Author Topic: 44 mag 200gr bullet ?? (Read 2686 times)

rdh · « **on:** February 18, 2008, 03:32:45 PM »

I am planning on shooting them in my danwesson 8". I have some 240gr also but just wondering about deer hunting with the 200gr if they will have enough punch over the 240gr thanks for replys

coop2564 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 18, 2008, 03:45:18 PM »

You didn't say what kind of bullet that can make a lot of difference. The 200 gr would probably be fine but the 240 would most likely be better, again depends on the type bullet.

Greeenriver · « **Reply #2 on:** February 18, 2008, 03:58:18 PM »

I used to use 240grn and 250grn bullets in my 44's and 45's. I use farly hard cast RNFP's with a large flat point. A few years ago, I switched to 200grn b bullets of the same stile in both, and the deer I've shot can't tell the difference. Both the 200's and the heaver bullets go clean through both frt shoulders out to about 75yds, and that's all that's important for deer. Heaver bullets and more velosity are great, but most of the energy is expended on the other side of the deer, which is a waist for you.

The best load for deer is one that you can control, keep all your shots in a decent group, hit exactly where you want to, and the bullet goes clean through the deer, then falls on the ground on the other side. That way, nearly all the energy is transferred to the deer, providing a good wound channel and you ain't worried about the bullet traveling hundreds of yards past the deer, maybe hitting something you don't want hit.

The advantage of a longer, heaver bullet is they sometimes are more accurate at longer distances, and hold their velocity better at distance. Out to about 75yds, I can't see much difference at all.

And the 200's kick less than the 240's at the same velocity.

So I would say the 200's are fine for deer hunting.

Greeenriver

rdh · « **Reply #3 on:** February 18, 2008, 04:05:15 PM »

The bullets I will be loading will be noslers not the partition and the hornady xtps

Mikey · « **Reply #4 on:** February 19, 2008, 12:34:27 AM »

rdh: as coop said, the 200s would probably be fine but the 240 would most likely be better.

Greenriver has had good success with 200 gn slugs as well as the heavier 240 and 250 gn cast.

Many of the folk who use 44s prefer the heavier slug, including those weighing 300 gns or more.

Usually, the general principle is that the lighter weight the slug is for the bore the shorter and squatter it is and the more likely it is to deflect off heavy bone structures or fail to give the penetration of the heavier slug.

If they are being shot from a 8" revolver you can go two different ways: Manageable loads with 200 grainers at higher velocities or manageable loads with 240s at slightly lower velocities. JMTCW. Mikey.

Ken ONeill · « **Reply #5 on:** February 19, 2008, 02:15:14 AM »

The Speer 200 gr. jacketed magnum hollow point kills deer like lightning. Can't tell the difference between it and good 240's.

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #6 on:** February 19, 2008, 04:33:33 AM »

Quote from: rdh on February 18, 2008, 04:05:15 PM

The bullets I will be loading will be noslers not the partition and the hornady xtps

Make sure to see the Nosler powder charges for the Nosler bullet as it is not a cup n core design.
The max charges can be considerably less, at least in the .45

Lone Star · « **Reply #7 on:** February 19, 2008, 04:02:06 PM »

Quote

Make sure to see the Nosler powder charges for the Nosler bullet as it is not a cup n core design.

Actually, the Nosler bullets he will use are traditional cup and core designs. However, it is still good advice to use the bullet maker's data with that bullet maker's bullets.

.

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #8 on:** February 19, 2008, 05:14:34 PM »

Thanks Lone Star
I mainly use the XTP's when shooting jacketed but had a scare a while back when reviewing some load data for the .45 using the 250gr Nosler and 296.
It seemed that these bullets were the so called [sic] solid base and not to be confused with the cup and core design.

Laremm · « **Reply #9 on:** February 20, 2008, 03:26:53 AM »

the DW is one of the few that can fire the Buffalo Bore round.

huge power

www.buffalobore.com

http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm#44P
the 44 +P+

Catfish · « **Reply #10 on:** February 20, 2008, 02:36:16 PM »

My preferred bullet for deer with a .44 mag. handgun is the 240 gn. Sierra JHC. I have never tried the bullets you are asking about, but I have tried some liter bullets and had them fail. At one time I was loading .44 mag. ammo for deer hunting for myself and 3 of my friends. Between the 4 of us and several years we killed alot of deer and I did try different bullets from time to time, but most were taken with the 240 Sierra`s and they were thr only bullet that seem to never let you down.

Davemuzz · « **Reply #11 on:** February 20, 2008, 02:56:09 PM »

My favorite, and only load for my 629 DX Classic 6.5" barrel is the Hornady 200 grain XTP over 24.4 of Vihtavouri N-110. The max load for this (according to VV is 26.3gr.). However, this load has plenty of "bark" for the 44. I took a doe this past season at 40 yards with this load. The bullet broke both front legs as it took out the plumo system. She was standing quartering too me, right leg front, left leg back. One flip and dropped like a sack of bricks. I have no problem using a 200 grain bullet for whitetail. I don't think a 240 grain is going to make any whitetail any dead-er.

