hunting,ft.lbs.??

[tootalloutdoors]

I've bought a rsrh.44mag. this year. My question is concerning "energy". I'm familiar with archery, the need for so much kinetic energy in your set-up to "effectively" take small game, antelope, whitetail,and elk progressively. I'm sure it enters into handgun hunting as well, I just can't find any general rule of thumb. Can anyone put me in the ball park? I know what I'm trying to ask, I just may not be wording it the best way. Thanks though, if you can help.

[glock29]

For small game, use light 44 special loads...plenty of energy for small-game.

The general rule of ft/lbs for deer is 1,000 ft/lbs energy at impact with the deer.
Roughly the same can be applied to antelope, but I dont know of too many pronghorn that will let you get within the Rainbow-Like trajectory curve of a 44 mag.
For Antelope, you should use a good flat shooting rifle something like a 25-06, 270, 270WSM, 257 Wby, or 270 Wby.

The general rule of thumb for elk is 2,000 ft/lbs energy at point of bullet impact.

Use of large bore rifles that penetrate with hard-cast bullets, these figures can be reduced a bit.

The 44 mag is a fully adequate short range (75yds or less) deer cartridge. Make sure you use a heavy-for-caliber (240+grains) tough solid or soft point bullet that is designed to PENETRATE; do NOT use 180gr defense-type bullets for hunting deer.

Although it may kill Elk at close range, the 44 mag is NOT an adequate elk cartridge as Elk can be extremely hardy animals that are tough to kill. Even a 22 long rifle can kill Elk with brain-shots, it also is an improper elk cartridge. If you are intent on hunting Elk with a handgun, use a caliber proper for the task such as a 500 S&W Magnum, 454 Casull, 475 Linebaugh or other Super-Mag big bore. Notice I purposely LEFT-OUT the 480 Ruger....this is a short&weak version of the 475 Linebaugh that is only MARGINALLY better than the 44 Magnum.

My advice for hunting Elk....get at least a good 300 Magnum RIFLE.
Although I still have not yet drawn an Elk tag, if I do I will be using either a 375 H&H Mag or my 458 Lott !

[ricciardelli]

For some reason, still unknown to me, many years ago I decided that the bullet must hace the kinetic energy, at the range the animal is shot, of at least three times the weight of the animal.

So far I have not disappointed myself with that guideline.

As for the .44 Magnum, I use a Ruger SBH for deer at less than 100 to 110 yards, and my reloads are 240 grain JHP bullets leaving the muzzle at 1607 FPS.

[New Hampshire]

I like Steves "rule of thumb."  It sounds more reasonable than what Ive been hearing from "experts" lately.  Heck, some experts cant even agree.  One magazine will tell you ya need a minimum of 1000 ft/lbs to kill a deer and another one will say 1200 ft/lbs.  I think these figures are GROSSLY over exaggerated.  Sometimes I wonder if the same "experts" are hunting deer with body armor.  But in reality I think it is to try and further push the false opinion that evryone needs "magnum" rounds.  But by Steves reasoning, 600 ft/lbs for a 200 lb deer sounds more on par with my thinking.
But, then again, maybe Im just a conspiracy theorist   .
Brian M.

[Castaway]

I like Steve's theory as a guide, never heard it expressed before and it makes sense to me.  It has to be tempered though with other factors such as bullet shape, mass and caliber.  There is no one particular method of calculating how effective a hunting round is going to be.  Foot/pounds is one way to estimate a round's effectiveness, but there are limits.  In theory you could push a sewing needle fast enough to have 1000 ft/lbs of energy, but it certainly wouldn't make a good hunting round.  When using a 40 caliber or greater, you can't go wrong with a Keith-Style, semi wadcutter or one of Veral's designs.  For pistols, heavier is better, to a point.  In a 44 Mag, I'd like 245 grains or better to provide the inertia necessary to get out the other side.  I'd probably stop at 300 grains.  You can cross the heavy threshhold for effectiveness on game also and but where that point is hasn't been found by me.  I shoot a 45 Colt and 300 grains is impractical as the bullet impact is above where my sights can be regulated.  If you push the above mentioned style bullets at Steve's figure you'll have meat in the freezer.  All offer a flat meplat that gives a lot of "slap" when it contacts an animal.  The wound channel is cut as opposed to torn, consequently; bleeding is more rapid than with a round nosed bullet.