SCOPED 8-3/8 629 CLASSIC--- WHAT KIND OF FACTORY DEER AMMO??

[FASTMIKE0721]

NEW S&W 629 CLASSIC 8.375 IN MY CABINET.

I JUST BOUGHT A LEUPOLD BASE AND MEDIUM RINGS AND A BURRIS 2X7X32 SCOPE WHICH ALL COST ABOUT $430 OUCH!!

MY ? IS WHAT IS THIS GUN CAPABLE OF? MORE THAN LIKELY FROM A REST!

I WANT TO BE ABLE TO SHOOT OHIO DEER OUT TO 100 YARDS.

IS THIS REALISTIC OR NOT?

WHAT KIND OF "FACTORY" AMMO WOULD BE BEST OUT TO A 100 YARDS DEER? PROVIDING MY GUN LIKES IT.

WHAT KIND OF GROUPS ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS SETUP? WITH WHAT AMMO?

I AM NEW TO HAND GUN HUNTING BUT I AM DISABLED AND FIGURE THE REVOLVER WILL GIVE ME MORE STEALTH AND SHOOTING LANE, PROVIDING THE DEER ARE CLOSER FOR THE OFF HAND SHOTS. I CHOSE 2-7 BURRIS FOR LONGER RESTED SHOTS ALSO.

 

[Questor]

Any decent factory ammo will be fine. If using factory ammo I use Federal American Eagle 240 grain hollow points. You can pay more but you won't get significantly better deer ammo. A lot of guys like to use cast bullets for hunting (me included), so I load my own. This is certainly not necessary.  Ammo loaded with Horady XTP bullets is bound to be good too, but again it's not really necessary. The 44 magnum kills by making a big leaky hole and penetrating deeply.

100 yards is realistic with practice. I get 4 inch groups with my 629 and 100 yards with a 2x scope. It takes quite a bit of practice to be able to do that consistently, so plan on shooting at least a few hundred rounds.

I consider 100 yards a long shot with a 44 magnum revolver, and I prefer to keep shots within 50 yards if possible. For one thing, bullet drop due to trajectory is a big factor beyond 100 yards so if you estimate 100 yards and the deer is really at 125 yards, then you might miss or wound.

The key thing with handgun hunting is to always use a good rest.

Do not use the 180 grain bullets for hunting. For one thing, the muzzle flash can be blinding in dim light and for another thing, the extra penetration of the 240 grainers is a good thing.

[Graybeard]

I like 240 grain JHPs for deer. Some seem to like 200s and I suspect they would be quite OK but I used a 180 JHP ONCE and did NOT like the performance. Oh sure it killed the buck but it didn't exit so it's lucky for me the buck fell in sight cuz there sure would have been no blood trail to follow. Since that episode I've not used a lighter than 240 grain bullet since and have not failed to get an exit since either.

I most often use either the Hornady 240 XTP JHP or the Nolser 240 JHP. But honestly I don't think there is a bad choice in 240s for the .44 Magnum. I think any JHP or JSP in that weight you chose will be more than up to the job. So will cast bullets tho I usually reserve them for bigger, heaiver or tougher game than deer.

So what to chose? Really what ever brand shoots best in your gun just use a bullet of 240 grains or heavier that your gun likes and you really can't go wrong.

As to accuracy you not the gun will likely be the limiting factor in all honesty. Once back about '97 I was getting ready for a fallow deer hunt I had scheduled and was putting in a lot of range time. My load of choice was the Hornady 240 XTP over 24.0 grains of W296 which is basically about the same as the Hornady factory load using that same bullet.

I was double checking my POI at each range from 25 to 100 yards and at 100 yards the first three rounds went into 1/2". I almost stopped there but had fully intended to shoot five so did so and the group ended up at 2.0" even. Not spectacular but your gun likely is up to that if you are.

So yes 100 yard deer hunting with your gun is definitely a do able chore. I've taken a couple at about 100 yards give or take a few (I didn't measure the distance) with a scoped S&W .44 Magnum and it works just fine for that.

[FASTMIKE0721]

THANKS FOR THE HELP GUYS. I'M GOING TO CHECK OUT AMERICAN EAGLE AND HORNADAY AND I'LL DEFIANTLY GO WITH 240 GRAIN AS IT SEEMS MOST POPULAR.

ONE OTHER ? ABOUT CAST BULLETS---- I GET THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY ARE SIGNIFICANTLY HARDER THAN HOLLOW POINTS, WILL CAST BULLETS WEAR ON MY BARREL?

[Graybeard]

No they are actually easier on the barrel as they are in reality softer. The jacket on jacketed bullets is always harder than any type of lead alloy can ever be. Now the core of the jacketed bullet is softer but NOT the jacket. Personally I'm not convinced that lead or jacketed bullets either or harder or easier on barrels but that's the popular theory. The barrel steel is so much harder than either I just honestly think it's an old wives tale.

[warrior1]

fastmike, when you got a couple hundred empty cases,will you contact me about disposing of your 44 mag brass.
thanks dan.