44 Mag ammo for deer?

K

kevlars

New member
I just bought/stole a Ruger Super Blackhawk with a Leupold FX-II 2x20 on it.

I plan to use it for whitetails, and was wondering what you guys feel would be a good bullet, factory ammo only at this point, for deer.

I would like to shoot a lighter bullet so recoil would be more manageable, not that I am recoil sensitive, but, if I can minimize recoil, that would be a plus. I will probably be shooting 50 yards or less.

BTW, it has the 7 1/2" barrel, if that makes a difference.

Thanks for you input,
kevlars
 
Personaly I like the cast bullets. I do not know if Federal still loads them or not, but they had at one time a pretty good hard cast load. If you want jacketed then the Speer Gold Dot bulet or the Hornady XTP bullet does a good job for deer hunting. Not really a bad choice out there in 44 factory fodder for deer.

You should be careful who you tell if you "stole" a revolver!!
tt2.gif
ohmy.gif
thumbup.gif
Tom.
 
Nice find, I have the same revolver is stainless with a 4x scope. I had the very best luck with "keith-style" SWC bullets, but have recently switched to 240 XTP's.....they really put a hurtin' on the whitetails....give em' a try, I think you will like em'. By the way, the SWC's were 300 gr and loaded heavy....recoil was nasty, I ended up buying an aftermarket pachmayer(sp?) grip that covered the square back trigger guard to save the middle portion of my middle finger (had trouble bending it for 3 days after some range time) the new grip is great!!!
 
Hey, Tom,

What weight should I try?

I pick it up Friday morning,(dang 3 day waiting period!!), and plan to shoot it Friday afternoon.

Our second firearms season is this Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. So, at least I can use it on Saturday, and Sunday.

kevlars
 
Yeah, this one is stainless as well. Also, has Pachmyers on it already.

I figured for $375 out the door, with the scope, I couldn't go wrong!
thumbup.gif


kevlars
 
I would go with the 240gr xtp's. I use them out of my 629 classic. Any deer between 125yds and under are in big trouble when you put one through the boiler room.
 
240gr HP & the 44mag just go together.

I've shot several deer out of a 6" Andaconda with the 240 gold dot & 240 XTP. Not an ounce of difference in terminal preformance. I even shot a couple with the old American Eagle 240 gr HP semi jacket before I started loading for the 44. They worked too. Couldn't imagine any 240gr HP not being a bad news for deer.
 
You could try some 44 Special cartridges in 200 grain. That's a factory load. 44 Special should be less recoil. There are several factories loaded in HP. You may have a hard time finding them before Thursday's opening as I found them at Natchez Shooters Supply.
thumbup1.gif

Flyrodder
 
I have found Remmy 185 JSP's and Winny 240 JSP's. Also, some Hornady Leverlution(sp?). Do you think a JSP would do the trick? 185 or 240's?

Kevlars
 
Originally Posted By: kevlarsI have found Remmy 185 JSP's and Winny 240 JSP's. Also, some Hornady Leverlution(sp?). Do you think a JSP would do the trick? 185 or 240's?

Kevlars

So, any input on the above?
 
The 240 JSP should work, one of my favorite bullets for deer is the 270gr Gold Dot if I am not shooting my own hardcast bullets. Like already mentioned the 240 XTP is hard to beat also, but I have had a 180 XTP break a shoulder and not penetrate, My fault for putting it there. Now I just use the 270gr GD or hardcast LBT WFN style bullets anywere from 265 on up to 325grs the last few have been through the shoulder and DRT.
 
2 Bullets I have used extensively on deer and a couple of black bear are the Speer 270gr Gold Dot (Uni-Cor) and the Winchester Supreme Platinum Tip. They are both exceedingly good, much better than Hornady XTPs.

I have also used the Winchester bullets in .451 out of a muzzleloader and they are awesome.

Also, I have loaded the 270gr GDSP in my 444 and they flat out flatten deer/bear and still hold together at the higher 444 velocities.

Pick one, or try both and see what shoots best. You'll be happy with either, guaranteed......
 
My father shot a 160 lb white tail doe at 115 yds with a 240 gr. XTP out of a Marlin 1895 rifle, my son shot a nice buck at 70 yds with the same load out of a Thompson Contender. Both deer went straight to the ground.
 
I load 240 gr. XTP for the 44 mag. Have shot 9 deer using the same bullet with a sabot in my muzzle loader at yardages up to 125. Everyone dropped in their tracks.
 
Well, since I can only get the JSP's by the weekend, should I get the 185's or the 240's?

I have one other place to try tomorrow and see what they have, but it's not looking good for other options.

kevlars
 
Back
Top