Author Topic: .44 mag Handi Rifle, 2008 deer season (Read 1658 times)

Mad Dog · « **on:** November 20, 2008, 01:20:01 AM »

Most will remember me posting pics, this summer, of my son's african kills with the .30-06 handi. Well, Indiana passed a pistol caliber rifle season, last year. My son picked up a new .44 mag, for our deer season. We mounted a 1-5x weaver on board. I got a new 1894 marlin for myself. We both liked the way the new LE .44 ammo shot thru the guns. Here is a couple of pics of my son's buck, and 1 of his does, this year.

130 lb. field dressed doe.

His buck, with my doe, that we shot at the same time. We wound up with 6 deer in 3 days hunting. The LE ammo was awesome. Hope you enjoy the pics.

Mad Dog

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 20, 2008, 01:46:22 AM »

Awesome

I live in Indiana also. Lots of deer around here.

I have a 44 Handi and a 44 Marlin 1894. My Marlin is the old style without the hammer block, just the half cock and micro groove rifling. I bought it used and have had it for 25 years. I knew that I could use it some day as a deer rifle, just thought it would be in another state. I like it. I have not tried the Hornady ammo yet. I have been having good luck with mine using 265 grain hard cast gas checked Beartooth bullets sized at .4315"

Datil · « **Reply #2 on:** November 20, 2008, 02:07:59 AM »

- Boy the freeser got full in a hurry. The 44m works great.
Thanks for the pictures. Marv.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #3 on:** November 20, 2008, 05:02:13 AM »

Congrats, great pics!!

Thanks for sharing,

Tim

Smallgroups · « **Reply #4 on:** November 20, 2008, 05:28:25 AM »

I'm jealous as heck

S-

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #5 on:** November 20, 2008, 02:58:26 PM »

Nice deer, guys. I got 2 with the 44 last year, have always liked it for less than 150 yds. I've used a 44 on deer for over 18 years, it just plain works great. DP

teddy12b · « **Reply #6 on:** November 21, 2008, 01:35:20 AM »

Very well done!

xhare · « **Reply #7 on:** November 21, 2008, 04:12:57 AM »

Those pictures are great evidence to those who do not consider the 44 mag to be a good deer cartridge. Many don't realize that a 44 mag shot from a rifle retains the same velocity at 100-125 yards as a 44 mag revolver does at the muzzle.

Good job.

Slufoot · « **Reply #8 on:** November 21, 2008, 11:59:44 AM »

Someone had a alot of butchering to do!

Sounds like you had a great season. Thanks for sharing the story and the pictures.

GOOD SHOOTING!
Slufoot

woodseller · « **Reply #9 on:** November 22, 2008, 02:28:29 AM »

Excellent!! Love my .44 mag! Small, lightweight and plenty of power. I was at Hoosier National on opening weekend down around Norman. Weather was terrible. My two buddies had muzzle loaders, and while I love my Optima, I never had to worry about the rain causing a misfire, or failure to fire. Think I have my new favorite gun!! Congrats brother!!

Mad Dog · « **Reply #10 on:** November 22, 2008, 04:09:16 AM »

If quick don't mind, here's some pics of my 3 deer taken with a .44 mag, and the LE ammo, but with my new marlin 1894[guess the rifle is a part of the family, now

].

My "brain fart" buck. Long story, but I thought he was bigger than he turned out to be.

Me with my doe and the boy's buck.

My last doe. The LE's did a great job on these deer.

Mad Dog

Lon371 · « **Reply #11 on:** November 22, 2008, 09:27:28 PM »

Nice job!

I will show my boy this one. He is needing motivation. We have a handi .44, he is carrying this season. Unfortunately our hunting area has as many people as deer. So deer are getting fewer.

Anyhow, Nice job.

Lonny

Mad Dog · « **Reply #12 on:** November 24, 2008, 02:04:40 AM »

Lonny, motivate the boy! It ain't over til the last day of gun season[when the fat lady sings

]. These little .44s are awesome on deer.

Mad Dog

BBF · « **Reply #13 on:** November 24, 2008, 04:57:46 AM »

OK !

I got to ask, these pics show a lot of open land where I would have thought a flat shooting cartridge would be ideal. I realize you got some laws about using rifles in Indiana. So, how close did you get in that place, there is very little cover to hide.

Mad Dog · « **Reply #14 on:** November 24, 2008, 07:06:04 AM »

BBF, we have woodlots, and shoot them in the open fields. That being said, the pics are deceiving. If you look real close in the pic with the 2 deer, you will see an old tool shed. The shed sets along a ditch, by a dirt bridge in the middle of a 600 acre farm. That shed has been 1 of my best "ground Blinds" on the whole farm. I've taken 7 deer from that shed. Average shot? 40 ft. to 150 yds. Of the 3 taken this yr. from that shed, longest was 125 yds. Indiana just passed a pistol caliber rifle season, last yr. You can't use any bottle neck cartridges in a rifle, in Indiana, just shotguns/muzzleloaders/handguns. The .44 mags were perfectly matched for our average shots. Not that you couldn't get a 400+ yd. shot across the field. Ya gotta be sneaky. "Old age and craftiness out does youth and enthusiasm any day of the week"!

My son thinks I'm haunted for hunting from the ole shed-until this year when he shot his buck from there coming at him on the dead run-from 45 yds.!

Mad Dog

ELMO · « **Reply #15 on:** November 24, 2008, 11:24:40 PM »

Your right Mad Dog about the .44 mag as a deer round. I live and hunt Indiana also, and during this past park reduction hunt at Tippecanoe SP, I took a 3pt buck and 2 adult Does with my .44 Handi. This is probably the most accurate rifle I have and alot of fun to shoot. I reload for my gun using the 240gr XTP by Hornady and this bullet gets the deer.....

teddy12b · « **Reply #16 on:** November 25, 2008, 01:48:24 AM »

That 240gr XTP is quite the bullet out of 44 mag rifles. I got one with mine at 60 yards. Recovered the bullet and weighed it, 184.2 grains. Another guy at the checking station had gotten a buck with the same bullet.

Mad Dog · « **Reply #17 on:** November 25, 2008, 03:03:20 PM »

My BIL is bringing me a set of 44 mag dies over for Tgiving, and some bullets. I'm gonna load me up some practice ammo for this spring. The 1894 is a lotta fun!

Mad Dog

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #18 on:** November 25, 2008, 04:16:10 PM »

The Hornady XTP has tipped over some pretty good sized Mulies for me here in Montana. Never had one get far after catching one. DP