cast bullets in a .44mag G2 or Contender

[doulos]

Im just getting back into handgun hunting after about a 15 year absence. Ive purchased a G2 12 inch in .44 mag.  Any body out there using cast bullet loads in one of these or an older contender for deer hunting?  The recoil in Federal factory loads was more than I expected allthough tolerable.  They just seemed to be a bit more than I remembered when I hunted with a Redhawk. Im sure going to a different grip will help as these are uncomfortable.  Im sure I can get used to 240 grain XTP loads but I was intested in going to maybe 250 or 280 WFN lbt style hard cast and lower the velocity and the recoil a little and still have a very effective 100-125 yard cartridge that will penetrate.

[Gary paugh]

I shot a ton of 240gr GC bullets out of my 14" contender they shot very well and would drop a deer like a mack truck.
And with a red dot sight it would stay on a pop can at 100yrds.

Gary

[barber]

Gary, what make of Red Dot did you use?

[doulos]

Gary , what make of bullet and load were you using?

[Gary paugh]

The sight was a tasco propoint 3 , the bullets where made with an RCBS 240gr GC mold  with 24grs of W-296.
Nowadays i load hornady 240XTP's or beartooth 250gr gc and H-110 powder.

Gary

[ftw]

  Today was my first day at the range with a 44 mag 10" Contender barrel.

 I have handgun hunted for a good many years using a Contender in 7-30, a Blackhawk and a Redhawk in .41 magnum and a 4" S&W 44 mag but this Contender 44 mag was new to me and frankly I was a little concerned hearing about the severe recoil some folks experienced.

  I had a few Winchester 240 JSPs left over from when I first got my S&W 44 and I was wanting to shoot it, but mostly I had my handloads. They were Laser Cast 240gr SWCs and and 240 gr Gold Dot Hollow Points, all reloads over 10grs of Unique.

  I do not have a scope yet but I used a BSA Red Dot for the time being. I did all my shooting at 50 yards.

  My handloads were sweet to shoot. Mild recoil and both were as accurate as the red Dot would allow. I shot a handful of the Winchesters and while they were not terrible, they were stout and I really don't have a need for that much ooompm since I reload.

  I got the barrel to go to my brother's farm in Southern Ohio for deer season. It is slug only or straight walled pistol cartridges there and I got a good deal on the used .44 barrel and I already had a good base and scope rings on hand so for me it was a good idea.

 I have seen great results with the .41 mag with cast SWCs so I know the .44 will work just as good.

  I did have the barrel unlock on me quite a bit and it looks like someone filed on the locking bolt so I called T/C to get a new one and hopefully there won't be a bucket of worms and that will fix it.
  If you can download some ammo you will find that .44 mag can be not only fun but still deadly to shoot.

Good Luck!

[swampthing]

I use the 280g WFN GC from montanabulletworks @1275fps with AA#5, in both G2 and Encore 12"ers. Recoil is 12ft.lbs. compared to 18ft.lbs for those federals. Makes for a much more enjoyable shoot. One ragged hole accuracy at 50yds with open sights. If you could slow it down to 1150-1200fps you would have an excellent combo for 150yds, recoil would be like a hot 357 shooting 180's, ie: less than 10ft.lbs., noise would like a 22mag in comparison also. If you get some I would recommend .432" dia.
I think titegroup, unique, and universal will give you uniformity at those slightly slower speeds, never tried though as the AA#5 @1275 was "good enough" for me.