ruger 44 mag carbine

[deernutt]

any thoughts on this gun?what would be a good price if you had the chance to pick one up?

[nrb]

My Ruger 44 was scoped with a Bushnell 1.3-4.5x new and gave one shot kills for over 20yrs on deer in Alabama. This is my favorite brush gun, never had a misfire or a jam. I reload for it and found that it favors heavy bullets, over 240gr. Once tried 170gr believing that faster is better but the groups were terrible. With 270gr Hornadys, it groups at 1in at 100yds. I do not take shots over 100yds since I have always felt that up close is better.
best.             nrb

[Ranger J]

If you are talking about the Deerfield and not the first model .44, I got mine for a little over $400.  It really likes 240g bullets and is a consistent shooter at 100 yds.  If you hand load it will not cycle with light loads.  You can shoot normal factory power loads all day and not feel them but if you start loading them a little hot it starts thumping on both ends.  The only fault I find with the gun is that it needs a working recoil pad and so far I have not been able to find one.  It kills deer real dead.

[targshooter]

deernutt,
The Deerfield goes for about $470 in MN. I have owned one now for 4 years and have shot 2 deer with it, 1 shot apiece. The rifle was not used last year and shot for the first time in two years yesterday. I use 270 grain Speer loads, and at 100 yards they are on , whereas at 125 yards they are already 3 inches low. At 50 yards they are about 2 inches high. Not a long range trajectory. Here in the close woods the bullets kill fast at the close ranges I've used the rifle (about 25 yards average shot distance). Low sectional density results in no ability to penetrate brush. The rifle screws need to be tightened in any shooting exceeding 20-30 shots. But this is not the end of the world, just bring two screw drivers that fit the screw heads and retighten as needed. My Deerfield is accurate and dependable, and it has excellent peep sights and also works well with a scope. I will use mine with its factory peeps in rainy weather this year.

[Lone Star]

Due to the Ruger's magazine limitations you are limited to the bullets you can use - many result in excessive loa when loaded.  I find the tie-on leather scope pad a very low-tech, bandaid solution for a real problem - what were they thinking?  Bill must be rolling over in his grave.  :roll:

I also find that the use of blue LockTite eliminates the need to carry two screwdrivers....  

[Harold50]

I am interested to see what the LEVERevolution loads will do in mine. I worry that they might be too hot. :eek:

I have the old .44 Mag carbine topped with an old steel 2.5 Weaver scope with a post reticle on a tip-off mount. Shoots well within its limits with 240 grain Remington hollow-points.

I wear a 35 inch sleeve so LOP is a problem.  I use a slip-on pad to make up the length. I carry it in the Maine spruce thickets. A better hunter would have had a shot at deer with it over the years - the thickets, when a deer is seen, have so far called for decisions faster than I can safely make them.

Harold

[williek]

I have shot a .44 Ruger Auto since 1969.  My Dad bought it the first year they came out and got his deer every year until he died in '68.
I own many other guns, but it is always my go to gun in heavy woods and brush.  I used to have a 1.5-4.5 Bushnell on it, and while it worked very well I felt that the Williams peep sight was faster and handled better in the bush.  I have never shot a deer with it that I didn't harvest.
I took it out this summer and shot from the bench.  Two inch groups, two inches high at fifty yards/ four inch groups, three inches high at 100 yards, and  six inch groups right on at 150.  With my seventy year old eyes I can't shoot any better than that with iron sights on a target gun!
I generally won't shoot at anything beyond 100 yards with that gun unless conditions are perfect, and how often does that happen in the field?
It's a fine little gun that works well.  I shoot 240 grain Rem hollow points over 24 grains of H110 for 1800 fps.  It has never knocked down a deer at impact, and I have never tracked deer more than 50 yards.  A very effective litte gun which is a joy to carry.  Oh, about that short stock- Here in Minnesota it can get a little chilly during deer season. When you are dressed for sub-zero weather that short stock is about the right length and I sometimes use it for that reason.
If you haven't guessed by now, I like the gun, and I use it.  Just have use it in close woods shooting, which describes 95% of my hunting area.
Good Hunting,
williek

[Harold50]

williek

Sounds like mine - and I get the point about the cold and clothing; add a padded pack strap and its just the right length.

It is light and the recoil is pleasant. I'll get a deer with it eventually - just have to pay better attention?

Best wishes,

Harold

[Cheesehead]

I bought a deerfield a couple years ago for $399 new. This gun is a joy to carry and shoot. Compared to some of the large rifles I have used over the years it seems almost toy like, but it is not a toy at all, it is a deadly effective deer rifle that is compact and carryable and accurate to 100 yards and a little beyond. My huntin buddy bought one the same day I did so I guess we got a discount. I have taken one deer at 40 yards and my buddy has taken two at 60 yards.  The deer never drop on the spot, they always run 50-100 yards leaving a massive blood trail. All lung shots. I was using 250 grain Black Talons and he was using 240 grain Rem HP.

[Ranger J]

As I posted before it is real good on deer.  I shot two with it, one kind of collapsed in its tracks and the other danced around a little but went no further than ten feet.  I prefer 240 SP rather than hollow points and have had good luck with them.  This is just hear say but some ‘experts’ claim they penetrate better than HPs.  Can’t say, as I have never shot a deer with a HP.  Don’t know if this is true or bovine compost.  I do wish it would handle a 300g bullet, and had a recoil pad, and didn’t rattle when you move it around.  Picky, picky, it’s a good gun. :grin:
RJ