44 spl question

[benjaminw7528]

will a 5in 44 spl be good for deer

[Mikey]

With the right bullet at the right velocity it should be able to do the job.  The right bullet means a hardcast swc at around 900'/sec or more within about a 40-50 yd range, maximum.  Beyond that range your chances are really minimal.  This is my maximum allowance for the 44 magnum, but that is due to how well I can see the target and the sights.  HTH and JMHO.  Mikey.

[Lloyd Smale]

you bet it is!!!!!!!!!!

[Dan Chamberlain]

Ben;

Check the law.  In some states, there is a minimum power factor involved.  The .44 Special in the right gun can be loaded to that power factor, but some laws require that the round be available as a factory load in that power factor.

Dan

[Gregory]

Dan

In Illinois you have to show that the round is available as a factory load that meets the min 500 ft-lbs of energy (but you don't have to be using the factory load).

This load meets the requirements:
http://www.cnccartridge.com/44.htm
New 44 Special 180 gr. XTP/Hollow Point
50 rounds for $ 22.02
MV    1250    Ft/lb    623

[TrenchMud]

Ours is a minimum of 500 FPE @ 100 yards to be legal...
No .44 Spl is going to be capable of that.. Nor most .44 Mag loads. Is this a stupid law ? yes ! Is it "Bent" a little on a regular basis? Yes ! I have read Time after Time in some of these forums that 1000 fp of energy was about the minimum required to put a whitetail down and out. That is at impact, not at the muzzle. Some gunwriter some where came up with that one I guess and lots of folks believe what they read. To answer the initial question though, Inside of about 50 yards,
a 200-240 grain hardcast at about 850-900 fps from a .44 Spl will perforate most whitetail through and through. I do not load my .44 Magnum much over about 1100 fps with the same hardcasts
and so far it has done just fine. This shooter/hunter knows and never exceeds his own limitations though. My Max range is about 70-75 yards with a handgun. (although I will shoot at vermin farther away)
 

[Larry Gibson]

will a 5in 44 spl be good for deer

Yes, I've killed three hunting; two with Keith 429421 out of a 6" barrel using 7.5 gr Unique at 850 fps and one with a 4" m28 converted to .44 SP using the 429421 over 16.5 gr 2400 at 1060 fps. I also killed three injured deer with Winchester 200 STs at 842 fps out of the M28. I also observed 1 deer killed with the STs out of a CA Bulldog (3" ?).  I was a LEO in NE Oregon and had to (unfortunate from a hunters standpoint) dispatch numerous injured deer and elk plus various livestock.  If no one was around I and a couple other officers used "hunting shots" to dispatch the animals, mostly with handguns of various calibers, types of actions and barrel lengths as our interest was the effectiveness of handguns used for hunting.  If non hunting type citizens were around then a quick behind the ear shot with a rifle was used; not much to be learned from those.

So yes the .44 SP is quite capable of effectively killing deer within 50 yards or so. However, as mentioned check the local laws before using.   

Larry Gibson

[redhawk500]

Dan

In Illinois you have to show that the round is available as a factory load that meets the min 500 ft-lbs of energy (but you don't have to be using the factory load).

This load meets the requirements:
http://www.cnccartridge.com/44.htm
New 44 Special 180 gr. XTP/Hollow Point
50 rounds for $ 22.02
MV    1250    Ft/lb    623

I haven't purchased this particular ammunition but I would suggest a 180 grain JHP as as alternative to hard cast 240.  Chuck Taylor suggested in the 1999 Guns & Ammo Annual a load of 180 grain XTP-JHP with 20.0 grains of 2400.  In my 6.5" S&W 624 I got 1308 fps.  This custom / factory load seems to well in line with this performace and should be a good hunting load for whitetails, especially for heart-lung shots.

[S.B.]

TrenchMud, where are you from, we have no idea where you live? Your profile doesn't list your location.

[S.B.]

Here's link to what Elmer had to say about this cartridge.

http://www.darkcanyon.net/The%2044%20Special%20by%20Elmer%20Keith.htm

[Drilling Man]

Here's link to what Elmer had to say about this cartridge.

  I hope you don't take everything Elmer said as "Gospel".  First of all, he wasn't all that concerned with pressures and had no way to check them.  Secondly, he used 44 spl. "baloon headed" cases that hold a lot more powder than todays cases.

  Tha 44 Magnum was invented for a reason and that reason was to (hopefully) stop folks from useing too high pressure loads in the spl's...

  Now, before you jump all over me, i have to say that i'm a BIG fan of the 44 spl. and magnums.

  DM

[S.B.]

Not gospel but, he did an awful lot of the work on the special and the magnums. I think if you read this link you'll find that the magnum was made for other reasons? Elmer isn't my greatest hero but, he is close. I gained a awfuil lot of respect for him and his work on different calibers through his writings.