Author Topic: The 44Mag dropped one!! (Read 609 times)

Spanky · « **on:** December 03, 2009, 10:56:27 AM »

I was sitting at one of my afternoon stands a little while ago. I heard something rustling through the leaves coming my way. I didn't see it until he was about 50 feet away from me... unfortunately he saw me at the same time and went straight up a tree. I figured that was it but noooo, he just had to come around the tree to get a look at me. Big mistake. I put the front bead on his head and touched if off. He dropped at the shot (about 20 feet straight down) and didn't twitch. I waited a minute to make sure the beast was down then I went to check things out. The shot was a complete pass through and bullet performance was excellent. Most of the head and neck was detatched from the body. I was a little concerned that the 44Mag loaded with 240gr.hollow points wouldn't have the ooomph needed to take the animal cleanly at that range but my worries were for nothing.

I guess the ol' mag really will do the trick. The beast weighs about a pound or two field dressed and should make for some good eatin'. I love a tasty squirrel.

Spanky

Tallwalker · « **Reply #1 on:** December 03, 2009, 10:59:56 AM »

That is wonderful news. I have a .44 Mag carbine that won't feed something as long as a .445 so it's good to know that the little .44 will work. Good to hear about the complete pass through too. I wondered if I would have to move up to the 300 grain slugs for game that size. Good hunting story too....

Skunk · « **Reply #2 on:** December 03, 2009, 11:06:03 AM »

Good one Spanky

you had me going there.

Spanky · « **Reply #3 on:** December 03, 2009, 11:08:56 AM »

To be honest it's the first game animal I've taken with the 44. Lately it's been my go to gun.

Spanky

Skunk · « **Reply #4 on:** December 03, 2009, 11:14:35 AM »

And that was a darn good shot too. A head shot on a squirrel at 20 ft. wouldn't exactly be an easy shot - at least for me anyway.

Spanky · « **Reply #5 on:** December 03, 2009, 11:24:06 AM »

I'll tell you Skunk, the 44mags are good shooters. Mine is one of the older ones and it still shoots great.

Spanky

petemi · « **Reply #6 on:** December 03, 2009, 11:44:59 AM »

Yeah mine too Spanky. That's what I destroyed that Snowshoe Hare with a week or so ago. I shot for his head, he jumped, hit him midships and blew him up. I regretted that, but the yotes had a free meal. It might make them a tad easier to get later.

Pete

cwlongshot · « **Reply #7 on:** December 03, 2009, 11:55:25 AM »

LOL, You had me for a couple moments!!

I had three tonight run down a log as if in a procession only to have the lead squirrel suddenly stop about 5feet from me. You could just see his mind working..."what in the world is that blood on my log???" LOL the two behind him didn't have as good brakes and all ran into each other and fell to the ground and skedattle in all directions. I really need to start squirrel hunting this piece of property!!!

CW

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #8 on:** December 03, 2009, 03:20:48 PM »

Squirrel and rabbit is for now! With our big game season over

, it's time to get the bugs out of some of the other guns to get some of the "other" meat. Haven't had either since last winter, and darn few then, not enough snow for the rabbits and the squirrels are not real thick around here. Back when I was a kid growin' up on the farm in Iowa, a good sized fox squirrel would feed us, the ones here in Montana kinda look like babies they are so small. DP

buckslayer · « **Reply #9 on:** December 03, 2009, 03:38:55 PM »

Awesome! Always good to hear about a clean kill. Ive been wanting to make a dedicated woods gun, and have been thinking about the .44. Great to hear it works so good.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #10 on:** December 03, 2009, 03:48:23 PM »

I dunno, you guys shootin tree rats and rabbits with 44 mags, Hmmmmm I've got some skeeters, here that maybe I should break out my 45-70 to take out!

Spanky · « **Reply #11 on:** December 03, 2009, 04:11:24 PM »

Quote from: Oldshooter on December 03, 2009, 03:48:23 PM

I dunno, you guys shootin tree rats and rabbits with 44 mags, Hmmmmm I've got some skeeters, here that maybe I should break out my 45-70 to take out!

Just make sure of your shot placement. Skeeters can go a long ways with a less than perfect shot. Bigger bodied skeeters can be tough to bring down so I'd go with some good hardcast loads for deep penetration.

They don't leave much of a blood trail either unless they've just eaten so you want to try to drop them in their tracks.

Spanky

Oldshooter · « **Reply #12 on:** December 03, 2009, 04:19:57 PM »

Good points Spank! I hadn't thought of the no blood trail thang! maybe i could just knock a wing off instead of just hittin em dead on! I just get a mental picture of a skeeter smashed on the face of a 45-70 hard cast hollerin Wooooohhooohhooo!!!!!!!!!!!!! as he goes off into the sun set!!!

Elkoholic · « **Reply #13 on:** December 03, 2009, 04:33:50 PM »

Dang, I thought you'd shot another squirrelzilla!

Here's one my brother and I got awhile back.
Took 3 shots to finish him!
I've seen biggers ones out there.

Great story Spanky!!

Mike