Dave

Catfish · « **Reply #12 on:** February 21, 2008, 12:33:06 AM »

Dave I hit a very small deer in the front shoulder with a 180 gn. Sierra. At the angle of the shot of the shot it should have taken out the heart. Thing is the shot was about 10 yrds. , I had an entrance wound the size of a water glass but the bullet never made the heart. I took another deer, a nice 10 pt. buck, at abt 135 yrds. with a 240 gn. bullet. He was quartering away and I hit him in the left rear quater. I found the bullet just under the skin of the right front shoulder. The only 240 gn. bullet I ever recovered. I do not shoot lite bullets because I fear bullet failure if you hit heavy bone at close range.

Davemuzz · « **Reply #13 on:** February 21, 2008, 01:26:49 AM »

Catfish, I hear ya on the close range\lite bullet\heavy bone situation. I know that things sometimes happen that just "are not planned", but if the animal is close to me...it's usually a high percentage shot. (ie: I have a clear shot at the vitals). Now, on a whitetail I'm not too concerned about the front leg bones with a 200 grain bullet. The XTP's seem to "clear" 'em without a problem. I wouldn't chance 'em thru the brisket and I don't think I'd be all that comfy on the shoulder no matter how close the deer was. Those shoulders aren't attached (like a human's ball 'n socket) but if it's hit in the right place...a bullet could go where you don't expect it too. So, what I'm sayin is I like boiler room shots anyway....but the leg bones don't bother me.

Dave

countryrebel · « **Reply #14 on:** March 01, 2008, 06:09:03 PM »

I have shot many deer with the 180s in 44 mag at various distances with no problems.I had no problems putting them down and would not hesitate to use the 200 grainers.I have shot a few with 240's and they do seem to work better.Someday I will try the 200's and some of speers 210's just to see how they shoot and perform.

terry · « **Reply #15 on:** March 02, 2008, 02:11:16 PM »

I killed two wild hogs in one day this Jan. using the The Speer 200 gr jacketed magnum hollows. One passed through the other stopped in the far leg after passing through the body. Light reloads 1200FPS out of my S&W pistol. The Bullet I recovered looked like it was. .75 to 1" expanded!

nilescoyote · « **Reply #16 on:** March 04, 2008, 12:23:08 AM »

I have used 200 hornady xtp's for years on deer. Never have any problem with the deer not dropping with in 10 to 15 yards from where they where when hit. In each case all bullets punched through both sides of the deer but not the hide on the opposite side. Made easy recovery of the bullet for weight and expansion study. So far all the bullets maintained 90%+ of there weight, and completely expanded. Damage to the vitals was extreme to say the least. Lungs and heart where simply gone... turned to jello, and had surprisingly little meat damage. Shots have been between 30 and 60 yards. I run these over 27.5 grains of Winchester 296 or H110 at a velocity of 1700+ through a 10" desert eagle. At that speed they are very flat to 100 yards. The only negative with this set up is there is quite a muzzle blast.

I also have used 240 xtp's with good results at 1200 to 1300 FPS and a lot less muzzle blast.

RJM · « **Reply #17 on:** March 05, 2008, 03:14:08 PM »

Last deer I took with a .44 Magnum was 6 point quartering to me at about 30'. Bullet was a 180 Sierra JHC backed by 30 grains of H110 out of a 7.5" Redhawk...velocity was 1680 I believe

Bullet entered the chest just right of the sternum, made the heart look like Jello and broke three ribs going out the back of the chest cavity...

Bob

T.R. · « **Reply #18 on:** April 11, 2008, 04:48:35 AM »

This buck was taken with the 240 grain version of Hornady XTP. But I've taken equally sized deer with the 200 grain hollow tip that pre-dated the XTP by many years.

Typically, the 200 grain bullets would be found flattened to about .75 under hide of opposite side of impact. Wound channel destruction was predictably quite ghastly. I switched to 240 grain because it shoots more accurate in this Ruger carbine. Hornady bullets are my first and only choice for hunting with 44 MAG.

TR

Ole Man Dan · « **Reply #19 on:** April 11, 2008, 06:18:36 AM »

RDH:

Count me in the other camp. After killing a bunch of deer with the 240XTP, I had one failure (still recovered the deer, but it went about 75 yds thru the brush) I switched to WFN 255s, because I can count on them behaving the same every time, regardless of distance. My preference is for the same style in .45 (WFN 265gr)
The WFN work well on larger hogs & deer. I don't push mine much more than 1200fps., but I get complete penetration w/shoulder shots. (If I used a scope I might go for a different cast bullet, but Irons sights inside 75 yards, the WFN gets the job done...)

Broom Rider · « **Reply #20 on:** April 12, 2008, 01:43:19 PM »

My hunting bullet isn't a 200 but it's close. I use a Sierra 210 with a slightly less than recommended (by Sierra) charge of WW286. The few times I've used it the performance was good.

SingleShotShorty · « **Reply #21 on:** April 18, 2008, 12:48:41 PM »

I have taken deer with the 200 grain and the 240 grain Hornady XTP's but I prefer the 240's simply because my 44 likes them better

Davemuzz · « **Reply #22 on:** April 19, 2008, 03:31:24 AM »

Quote from: SingleShotShorty on April 18, 2008, 12:48:41 PM

I have taken deer with the 200 grain and the 240 grain Hornady XTP's but I prefer the 240's simply because my 44 likes them better

You gotta shoot what it likes....or there's no sense in goin.

Dave