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Author Topic: 96 44 carbine  (Read 1311 times)

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Offline northern hunter

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96 44 carbine
« on: February 16, 2003, 02:11:40 PM »
:D Hi guys i just picked up a as new RUGER lever 44 mag and mounted a leupold 2x7 compact on it.Looks great and points like a dream.
I was wondering what the rate of twist is in the barrel and if it will staibalize 300 grainers .
Want to use it for bear over bait then for deer in the thick stuff.
I thought the heavey weights would be better or should i just load up some barnes or nosler,x's or partitions? Hows the Hornady XTP Bullets?
Thanks for your help.
Frank S.
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Offline freddogs

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96 44 carbine
« Reply #1 on: February 16, 2003, 02:44:16 PM »
:biggun: I've got the 44/77. It shot the hornaday 300 gr. bullets well. Too bad they wouldn't fit in the clip.   :biggun:
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Offline Ranald

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96 44 carbine
« Reply #2 on: May 26, 2003, 06:14:01 PM »
Northern:

Ruger reports a 1:20 twist rate.  Yes, that will stabilize a 300 grn ball without overdoing it.

I can't speak to MFR bullet selection, I've no experience beyond 'hardcast'.  The clip follows the SAAMI max OA length at 1.610". 300 grn ball will load, but the net case volume is reduced when OAL is kept within limits.

I'm interested in a 96/44 myself. - I'll follow your reports.

Cheers!
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Offline GTBuzz

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96 44 carbine
« Reply #3 on: August 07, 2003, 10:44:57 AM »
northern hunter,

I've had one of these little carbines since Ruger intoduced them in 1996.   I put a Leupold Vari X II 1x4 on it and this combo has accounted for quite a few deer.   I started off using the 240g XTP with a "healthy" charge of 296.   I found it blew up pretty good at close range when started off at 1780 fps.   The best 240g bullet I have found is the Remington 240g SP; this bullet is the same bullet used to load the .444 Marlin.   You can buy a 250 pack of them from Midsouth for about $26.

Mine shoots well with 300g XTP's as well but I have not had a chance to take a deer with the 300g XTP.   Mine shoots 300g LFN bullets even better, but again no use on game.  I must have gotten lucky because my bore is very smooth and I can shoot many lead bullets through it before the accuracy degrades.  You will have to be careful with some of the longer lead bullets deigned for handguns.  You have no room to spare with the Ruger's short magazine!

A really fun and accurate practice load in my rifle is a 240g Keith style cast bullets with 7g of Unique.   With this load, it is fun to practice offhand shooting at clay pigeons and Sam's Cola on the backstop at 50m.  The recoil is nonexistant.
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Offline Varmint Hunter

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96 44 carbine
« Reply #4 on: August 08, 2003, 04:40:24 AM »
I have one of the newer 44mag Deerfield rifles and assume that it has the same twist rate as your 96/44. I have been shooting Hornady 300gr XTP bullets with a full load of Win 296. The rifle shoots quite well out to 100yds. Past experience with the XTP bullets has shown them to be deadly on whitetails. While the 240gr bullet will work well, I believe that the 300gr bullets have much more retained energy out to the practical limit of the 44mag cartridge.
VHJ
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Offline NorthernMich

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96 44 carbine
« Reply #5 on: September 02, 2003, 12:24:58 PM »
I have a 96-44 lever, bought new....yesterday I was sighting in a new Tru-Glow sight I added and after every round the clip would fall out!!  

What the heck is going on, put it in about 5-6 times.  GROUPS great though with a nice BIG :shock: hole!
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