Author Topic: 44,rem,mag for deer??????????? (Read 1838 times)

turkey45 · « **on:** November 02, 2006, 02:52:58 PM »

..i have one in a super 14,,contender..will it work for deer hunting
in west virginia?

??what are the results

jpsmith1 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 02, 2006, 03:05:14 PM »

It'll work for sure. Probably the most popular pistol hunting cartridge going. I'm not sure about the legalities involved in WV, but if legal, it will kill deer if you can plant a good bullet in the lungs.

I've never hunted with one, yet, but I've heard real good things about 240gr XTPs and, of course, hard cast lead bullets of the WFN/LFN type from Lead Bullet Technologies.

swampthing · « **Reply #2 on:** November 03, 2006, 04:16:54 AM »

No deer yet, but a double lung hit on a 190lb wild hog made him tip over, roll down a slight hill, and never move again.
12" .44mag load was a 280g WFNGC hardcast @ 1275fps shot was approx 25 yds and he was coming after me.

turkey45 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 03, 2006, 05:19:41 AM »

..nice job,,swampthing,,was you useing a scope?

hardertr · « **Reply #4 on:** November 03, 2006, 09:04:10 AM »

The Taurus 44mag has been my go-to gun for the past 3 years. 240 gn XTP does the trick everytime. I hunt heavy brush, so the longest shot I made with it was 50 yards..but a double lung put him down in under 100 yards. My barrel is 8 3/8", and most guys say the longer pistol barrels are good out to 100+ yards.

The first barrel I bought for my contender (it came as a 30-30 pistol) was the 44 mag. Couldn't be happier with it.

swampthing · « **Reply #5 on:** November 03, 2006, 10:18:46 AM »

I use to have a 2x on there, but I though I was to slow to getting on target so I just used the fiber optic open sights.
Still shoots one ragged hole at 50yds.

armory414 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 03, 2006, 05:36:59 PM »

I've gotten deer each of the last 2 years with a 15 inch .44 Mag Encore. First doe was a lung hit, ran 150 yards then dropped. Second doe was a neck shot, dropped in its tracks. I had a red dot mounted on mine, but am switching to a 2.5x this year.

handgunhuntr · « **Reply #7 on:** November 07, 2006, 02:51:20 AM »

I have taken several deer with my Encore 44 mag and not one of them has ever taken a step. My longest shot was 80 yards and when I hit the buck, he just rolled over. I handload with H-110 and 240gr XTP's.

jason280 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 07, 2006, 10:50:56 AM »

I have yet to meet a deer that a .44 Magnum wouldn't take down!!

Catfish · « **Reply #9 on:** November 07, 2006, 12:01:57 PM »

I`ve killed a pile of deer over the year with a .44 mag. and loaded ammo for several friends that killed deer with my loads. My choice of bullets is the 240 gn. Serria. I get excellant accuracy with it and the Hornady XTP, but the Serria preforms alot better on deer than the Hornady. For hogs use the XTP. A well placed shot with eather will kill a deer, but you have a small edge with the Serria.

Dogmann · « **Reply #10 on:** November 19, 2006, 05:02:22 AM »

What about out to 100yards? Do you think the 44 has enough power to drop the whitetails with say a Corbon hardcast or penetrator? & do you think a 10inch barrel looses too much energy over a 12 or 14 inch model?

jpsmith1 · « **Reply #11 on:** November 19, 2006, 05:56:48 AM »

100 yards is probably pushing the maximum for a clean kill with a .44 Mag.

It can be done, but it's all about shot placement. At what range can you reliably place EVERY shot into a 3-4" circle from field position? There's your maximum range. With a Hard cast bullet, penetrating a whitetail is not likely to be a problem.

dogwhisperer5 · « **Reply #12 on:** November 19, 2006, 06:17:50 AM »

Yes, it will do the job fine. I don't hunt anymore...lost the stomach 15 years ago for the killing for fun...that being said, the last buck I took was with a Contender identical to yours with a 2x Leupold scope. The load was 26gr. WW296 behind a Speer 200gr. HP...40-50 yard shot. One shot...one buck.

Sverre A. · « **Reply #13 on:** November 19, 2006, 09:55:20 AM »

"..i have one in a super 14,,contender..will it work for deer hunting"

It`s a perfect gun for deer hunting!

