.44 Magnum Ammo Advice Needed

PineCone

PineCone

New member
I tested three brands of .44 Magnum ammo from my Ruger Super Redhawk.
60 yards, 6 shot groups, 2x scope from rest.

1- Remington 180 gr SJHP 5 inch group 3 inches low
2- Winchester White Box 240 gr JSP 6 inch group 5 inches right
3- American Eagle(Federal) Red Box 240gr JHP 3 inch group on bullseye

I loaded the cylinder 1-2-3-1-2-3 and shot until I had a six shot group.

Should I expect the centers of the groups to vary by that much with different loads ?
What's your experience.
Advice appreciated.
PC
 
Yes. Revolvers also can be cylinder specific. Did you write numbers on the cylinders with a sharpie and shoot the same cylinders? Too anal for me but I read an article about revolvers and the writer advocated testing as such. I think that he honed or tuned the cylinders and tested again and had better performance in 5 cylinders so never shot the 6th. I also think the guns have a bullet weight sweet spot, looks like 240 performs well. Otherwise, I shoot my 44 mag for fun, have had decent success at 100 yards on clay pigeons (scoped) but otherwise it gets little use (unfortunately).
 

dog,
Quote:
Did you write numbers on the cylinders with a sharpie and shoot the same cylinders?


No.
Random.
Quote:
..bullet weight sweet spot, looks like 240 performs well.


Yes.
The Am. Eagle(Federal) got 3 of 6 in 1 1/4 inch at 60 yards.
I was pleased and suprised, considering that I'm not a experienced shooter.
I will used this load and see if I can find variations due to different chambers.
I would like to hunt deer with it.
I love to shoot this thing.
Thanks.
PC
 
You have not done enough samples of various bullets and loads to tell all that much yet. I take it you don't reload for your 44. I have have had some experience with a few Super Redhawks and I have never noticed much in the way of cylinder specific accuracy. Point of impact can vary all over the place with different loads and bullets even in the same weight. Just note where to set your zero for each load you use and it will save alot of ammo.

With an aimpoint 5000 mounted on one Super Redhawk, we rarely missed pop cans at 100 yards with 180 and 240 grain Sierra handloads.
 
I agree with testing with more ammo of each type. You can't get a decent idea on how good your gun is without plenty of shooting.

I would shy away from 180's for anything but self-defense against two legged and four legged coyotes.

Small deer .... maybe a well built 200 gr.

My best advice is RELOAD!

The .44 mag is a wonderful cartridge and it shines everso bright with handloads!

Endless choices!!

And the best way to get accomplished with a big bore is to load it down (correctly) and work up your skill with that first ..... then gradually work your skill and power together.

Three 44s
 
I like the SRH also. They are capable of excellent accuracy. I think you have just not found the load it likes best yet.........

My SRH is a 480 Ruger......

100_0316.jpg


2 bullets I can highly recommend for your 44mag are the Winchester Platinum Tip and Speer 270gr Gold-dot. Both excellent and much better than the XTP IMO.........

This buck fell to a 30yd heart shot from a 325gr Gold-dot.....

100_0477.jpg


100_0486.jpg


Handgunning for deer is a blast. One of the most exciting hunts I've had. Good luck.......
 
The Red Hawk is capable of excellent accuracy. My pet load is 22.5 grains of winchester 296, sierra 240g jacket hollow point and cci 350 primer. My gun with a 2x scope will group at 1" at 50 yards and 3" at 100. I think if I had a more powerfull scope I could shoot better groups.
 
The three super redhawks I have had all liked the hevier bullets over the 180's 240 is an ideal wt. as far as I am concerned. I handload all my ammo usually so I could not say one way or the other on store brands. The 44 Mag is a great handgun chambering I have shot everything from Prarie dog to elk with them. Lately I have got more into the SA's though I have three of them in 44 Mag been shooting them since I got out of the Marines and could afford one in 1970.
Stay with the 240 Grain or 265 Grain bullets I guess 270 is a big hit to just never tried them.
 
That is an excellent choice for a do all big game hunting revolver IMO....

If I could only own one, that would probably be it, although I'd prefer it in 45 Colt, and (maybe) A 7.5" barrel.......

I would have it bead blasted or satin finished by Magnaport, as I hate shiny huntin' rigs.....

The 270gr Speer GD is devastating on deer/black bear.....try it....
 
Interesting. When the Gold Dot bullets came out, I tried several calibers and bullet weights, as available. Mostly, they worked exceptionally well. In the .44, I shot into 4 or 5 gallon milk jugs full of water, and the 270 gr. bullet went through all of them, un-expanded. And it lost the jacket. Blew me away, as the others had been quite good. Maybe they've changed things. A friend has a coffee cup full of 180 gr. XTP 's, and Sierra's that he has recovered from whitetails, and he wouldn't switch for anything. He shoots for the rib cage though, and thats important with that lighter bullet. For backup, bowhunting grizzly in Alaska, we loaded 265 gr. SWC-GC with about 18 gr. of 2400; mv of 1200+, and they would plow right through clean, solid railroad ties. Nobody ever tried them on grizzlies though, nor went back just to do that.
 
Thanks for all the great info and photos gentlemen.
I know I have alot more testing to do.
But I can handle it because it's so much fun.
Now I'm all fired up about this cartridge.
I have been considering taking up reloading.
Maybe I will start with this cartridge.
Thanks again.
PC
 
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