44 mag deer loads: 240g vs 200 g

[ropadop]

Anybody have any advice on 240g vs 200g bullets in 44 mag handloads for deer hunting?  Accuracy, range, recoil, etc.

[tacklebury]

Anybody have any advice on 240g vs 200g bullets in 44 mag handloads for deer hunting?  Accuracy, range, recoil, etc.

I don't shoot a .44 mag, but I do handload for my .45 Colt.  I personally like the bigger 300 gr. bullets in my carbine loads and if you aren't in dangerous game areas, a lighter 240gr. HP w/ moderate Unique powder load.  If I'm building barn burner loads that could be used on bear, I bump to 300 gr. XTP Magnums w/ H110 powder.  On deer, I'd think the 200 gr. would be fine for moderate ranges.  People take deer all the time with 158 gr. 357 loads. 

[bighoof]

I handload my Ruger redhawk 44,in a 7 1/2 bbl; Handi rifle in 444 and 44 mag, all with 240gr, XTP. I do load up some 300gr XTP Mag loads for hogs also. Shot several deer with the 444 marlin, bullets performs great. I use H-110 powder for all my deer hunting loads, shoot HP-38, and titegroup for my lighter loads for playing around.

The redhawk is a hand full with max H-110,and the 240gr XTP even more with the 300gr,  but God it's fun when it goes off. Both handi rifles group both 1 1/2"; The ruger with  iron sights about 2-3in At 50yrds.

Just got a blackhawk in 45 colt, playing with different loads right now.

I say try both and go with  what groups the best. I always bullet placement is the key. 

[Lloyd Smale]

If your going to use jacketed to hunt stick with a 240 grain. When i first started hunting i was in the faster is better crowd and used 180 hps. Killed a few deer with them but chased a few that bullets failed to penetrate well. I am a firm believer in cast bullets for hunting but will be the first to admit a 240 xtp out of a 44 mag will kill any deer walking in the woods.

[ropadop]

I ran some numbers on handloads.com website.  The differences between an 1800 fps 200g and a 1600 fps 240 g are not that great.  Because the bc of the 200 g is less than the 240 g, the 200 fps only gets you an 1" less drop at 150 yds, which I would consider a max range for deer hunting with a 44 mag handgun.  The lil' gun powder seems like an interesting option.  Anybody use it?

Max 44 mag loads for 200g bullets (Handloads.com)
JHP   28.5 gr   H110   1,806 fps
JHP   29.5 gr   LIL’GUN   1,794 fps   
XTP   25.7 gr   VV N110   1,698 fps   
JHP   24.0 gr   H108   1,687 fps
JHP   27.0 gr   H4227   1,686 fps   


Free recoil energy in (ft/lbs) 28.5 (1800 fps)


Range   Velocity   Impact   
0           1800   -2   
50           1542   0.8   
100           1328   0   
150           1161   -5.8   


Max 44 mag loads for 240g bullets (Handloads.com)
JHP   24.5 gr   LIL’GUN   1,582 fps   
FMJ   18.8 gr   2400   1,560 fps   
JSP   23.0 gr   w296   1,550 fps   
JHP   20.0 gr   H108   1,531 fps
JHP   24.0 gr   H110   1,522 fps   


Free recoil energy in (ft/lbs) 29.5 (1600 fps)


Range   Velocity   Impact
0           1600        -2   
50           1406   1.2
100           1248   0   
150           1126   -6.8   

[WyoStillhunter]

I would work on an accurate load with cast 240+ grain bullet going 1100 +/- mv and call it good.  I do not believe that the thunder and lightening of 1400 fps and above is necessary or helpful for deer hunting with a handgun.

[smokehouserex]

 
 
  Hello ropodop:
  I think lloyd gave you good advice, I too used to hot rod almost everything, I thought velocity was KING. After some years of scorching throats and short life brass I go just under max on almost everything now.
  Today I was loading 44mag, 240 speer half jacket with 12 grs. of unique. It will do anything the hot loads will do with proper bullet placement, which is after all IMO is most important.
   A good load that I have used is 4227, 24gr with a 240 has given me good accuracy and a reasonable amount of velocity.
  just my opinion,
  safety first
  HM

[Lloyd Smale]

most of my 44 mag loading can be catorgorized in 3 levels. First for plinking a 250 cast at 800 fps for general hunting, deer ect. ill load a 250 to 1100 fps. For heavy hunting chores, buffalo ect a 300 at 1100 takes care of that. Any other animal falls between the second two and take your choise. to be honest its rare anymore that i shoot any handgun even the linebaughs at speeds over 1100 fps. It just has become a sweet spot for me. Ive seen how effective it is at taking game and just am getting to old to get beat up any more then that.

[The Old Redneck]

Last year I went with a 210  load in a Taurus Tracker. The gun is rated to a 240 grain bullet but because of the smaller frame size I tried the smaller bullet. I also confess to being one of the hotter is better guys for years. Shot my favorite mod 29 Smith loose and had it reworked 3 different times over the years. It is retired to 44 special loads now and seldom shot. I am also a fan of cast at the 1100 fps range. I killed 4 deer with the Taurus and 210 grain bullets last year. Last one was a small button head facing me. First bullet I ever recovered from a deer in a life time of hunting. Perfect mushroom, last time I will use the lighter bullets. Yes they killed deer, but I like for a bullet to exit and a 240 would have. Had it been a larger deer I probably would not have shot. Like small deer or dry does for the meat. Recovering the bullet made me have doubts about what would have happened if it had been a shoulder hit on a larger deer. I would shoot a hard cast with a flat point if I went under 240 again but doubt it will happen again. My old loads worked too well for too long. Bottom line the 210's killed deer with one shot, I am just not comfortable after recovering a bullet from a small deer.

[T.R.]

I've toppled many deer with Hornady's 200 grain hollow tip.  Bullet expansion is dramatic; wound channel is ghastly!  This is the ONLY bullet that shoots accurate groups in my Marlin 44 MAG.
 
TR
 

[Catfish]

What Loyd said. I never tried the 200 gr. bullets and always used the 240 gr. Sierra JHC bullets with excellant luck. I thought that I should try their 180 gr. bullets. I shot 1 bamby with them at about 5 yrds. It knocked him sideways into a tree about 3 ft. from him, but he landed on his feet abd I had to shoot him again to kill him. You could have put a 16 oz. water glass in the intrence hole, but the bullet stopped short of the heart.

[rybo]

I'm with the whichever is more accurate from your gun crowd. I've killed deer with both, but from different guns, because one gun shot 200's better, the other shot 240's better. IMO can't go wrong with a 240 XTP. Great bullet.

[bubbinator]

Being from Al-my game is usually smaller than some GBO members. Reloading and shooting/hunting with the the 44 Mag in S&W 29s/Ruger Super Blackhawks and Win M94 and Ruger Carbine rifles I have a little bit of experince.  My handgun load and rifle load has settled on the 180gr Sierra JHC over a Speer #8 Manual charge of H110/WW296. I have pissed off a neighbor when I shot a 2" group @ 100 yards with a 245 gr  Keith SWC load with my Ruger SBH 7.5" VS his Winchester M70 308 that was 4"+! My best load for the Ruger Semi-Auto was a 180gr Hornady XIP over the same H110/WW296 charge.  She took a 100 class B&C 6 pt! running thru a sage field with one shot with he Ruger Carbine/180 XTP load.