My 14" with 300 gr. XTP/1420 fps - is one of my favorite huntingloads (thin skinned game).

For most of the "big" african species (zebra, blue w. beest, kudu etc.) I have hunted - I have used 300 gr. hard cast in .44 and my .375 JDJ with 260 gr. Nosler Partition.

Mike Hampton`s advice for the JDJ - Hornady 270 gr. Spire Point - have been a real fiasco for me.
The bullets have "exploded" in 100 pc. of fragments.

GRIMJIM · « **Reply #14 on:** November 19, 2006, 02:20:53 PM »

Quote from: dogwhisperer5 on November 19, 2006, 06:17:50 AM

Yes, it will do the job fine. I don't hunt anymore...lost the stomach 15 years ago for the killing for fun...that being said, the last buck I took was with a Contender identical to yours with a 2x Leupold scope. The load was 26gr. WW296 behind a Speer 200gr. HP...40-50 yard shot. One shot...one buck.

Killing for fun?

I think you lost your stomach for it because you were doing it for the wrong reasons.

moose · « **Reply #15 on:** December 21, 2006, 12:29:10 AM »

i have taken deer and pigs with mine ( 44mag contender) here in "GAWJA"

Graybeard · « **Reply #16 on:** December 21, 2006, 05:29:50 AM »

Yes 100 yards is quite do able with the .44 magnum. I've taken a couple deer at that range or there abouts with revolvers so chambered. With a scoped 14" TC and a solid rest even 150 is do able. Beyond that tho trajectory makes hits to the kill zone more iffy, it's not that the round can't kill IF you place the bullet properly it's just that placing it properly becomes very difficult further out.

BeverlyHillbilly · « **Reply #17 on:** December 21, 2006, 06:13:25 AM »

Turkey45

I used a 44 mag for years hunting heavy woods in WV on one day of deer season (I like to take a different setup out each day for the fun of it). I alternate my Ruger SRH's (44, 454, 480) anymore when I go hunting there, and don't have a 44 barrel for my T/C anymore. I use a Leupold 2X scope on mine, and it works great for woods hunting. If the woods you hunt are similar to where I hunt at in WV, then the 44 will have plenty of range. Also in WV, you need a handgun hunting stamp on your license (believe it is called an A1) for a small fee.

Reed1911 · « **Reply #18 on:** December 22, 2006, 02:33:52 AM »

IF you want a great load try our 300g and 320g WFN GC loads. The lead is proprietary mix with a BHN of 22 and expands nicely with no shattering.

ourway77 · « **Reply #19 on:** December 31, 2006, 03:37:11 AM »

I have taken several deer with my 44 S&W 29 8-3/8 barrel, using factory 240 grain bullets, I have just recently got into Contenders. I had to have a super 14" cut to 12" to conform too state of Delaware law.I was concerned whether the 2" would make any difference in accuracy. I shot it the other day and it grouped better than before I had it cut and crowned. I probably won't get a shot any further than 75 yards, I will let you know as our pistol season opens this Saturday for a week.

Dusty Miller · « **Reply #20 on:** December 31, 2006, 02:36:41 PM »

I took a brontasaurus just before that last meteor hit with my .44 mag Encoe and then right after the last ice age...........................oh, never mind, nobody is going to believe me anyway

lovedogs · « **Reply #21 on:** December 31, 2006, 03:56:30 PM »

My favorite pistols for deer are .44's and I've taken several pickup loads of them with various loads. My favorite jacketed bullet is the Speer 240 gr. Mag-JSP. It's designed to hold together a little better than most. Hollow-points vary in performance. Sometimes they expand correctly and other times they load up the cavity and act like a solid. Most jacketed will shed their jackets at mag velocities so you never know how they'll work. They've never failed to kill but you just never know how they'll perform. One time you'll get total penetration and the next time penetration will be minimal. Good cast bullets don't expand but will still impart shock if they have a good meplat. I've never had one fail to give complete penetration. They kill quicker if you hit solid bone, like shoulders. In either case, they always penetrate and kill with well-placed shots. A good cast bullet will make the trip even if the shot is diagonally across the deer but oft times the jacketed won't make it all the way.