Author Topic: Factory loads for deer? (Read 707 times)

erickrschaefer · « **on:** September 16, 2003, 09:07:08 AM »

I just purchased a Ruger SBH in 44mag with a 7.5" barrel. I hunt deer in Maine, in the thick stuff and am looking for a good factory load that will handle some big boided Maine bucks.

Thanks,
Erick

Roller · « **Reply #1 on:** September 16, 2003, 12:35:41 PM »

The Winchester 250 gr. Partition Gold load is just what you are looking for.

44 Man · « **Reply #2 on:** September 17, 2003, 02:52:00 AM »

Do they still make factory loads? I'll be darned! I haven't fired a factory load since the first box I bought with my O.M. SBH in 1969. Since I found out cast bullets would do about everything I wanted to do better than jacketed ones, I just never looked back. Course I hear you can buy factory cast bullets nowdays! Ain't progress wonderful! 44 Man

1GLOCK · « **Reply #3 on:** September 17, 2003, 08:37:32 AM »

The Hornady 240gr XTPs are nice but expensive. Hand loading is still the way to go though, I can load 100 rounds for the cost of 20 factory XTPs.

crawfish · « **Reply #4 on:** September 17, 2003, 09:50:12 AM »

erickrschaefer,
Every major ammo maker has a hunting load in the .44RemMag. They run from hot to hotter with 170g bullets all the way up to 300g stuff from CorBon. Even a large deer is nowhere near the size of an elk or moose and both of those have been killed stone cold dead with one shot from a .44RemMag. If all you do is to hunt a few times a year the $20.00- $50.00 for a box of quality hunting loads is well worth the money. The pricey part is finding what your pistol likes. BUT on the up side, most quality built .44RemMag handguns will shoot well enough to hunt deer with just about any of the hunting ammo out there IF you keep it close. I shoot the .41RemMag and I haven't taken a shot over 50 yards in years and 95% of my shots are at bow ranges of less than 25 yards. Why shoot way out there when you can shoot close. :wink: