Author Topic: Factory 44 MAG Loads for DEER (Read 1387 times)

jcsabolt2 · « **on:** October 28, 2003, 06:56:28 AM »

What factory 44 Mag loads would you suggest for deer? I currently have my Encor sighted in using American Eagle 240gr HP. It shoots OK under 100 yards.

I was wondering if there were any factory loads with cast bullets. Looking for the 240-300gr range.

Forgot...need to know where to get a good supply of ammo too. Our local marts and gun stores have limited variety.

Questor · « **Reply #1 on:** October 28, 2003, 07:39:56 AM »

Federal makes some hard cast hunting loads in 300 grain. Cor Bon also makes some hunting loads.

Jim n Iowa · « **Reply #2 on:** October 28, 2003, 12:48:05 PM »

Hornady makes a 300gr in xtp. I use a flat point or soft point in 240gr by Winchester and PMC.
I don't know where in Ohio you live but when I visited our kids in Middletown istopped by the Bass Pro shop there and they carry a good selection of ammo.
Jim

Graybeard · « **Reply #3 on:** October 28, 2003, 06:02:24 PM »

For deer hunting with the .44 magnum I prefer a 240 JHP. I've killed a bunch of them with that load. I use either the Hornady 240 XTP or the Nosler 240 JHP mostly over 24.0 grains of W296. Hornady sells the equivalent of this as a factory load. Matter of fact I have some on the way now for testing in the new Taurus M44 12" I'll be using this season.

Cast bullets work on everything. They work fine on deer. I just personally prefer the JHPs on deer.

GB

Questor · « **Reply #4 on:** October 30, 2003, 04:47:47 AM »

I think the American Eagle will be fine for deer. It's good ammo. My preference, though, is to use the really good bullets, like XTPs and hard cast big-meplat bullets.

BRL · « **Reply #5 on:** November 02, 2003, 07:15:00 AM »

I really like Speer Gold Dot 270gr. factory ammo and have used Winchester's factory load with a 250gr. partition bullet from Nosler. Both worked perfectly! I have used Hornady 240gr. XTP but only in my handloads. It worked great as well, so I would assume Hornady's factory ammo would work similar. I have shot all of the above through my Marlin and my Ruger Redhawk. I have never lost a deer or hog with any of these loadings. I would practice with several brands and loads to see which is more comfortable for you to shoot and which shoots best in your firearm.

If I can't find ammo in my local, small town, outdoor store...I ask them if they would order it from their distributor for me (sometimes you might have to order a few boxes to make it worth their while). Usually a major catalog like Cabela's will have a great selection as well, try a search online for ammunition. Good Luck!

Captainkev · « **Reply #6 on:** November 02, 2003, 03:54:23 PM »

I know you were looking in the 240 to 300 gr. class, and I think the 300 g XTP is great hog ammo, but check out the 200 gr. XTP, it has good balistics, is very accurate, and should pack a punch on the Whitetails.

Kevin

The Pistoleer · « **Reply #7 on:** November 02, 2003, 04:16:06 PM »

I must agree with Captainkev. I have never found the need for the heavier bullets for deer. The 200gr bullet has performed outstandingly for me on whitetails. The 240 grain work fine but have a lot more penatration then needed.

I'm not certain that you can find factory loads with the 200 gr XTP but I am sure you could find a custom loader who would load them for you.

Captainkev · « **Reply #8 on:** November 03, 2003, 05:30:10 AM »

Hornady does load a factory 200 gr XTP in 44 mag.
Try it out, I am sure it will do what you need on the Whitetails.

Kevin

kciH · « **Reply #9 on:** November 03, 2003, 11:31:18 PM »

Hornady 240gr XTP factory load. It has a good bit more punch than the other common factory rounds and a better bullet. You CANNOT have too much penetration with a handgun.

Ranger413 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 04, 2003, 04:22:56 AM »

I used to hand load 200gr Hornady XTP bullets over about 28gr H110. Velocity was supposed to be around 1500 fps if I remember right. About three years ago I heard from a very good source that the Winchester Supreme Partition Gold 250gr. rounds were absolutely devastating on ballistic gellatin. Now that's what I'm shooting.

Both rounds will print about 1 1/2" groups at 50 yards with a Ruger SRH with an UltraDot. I initially went with the 200gr rounds because I believe a bullet should expend all of it's energy inside the animal. Recently I've gone to the philosophy that shoulder shots are the way to go. I proved this a few weeks ago with my muzzleloader. 8-point dropped on the spot with a quartering to shot.

I doubt if there would be much difference between the two for actual "on game" performance though.

Ranger413

JRWHITETAIL · « **Reply #11 on:** November 04, 2003, 02:02:54 PM »

As far as I am concerned, 240 XTP is the way to go. You don't know how or where you will shoot in the wild. Just when you think the deer is going to come out " there" he goes that way. If they make a better boolet than the XTP I don't know it.

Old Griz · « **Reply #12 on:** November 15, 2003, 05:58:57 PM »

Well, I might just have to try that Hornady 240 XTP this year and see how it shoots. I've been shooting the 300-gr. Federal CastCore for the main reason that it is so accurate out of my gun. Nothing else has come close, but I'll try out the Hornady and the CCI 270-gr. and see how they pattern. I've heard a lot of good stuff about both. :cb2: