My leverlution / handi 44 mag report.

[timhixson]

Let me start this by saying that I am an amature shooter at best.

I recently picked up a new NEF in 44 mag for the upcoming deer season. This gun is topped with weaver rings and a bushnell banner 2.5x7 scope. I really liked the looks and potential of the new Hornady leverlution ammo so that is what I have sighted in with.

To date I have put about 45 rounds thru this gun, and have cleaned it after each day of shooting (4 different times)

Yesterday was the first time I had a steady rest to try for some accuracy. I bought one of those plastic gun rest setups from bass pro for $50 and filled the center with pea gravel as I did not have any sand or shot bags.

My first round at 100 yrds was about 3" high and left. Made the adjustment in the scope and shot about 1.5" high and left. made the final adjustment and bullseye.

We also have a target set up at 135 yards by the rangefinder. I made two shots at it with the first being dead center and the second about 1-1/4" left.

So far I am very happy and pretty confident in my ability to take deer out to 150 yards with this setup.

let me get the pictures hosted and I will show the targets

[quickdtoo]

Nice shootin, thanks for the report!

Tim

[petemi]

Nice to see one shoot that well out of the box.  Good shooting and hunting.  Pete

[teddy12b]

Dang, now I want to go buy one.  Nice rifle & setup.  Let us know how it works on deer if you get the chance.  Good luck to you this season.

[murphdog]

I've got the same question as teddy12, what are the terminal ballistics.  Does anyone have any experience shooting these into a deer, gelatin, wet newsprint, etc?  Duane

[timhixson]

Thanks guys.  I will report the results if November ever gets here......

On a side note yesterday my buddy bought a new Marlin 1894 in 44 mag shooting the same ammo.  It has a Nikon buckmaster with weaver rings and we are struggling to get accuracy with it.

[teddy12b]

I've got a puma 44mag 20" and the last time to the range I tested several different loads and found the accuracy was just plain bad in most of them at 100 yards.  My go to load using the hornady xtp 240gr jhp shot the best out of them all and that's what I'd been shooting for some time, but firgured I might as well try a few of the other ones as well.  I have a bunch of data on those and I'll make a post on it if I ever get my info together.

[quickdtoo]

The 225gr FTX averages 1760fps from my 22" Handi.

Tim

[teddy12b]

Most of my handloads are the 1650 - 1675 fps range from a 20" barrel.  What really surprised me, was firing some grizzley 320gr hard cast ammo that was around 1580 fps.  That's an aweful amount of hard cast lead moving right along!

[revbc]

I do know how it works on deer.   I have hunted whitetails in LA for over 35 years with at least 25 of those using a 44mag 1894 Marlin.  I have shot factory loads and reloads from a friend.  With the reloads, I would not hesitate to drop the hammer on one out to 150 yrds.  Never shot the new hornady ammo, but with regular factory loads 100-120 yds was my max.  It just dropped to much after that.  I have killed many, many deer with this rifle caliber.  I missed a few, but one thing I can say, if I drew blood I brought meat home!

Bobby