44 Mag. ?

[dave hall]

I was thinking of getting a Ruger M 77/44 bolt to play with. What is the killing range on a white-tail with a 44 Mag. rifle. I think they have an 18" barrel.Can you use beefed up load in the bolt.I know you have to watch the OAL of the case,because of the clip.You can always feed it single shot.Thanks for any info,Dave.

[Grumulkin]

The killing range with a 44 Mag. on deer would be about what you could dependably hit the animal at.

With the blunt bullets available the velocity will fall off relatively fast which will give a less flat trajectory than with many other rifle type chamberings.  I have doubts that accuracy will be acceptable for use on deer much beyond 150 to 200 yards.

As far as loading the 44 Mag. over specs for a bolt action rifle; yes, you could probably get by with it but you will never hear me recommending it.  The weak spots would be the case and primer.  The case is strong but pistol primers aren't as strong as rifle primers which means pierced primers and primer leaks will probably be the limiting factors.  If I were going to try this, I would use large rifle primers.

[dave hall]

When I was talking about OAL and beefed up I ment like Buffalo Bore or Cor-Bon.I don't reload.Some guy's say the longer bullets don't cycle in the mag.I with you, if I did reload I wouldn't do anything half a** to get more case,Dave.

[Coyote Hunter]

Dave –

If you have a .44 in a handgun – or plan to - and start reloading, I strongly recommend you never build loads that won’t work in both your rifle and handgun.  Any ammo you buy commercially should be OK in either, with the possible exception of feeding problems from a magazine – don’t know about that and it probably depends on the rifle.

As to your original question, “killing range on a white-tail with a 44 Mag. rifle, much will depend on the load.

Here’s some info for my 240g load from my Browing B92 (20” bbl):

Load Data
~~~~~~~~~

Name: .44 Cal, Speer JSP, 240 grn
Ballistic Coeff: 0.164
Bullet Weight: 240
Velocity: 1880
Target Distance: 145
Scope Height: 1.500
Temperature: 70
Altitude: 500

Ballistic Data
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  Range  Elevation  Velocity   Energy
  0 yds   -1.50 in  1880 fps  1883 fpe
 25 yds    0.71 in  1774 fps  1678 fpe
 50 yds    2.21 in  1674 fps  1493 fpe
 75 yds    2.95 in  1577 fps  1325 fpe
100 yds    2.83 in  1485 fps  1175 fpe
125 yds    1.71 in  1400 fps  1044 fpe
150 yds   -0.55 in  1321 fps   931 fpe
175 yds   -4.01 in  1250 fps   832 fpe
200 yds   -8.90 in  1186 fps   750 fpe

The range at which I would take game is limited by my ability to use the iron sights on the Browning rather than the energy delivered.  I shoot clay pigeons at 100 yards and steel gongs at 200, but wouldn’t take game beyond about 150.  with a low-power scope a whitetail at 200 yards would be in serious trouble.  But at that range I would MUCH prefer my .30-30…

[nasem]

Dave –

If you have a .44 in a handgun – or plan to - and start reloading, I strongly recommend you never build loads that won’t work in both your rifle and handgun.  Any ammo you buy commercially should be OK in either, with the possible exception of feeding problems from a magazine – don’t know about that and it probably depends on the rifle.

As to your original question, “killing range on a white-tail with a 44 Mag. rifle, much will depend on the load.

Here’s some info for my 240g load from my Browing B92 (20” bbl):

Load Data
~~~~~~~~~

Name: .44 Cal, Speer JSP, 240 grn
Ballistic Coeff: 0.164
Bullet Weight: 240
Velocity: 1880
Target Distance: 145
Scope Height: 1.500
Temperature: 70
Altitude: 500

Ballistic Data
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  Range  Elevation  Velocity   Energy
  0 yds   -1.50 in  1880 fps  1883 fpe
 25 yds    0.71 in  1774 fps  1678 fpe
 50 yds    2.21 in  1674 fps  1493 fpe
 75 yds    2.95 in  1577 fps  1325 fpe
100 yds    2.83 in  1485 fps  1175 fpe
125 yds    1.71 in  1400 fps  1044 fpe
150 yds   -0.55 in  1321 fps   931 fpe
175 yds   -4.01 in  1250 fps   832 fpe
200 yds   -8.90 in  1186 fps   750 fpe

The range at which I would take game is limited by my ability to use the iron sights on the Browning rather than the energy delivered.  I shoot clay pigeons at 100 yards and steel gongs at 200, but wouldn’t take game beyond about 150.  with a low-power scope a whitetail at 200 yards would be in serious trouble.  But at that range I would MUCH prefer my .30-30…

Hey Coyote Hunter~
I have been toying around the idea of getting me a leaver auction gun in either 44 mag or 357 mag (something to use on deer for 150-200 yards).  I wanted to ask you, how come that data you provided seemed a bit high ? all the 240 gr 44 mag factory ammo I look at always has half the muzle speed along with M.E (is it becuase they are testing on a 5" barrel handgun) vs what your using (20" rifle barrel).....  Does  Barrel lench increase the speed / ME of hanggun ammo ?

