. of H110 with a
standard Winchester primer. One deer was taken from 40 yd. and the
bullet broke one shoulder on entry and the 3rd rib on exit put the
deer down in about 15 yd. This season I harvested a 130 doe with a 65
yd shot that completely penetrated and broke both shoulders and put
her down in about 10 ft. Some might consider this load to be heavy
for whitetail, but I find it to be extemely accurate and it flat out
gets the job done.
Michael Brady
The T/C is accurate, reliable, and affordable. The sights are finely
adjustable. It can be easily scoped. A T/C with a 10 inch barrel takes up
about the same envelope as a 7-1/2 or 8-3/8 barreled revolver. It's only
negative from my perspective is the damage it does to my support hand index
finger when shooting heavy loads two handed. Unless I tape the second
knuckle it gets whacked pretty good when jammed into the cramped space
behind the trigger guard. The problem is most pronounced during extended
practice sessions with handloaded 265, 300, and 320 grain slugs. I
generally use lighter loads in a S&W 629 Mtn Gun or heavier loads in a
Ruger Bisley Blackhawk in .45 Colt.
--
Michael Brady mich...@corp.sgi.com
"by_way_of_alex_vitek_<alexvit@ix.netcom.com>"
must have at least a 6 inch barrell with medium weight ammo. Contenders
can get by with lighter ammo.
Dave
Mule8
Al. Regarding deer hunting with a .44 mag. revolver. I have shot 8 Deer
so far in Ohio with a S&W M-629 DX 6.5"Bbl. The 1st was with Speers 240 gn
SWCJSP design. The shot was about 50 yds. a quartering shot just behind
front shoulder, when hit the deer turned around took 5 steps and
collapsed. The bullet made a dime sized hole going in and a hole about the
size of a golf ball coming out, both lungs where pretty well traumatized
alot of blood and the exit wound came out of the shoulder. Really the meat
was not damaged as much as I thought, but had the shot been closer the
higher impact velocity may have damaged more meat. I also shot a deer
using the 225 Gn JHPSWC design Speer bullet and at about 25 yds. the
bullets seemed to do more meat damage than the 240 grain design but again
a lighter bullet at higher velocity and at closer range. As far as effect
the deer went about 10 yds and collapsed very similar in that aspect as
the 240 gn bullet. The rest of the deer I've taken have been with the
Hornady 200 GN XTP bullet, with all shots being between 25 and 40 yds. I
really like this bullet for whitetail (may be a little light for mule deer
though) In every case the bullet made about a dime sized hole going in
with an exited wound golf ball size or slightly larger, in every case the
bullet did massize damage to lungs and heart, and every bullet did exit
which surprised me. I expected to recover some of the 200 gn bullets. In
every case with the 200 gn. XTP Hornady bullet, the deer either dropped
immediately, (which kind of surprised me) or ran less than 10 yds. I do
all my whitetail hunting with this bullet now do to its exeptional
accuracy (averages one inch groups at 25 yds with my revolver, and about 1
3/4 inches at 50yds from sand bag rest). This is Ohio though and wouldn't
have any bigger game than whitetail, if I lived out west where I would run
into larger game as mule deer etc. I would use a heavier bullet like
240-300gn jhp/jsp or one of the heavier LBT design bullets. As far as
whitetail is concerned use the bullet and weight your revolver shoots most
accuratly, I don't believe Whitetail Deer would be able to tell the
difference in Full .44 Mag Loads. Hope this helped, happy hunting.
Mule8 in Ohio
"tom_rutledge_(by_way_of_alex_vitek_<alexvit@ix.netcom.com>)"
igg...@isomedia.com wrote:
>
> > Of the 13 .44 mags I've owned,
>
> Have you ever owned/shot/tested one of those Thompson Center
> Contenders? I am wondering how they shoot. I know folks hunt with
> them. Opinions?
>
I never had a .44 in a TC, but I had a 14" .223, a 14" .357 maxi, and a
.17 carbine. I never did a lot of load development for the .223, but
with leftover ammo from my Ruger, it'd shoot about 1-1/4" at 100 yards.
The .357 maxi I loaded a LOT of different stuff from deer loads to
varmint loads to goofing arounds stuff to ... you know. It's best groups
came in at about 1.25" at 100 yards using the Sierra 170 JHC and WW 680.
It shot about 1.5" at 50 yards with the Speer 88 grain 9mm HP and 31
grains of either 296 or H110 pushing the bullet over 2400 fps, which made
it a TERROR on ground squirrels. The carbine shot 0.75 moa.
I think the TC is probably the single BEST hunting handgun out there. If
I was to start over knowing what I know but with no guns in the closet,
for a big game battery, I'd probably grab a 5.5" blued superblackhawk .44
and scope a 10" TC .44. For the conditions I hunt in, they'd cover 95% of
everything I need to do. The rest I could probably do with a 14" .30-30
barrel.
Tom
Luv 2 load
Dave, recheck your game regulations for Handgun requirements in Washington
State. The current requirement is a cartridge that achieves 500 ft.lbs.
of energy at 100 yards, a minimum caliber of 6mm and minimum bullet weight
of 85 gr. The state acknowledges that a .357 Mag revolver will not meet
this criteria nor will autoloaders in .45 ACP or 9mm. However my 4" S&W
629 with full house loads will. Chuck
A. Lloyd
On Tue, 25 Feb 1997, Mule8 wrote:
> Al. Regarding deer hunting with a .44 mag. revolver. I have shot 8 Deer
> so far in Ohio with a S&W M-629 DX 6.5"Bbl. The 1st was with Speers 240 gn
> SWCJSP design. The shot was about 50 yds. a quartering shot just behind
>snip
> using the 225 Gn JHPSWC design Speer bullet and at about 25 yds. the
>snip
> the 240 gn bullet. The rest of the deer I've taken have been with the
> Hornady 200 GN XTP bullet, with all shots being between 25 and 40 yds. I
> really like this bullet for whitetail (may be a little light for mule deer
Thanks for the information. Consensus seems to be that a 200 gr HP is
plenty of bullet, especially for whitetails. I'm hasppy to hear that
since I find it easier to accurately shoot a 200gr XTP load than a 240 gr
JSP load, no doubt because of the lighter recoil. My primary interest is
in hunting whitetails in north Idaho, where cover is thick and shots are
generally short. I'm still not sure if hunting mule deer with a handgun
here in Utah would be a reasonable pursuit, since all the shots I've taken
so far (with a rifle) have been beyond handgun range. I think it might be
fun to fill a cow elk tag some year with a .44 because they are easy to
sneak up on. I think I'd go ahead and opt for the 240 gr JSP for that.
-al
A1gunner
I've taken 17 whitetailed deer here in ohio with my ruger super
blackhawk...The longest was 147yds, the shortest was 20 feet...All were
1-shot kills, and even the longest went through both sides of the rib
cage...I use the hornady xtp 240 grain, but I might try a solid lead
bullet next year(I want to minimize the damage to the meat)...I am
convinced that the 44mag is enough for a deer..My freezer is always full
of ohio venison....
By the way, ruger owners should try the xtp at about 1500 fps...I drive
mine with 16 grains of Blue Dot...Good luck...