ok guys,iv made my choice.....

[ebonitekid767]

im gonna go with a .44 mag barrel and either a .243 or .308!i think i can cover my needs with them!

[Mac11700]

Good choices...

Mac

[bajabill]

Half way there,

for documentation purposes    why did you decide on the 44 mag

[ebonitekid767]

well my father lives in rifle country and has 160 acres that we can hunt,but city guys lease it for opening week of deer season so we have to hunt in THICK THICK briars and pines so the shots arent much farther than 50 yards if that so i think the mag would fit the bill.I have a .35 remington but i cant seem to get it to shoot good and ammo is kinda hard to come by...so i decided on the .44...i think the 30-30 would be a better choice but ALOT of people hunt with them, and when you ask someone what they shot their deer with say, ohh a 44 mag? :wink: so...thats my reasoning haha should i reconsider?

[Stan in SC]

In the thick area you describe you may wish to think about a 45/70.

[bajabill]

No, my question was not to get you to re-think your decision. It, and your reponse backed my thoughts up completely, was to emphasize that your decision was based widely on personal criteria, that only you can understand and consider.  So, for the next half of your quest to fill your battery, you dont need anyone else's opinions.  Yes, factual info about a cartridge/caliber and capabilities are great questions to ask, but we should all respect that these decisions are based on our own individual wants, and not needs.  There should never be a pissing match about a 280 vs a 30-06, because there is no single answer for everyone.  Im not trying to attack someone for asking a question, just trying to shed some light on why I dont think it can be answered by anyone else but the asker.  Then, I also think we should take this into consideration when we answer the question with our opinion and expect someone to take that as a the best solution to their want.

[Haywire Haywood]

No, my question was not to get you to re-think your decision. It, and your reponse backed my thoughts up completely, was to emphasize that your decision was based widely on personal criteria, that only you can understand and consider.  So, for the next half of your quest to fill your battery, you dont need anyone else's opinions.  Yes, factual info about a cartridge/caliber and capabilities are great questions to ask, but we should all respect that these decisions are based on our own individual wants, and not needs.  There should never be a pissing match about a 280 vs a 30-06, because there is no single answer for everyone.  Im not trying to attack someone for asking a question, just trying to shed some light on why I dont think it can be answered by anyone else but the asker.  Then, I also think we should take this into consideration when we answer the question with our opinion and expect someone to take that as a the best solution to their want.

The exception to this of course is that it doesn't apply on the second tuesday of the fifth week of any month starting or ending with the letter "5" or the number "Q".

Ian

[gwhilikerz]

All this therapy and counciling has me feeling like a new man (Napolean I think)

[James B]

Good choice. I love my 44 Mag rifle. I have it in the synthetic handi rifle. I have a 2x7 scope on it. Its such a versitile caliber that The scope was really needed for me. With mild 44 special loads, its a good small game rifle. With full house 300 grain Hornady XTP's it will take deer Black bear moose and elk within its range. The sights however won't adjust to the extreme velocity and bullet weight spread. The scope however will allow me to sight in any load. I would recommend the Hornady XTP in 240 or 300 for deer. I prefer the 300. Enjoy you new rifle. I shoot a 240 grain hard cast bullet for smaller game but it shoots 180 grain jacked bullets well to.

[Mac11700]

It, and your reponse backed my thoughts up completely, was to emphasize that your decision was based widely on personal criteria, that only you can understand and consider. So, for the next half of your quest to fill your battery, you dont need anyone else's opinions.

Well.....ain't that just Grand...you don't feel he needs anyones elses opinion...whether he wants them or not...perhaps he just wants to see what others like...Sorry...we try to accomodate folks here when they ask...if you don't want to help out...then don't...

ebonitekid767....feel free to ask for opinions hereif you like...it doesn't hurt anyone...(well...maybe it hurts 1 or 2...but they'll get over it)..and it doesn't cost anything either....

Mac

[JPH45]

I took four deer with my 44 in exactly the kind of cover you describe. I then took a spike this year with my 45-70 in the same location I have taken 2 with my 44. I'd hate to have to choose between having one or the other. If forced to have just one, it would likely be the 45-70, it will do everything the 44 will and some more. But I don't think it in anyway to be a better close range killer than the 44, and I have used the 45-70 with heavy loads in past to deer hunt.

James B is pretty dead on, the XTP bullets just flat out perform. I am getting 1525 fps from the 300 and no signs of stabilization problems. The 270 Speer Gold Dot is a great bullet too. There are lots of cast bullets out there, but I would suggest slugging your bore prior to using any, my barrel is .432 on the groove diameter and .427 on the bore. I've had trouble getting full velocity with usable accuracy from cast as a result of this.

I think the 44 is a great choice and will do good by ya.

[Ditchdigger]

I like my 44 mag. very much also,I hav'nt got to shoot anything but 1 coyote at 100 yds.with it but it really put him down hard. I'm using 22.5 grs. of H110 and the 300 gr. XTP for 1639fps average.
If you feel you need more power,ream it to 445 super mag. and get 1900fps with the 300 gr.,and still shoot  the 44 mags and spl's.   Digger

[De41mag]

Well I have to agree with Haywood and Mac on this one.
We make posts on here to get others opinions. To get feed back from others, reinforce our own choices. And if others have a different opinion, about our choice, then we think it over. That is why we even have these talk forums.
So ebonitekid is just hoping for some positive feedback. Plus he is young and looking up to us for support.
So we don't need to belittle him for his choices. He is our future. Go easy on him.

Just my 2 cents.
Dennis  

[danwolla]

Ebonite,

Sounds like good choices to me, I took one deer with a 44 @~165 yds.  Went down fairly quickly with a hit near the back of the ribcage.  I wouldn't want to shoot it any farther, or even that far given a choice.  Have fun with your new toys.

dw

[Donaldo]

Hey, no need for anyone to get bent out of shape for asking a question.  This is all about what makes you feel good about getting a Handi rifle.  I personally don't care a hoot about a 45-70.  I am all into small diameter bullets.  But... If someone likes the big bores, I don't know of a place or a rifle where you can satisfy you desires for less money.  Some like um big and slow, some like um small and fast.  Kind of like different strokes for different folks.  We are all welcome here.  Everyone here is a good guy, there are however 2 or 3 that are regular bigots.     Just kidding.  Hang around here long enough and you will be saying, Hi, my name is.... and I am a Handiholic.  

[bajabill]

I am pointing out that ebonitekid900    :wink: did a fine job making his own decision and he has, yet hardly needs, my full confidence that the next one will be made equally well.  There is no belittlement whatsoever in this.  My statement that he doesnt need more opinions is a testament to him.  But, yes I agree, if anyone wants to ask questions, fire away.  I stated before and am a firm believer that wanting is the best explanation for anything and beyond dispute.

So, between a 243 and a 308, get the 308 because it has less overlap with the 223 that you already have.