[Coyote Hunter]

nasem –

I shoot the same handloads in my Browning B92 carbine and my Ruger Super Redhawk revolver.  The muzzle velocities are as follows:

1519fps, 7-1/2” Ruger Super Redhawk
1880fps, 20” Browning B92

Many load books have separate pistol and rifle load pages for the .357 Mag and .44 Mag, but close examination shows the only difference is the velocity.  (At least I’m not familiar with any source that uses different powder charges.)

Carbines in pistol calibers are great fun and inexpensive to shoot.  My Browning is my only centerfire rifle without a scope.  I use it to shoot clay pigeons at 100 yards and steel gongs at 200.  Someday I hope to get a carbine in .357 Mag, probably a Marlin, although the .44 will always be the better hunter.

My recommendation is to ask Santa for one, in the caliber of your choice.

[nasem]

when u say cheap to shoot, how much do you buy your ammo for the 44 mag ? everywhere I saw were like $15-20 per 50 rounds.

[Coyote Hunter]

nasem –

Compare the cost per shot of the 50-round box of .44 ammo against the cost per shot for a 20-round box of factory ammo and you’ll see what I mean.  As a handloader, it gets dirt cheap if you use hardcast bullets.  I can’t remember the last time I bought factory .44 ammo.

[Drilling Man]

  One of the nicest shooting 44 mags i've ever seen was the Remington 788 that were chambered in 44 mag. many years ago....  They also made them in 30-30 and both were really great buys!!

  I wish Rem. would bring back the 788's!

  DM

[Coyote Hunter]

Hey Coyote Hunter~
I have been toying around the idea of getting me a leaver auction gun in either 44 mag or 357 mag (something to use on deer for 150-200 yards).  I wanted to ask you, how come that data you provided seemed a bit high ? all the 240 gr 44 mag factory ammo I look at always has half the muzle speed along with M.E (is it becuase they are testing on a 5" barrel handgun) vs what your using (20" rifle barrel).....  Does  Barrel lench increase the speed / ME of hanggun ammo ?

Forgot to say, if you plan to go 150-200 yards, the best .44 is a .444.  By far.

[T.R.]

I've been a big fan of the 44MAG as a carbine cartridge for over 30 years.  It will produce a lethal wound channel within any animal that walks around North America.  But it does its best work under 100 yards. 

I advise you to stalk closer than 125 yards or wait for a better shot.

Plenty of good hunting bullets available these days.  I'm a huge fan of Hornady's 240 grain XTP hollow tip.  XTP is short for Extreme Terminal Performance.  This bullet is always deadly if the chest organs are struck.
TR

[THE DOC]

A Speer 200grn. JHP over 22grns of 2400 works a treat from my Ruger M77/44 on red deer ,which I believe is the same size of your whitetail . Good results have been got out to 150 yards .

[nasem]

In the next month or so... I am going to get a Marlin 1894 in 44 mag, what kind of accuracy should one expect with, say, a 1.5-4.5X32 scope @ 100 yards ?  Is 2-3" groups resonable ?

And yes, I will be reloading (Im new to it), what powders would work the best when it comes to accuracy with the 1894 ?

Also, what is the difference between "cross safety" and others ?

[Chuck White]

I have a Ruger Super BlackHawk and it's mate is a Ruger M-77/44!

I opened up the magazine on my 77/44 so that I could use my cast, 240 grain Semi-Wadcutters!

These cycle flawlessly through the magazine and chamber just as if they were factory soft-points!

The overall length of the loaded cartridge is 1.660 inches!

[Coyote Hunter]

In the next month or so... I am going to get a Marlin 1894 in 44 mag, what kind of accuracy should one expect with, say, a 1.5-4.5X32 scope @ 100 yards ?  Is 2-3" groups resonable ?

And yes, I will be reloading (Im new to it), what powders would work the best when it comes to accuracy with the 1894 ?

Also, what is the difference between "cross safety" and others ?

nasem -

I do not have a Marlin 94 but do have Marlins in .30-30, .375 Win and .45-70.  All shoot 1-1/2" or better at 100 yards with the right loads.