Longest shot with a 24" 92 in .44?

[teamnelson]

I'm thinking of getting out of 30-30 and getting a long barreled .44. I cast & reload and I love my 92s in .357. I've also shot pistol in .44 out to 200yds on steel rams so I expect even better performance and distance with the much longer barrel. What's been your experience?

[454Puma]

If your shooting pistol that far you probably could add another 50 yards past that your bullet drop is getting pretty great! Scoped maybe another 75 yards!

[Dee]

I have had a Navy Arms Deluxe versionof the Model 92 Winchester 24" barrel, in 357 magnum for about 6 years now. I love the rifle, and have played around a little at about 150 yards with an aperture sight that I installed on it. I continue however, to use my Model 94 in 3030 for beyond 150 yards. Your 3030 will start out performing a 44 magnum pretty quick once you get beyond 100 yards. I guess you'll just have to try it and see.

[243dave]

TeamNelson,  I have a 45colt in a 94 trapper that I load hot with 300gr bullets, my loads is a little more than the 44.  Its a AE model and I  have a 1.5x4.5 power shotgun scope mounted in quick-detachable rings, its my favorite 150yd deer gun.  It does very well at 200yds on 6 inch gongs.  I've walked it out to 500yds onto a big gong and hits was about 25%.  There was a lot of hold over applied,  seemed like about 50ft.  I suspect if I zeroed and practiced some I could hit fairly often.  But since I use it as a woods gun I zero at 100yds and out to 150yds know I can hold on the top of the back of deer for a kill.  Past 125yds a pistol bullet falls quickly.  I guess what I'm trying to say is a pistol caliber rifle will have the power and accuracy to be effective past 150yds but not the trajectory, but trajectory can be compensated for.  I'm sure you know that being a pistol shooter.  In a 44mag(or 45colt), a rifle will generally get you another 300-400fps with powders like h-110, so it is a step up.  With a bit of pratice I think I can get my rifle to 300yds accurately.   Dave    

[wreckhog]

Elmer Keith whacked a deer at 600 yards with a pistol chambered in that round.

[silverbuzzard]

any 255 -300 grainer as fast ass it can go will work for 250 yards every time,thats a long shot in the woods and the woods is where the game goes when the shootin starts

[Lloyd Smale]

out past a hundred yards you have to deal with bullet drop and sight hold over whether it be a rifle or a handgun in 44 mag. It doesnt matter much to me if one shoots a tad flatter as you still have to learn that specific gun and load to make hits out there. that said ive shot and actually hit things out at 800 yards with a 44mag on a couple occasions.

[gundownunder]

I think bullet drop and accuracy are going to have to come into the decision somewhere.
I own a 357 and have been trying to decide if I should use it for 200 yd sillywet or upgrade to something else.
Ballistically the 30-30 is better than any pistol caliber at 200 yds.
A Hornady 170 gr .308 fp, BC 189 will stay supersonic at 200 yds from 1670fps at the muzzle,
A Hornady 158 gr .357 hp, BC 210 will stay supersonic at 200 yds from 1610fps
A Hornady 240 gr .430 hp, BC 205 yada yada, 1620 fps
A Hornady 250 gr .452 hp, BC 146 yada yada, 1880 fps
So the pistol calibers have to be pushed harder to make it but the 30-30 is only shooting light loads to do the job.
For those of us who can't afford to shoot large quantities of jacketed bullets or the club won't allow them, the numbers when using Lee moulds BC figures make the pistol calibers look a lot worse.

[teddy12b]

I think you'd be happy with a 92.  Last night I finished my 24" 44mag 92 long range project.  I put a new rear ladder on it and had to get a new front sight on it.  Now that it's done I just need to get to the range and mark the ladder where the bullets hit at the different distances.  I'll need to take some pictures but it may be of some help to you if you want to reach out there.  Some guys have been using the tang sights also.  I'm guessing that if you can hit targets at 200 yards with a pistol that you'd be just fine with a rifle in your hands.