Author Topic: 44 Mag on deer (Read 1553 times)

handirifle · « **on:** February 21, 2006, 06:57:13 AM »

What would you guys say the max effective range, for whitetail deer, would be for the 44 Mag from a 10 - 14" Encore barrel? Any load would be considered.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 21, 2006, 07:31:08 AM »

100 to 125 yards, depending on the shooters ability also.

Graybeard · « **Reply #2 on:** February 21, 2006, 11:54:51 AM »

Yeah 100-125 is easily within the capabilities of the cartridge. It's also about where most shooter's ability to properly place the bullet begin to get dicy. Trajectory is becoming a real factor in bullet placement when you exceed 100 yards and beyond 150 yards even a very small range estimation error or aiming error or failure in your knowledge of the trajectory means a miss or a cripple.

The round is perfectly adequate given proper placement to several hundred yards. But I know of no one up to the task of proper placement every time way out there. That's best reserved for shooting metal plates or rocks for fun not for hunting of unwounded game.

I prefer the 240 JHP over 24.0 grains of either W296 or H110. They are the same powder. I use Hornady 240 XTPs most often but the Nosler 240 JHP is my second choice. Both are excellent. I've used them to take a bunch of deer and other critters.

Gregory · « **Reply #3 on:** February 21, 2006, 12:08:07 PM »

I agree with Redhawk1 and GB that the cartridge is capable out to 100-125 yds, what you need to determine is how proficient you are out to 100-125 yds. Set up a cardboard deer target out at 100 yds and shoot at it from field positions, not off the bench, to see if you are effective at that range.

I practice shooting off of my monopod from a sitting poition (just like I deer hunt) at the range and things get a bit dicey for me at about 100 meters with my 357 Max. So that's would be my outside limit for a shot at a deer.

handirifle · « **Reply #4 on:** February 21, 2006, 12:32:56 PM »

Thanks, that was about the range I figured on. Since the new CA law opened up the chance to get a TC handgun, I think the 44 will be my choice.

Never hunted with a handgun, so I guess the range time will decide just what MY limit is, 125 or less maybe.

There are most likely better rounds out there, but I'd be using it in Ohio's gun season, when I visit my brothers, and they have a straight case pistol cartridge limit. I figured the 44 was popular enough and maybe a good TC scoped 2x4 power might be just the ticket.

What about bullet weight on deer? Any preferences? Is the 240 about right?

Possum · « **Reply #5 on:** February 23, 2006, 01:49:17 AM »

240 is what I use. I have used jacketed and lead. With a 44 size diameter, they are not going to go far with either.

handirifle · « **Reply #6 on:** February 23, 2006, 06:39:26 AM »

Possum
What is a 240?

Blammer · « **Reply #7 on:** February 23, 2006, 10:31:13 AM »

read above post it is referring to bullet wt.

JLW · « **Reply #8 on:** February 23, 2006, 04:44:59 PM »

I use a cast bullets for whitetail. I like the 300gr bullet over 18grs of #9 powder with CCI LPP it works for me.

contender hunter · « **Reply #9 on:** March 01, 2006, 04:42:15 PM »

Don't forget the rem. core-lok 240 gr. anybody have any experience with them on deer ?? I have taken a handfull with them , very good bullet.

JD338 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 01, 2006, 05:16:14 PM »

I took my first two deer this past season with a M629 Classic using the Nosler 250 gr PT. Both were heart shots, 1st doe was 30 yds and the second doe was 60 yds. The hearts were shreaded and exit wounds were the size of a quarter. I was very impressed with the results!

Regards,

JD338

handirifle · « **Reply #11 on:** March 01, 2006, 05:38:20 PM »

Quote from: Blammer

read above post it is referring to bullet wt.

Oh, DUH! :-)

lovedogs · « **Reply #12 on:** March 19, 2006, 11:31:48 AM »

I've used Speer 240 gr. jacketed softpoint (#4737) for years at 1600 FPS out of my Contender Super 14 with good results. It held together better than the Sierra 240 HP that I once used. In my informal expansion tests the Speer still works out to 200 yds. But that's usually too far to shoot at a deer just because of the amount of drop you'll get way out there.

Though all the jacketed bullets I've used have killed the deer I've not always been happy with their performance. Most will come apart too easily. This year I'm going to try a cast Saeco RNFPGC to see if I like it better. Any comments on using the cast bullets?

Turk · « **Reply #13 on:** March 20, 2006, 01:28:37 PM »

The 44 Mag. is good for whitetail anywhere. A bullet you may what to consider is the LBT style Wide Flat Nose GC 250 gr. This bullet is a real tack driver from my Contender or Smith 629. The nice thing about cast bullets are they don't come apart.

Turk

Remember to pray for our troops.

lovedogs · « **Reply #14 on:** March 21, 2006, 04:26:19 AM »

I think I've got a good idea on the way the cast lead bullets work and have done enough work with them to know they hold together. When I bought the Saeco RNFPGC mould I got that design because I may someday have a lever action rifle and this design was designed for the .444, so I figured this type would feed reliably. My question is whether or not it will perform as desired on game. Since cast lead bullets don't rely on expansion to perform, but utilize a flat meplat to impart shock and disrupt tissue, I wondered if the design I've chosen will be effective. I wish I had a wider meplat but am hoping this slightly narrower one will work. That was my question. Does anyone have any experience with the type design I'm using?