44 mag handi question

[Deerhunter#1]

I have a receiver in getting fir with a 44 mag barrel. Looking at getting my reloading stuff ready and wanted to ask from others with experience should I be looking at .429 or .430 diameter bullets. Which heve you guys used with best results. will be using w296 as that is what I use in my 357 mag and working on the max. looks like the velocities are good with this powder and 200 to 260 grain bullets which is where i would like to be.

[omegahunter]

I have tried 240 XTP, 240 Speer HP (not GoldDot), 240 Remington FP, 270 FP Gold Dot, and 300 XTP with H110 in the Handi.  Everything shot excellent.  300 XTP's might have shot the tightest groups, but the velocity was pretty low.  I settled on the 270 GoldDot in my .44 Handi and it hammers deer.

[Deerhunter#1]

I think I am going to stay away from the hollow points. I might start with the 240 rem FP. Have you tried the 225 hornady flex tip bullet. they advertize factory loads with 20 inch barrel at 1860 ft second. Hodgan lists w296 max at 1950 ft second. I would think you could probobly get a little more speed out of it maybee get yourself over 2000 ft second. How is the recoil with your 300 grain loads.

[quickdtoo]

I've shot the 225gr FTX factory ammo in one of my 44mags, peep sight at 100yds.

Tim

[dave29]

I've shot the 225gr FTX factory ammo in one of my 44mags, peep sight at 100yds.

Tim

My 44 mag shoots those so good, I don't even reload for it.

[ratdog]

i been casting may own they are real good shooters haven't tried  jacketed bullets for what i shoot.

[Deerhunter#1]

I have been looking at ballistics for the caliber and am a little torn on the 225 hornady bullet. It has a bc of .150 compared to the 240 xtp at .205. I know that there is alot of talk about the xtp being a little soft but pushing them at 1800 ft second compared to 1870 as shown on the hornady sight for the 225 it seams on paper that it will give better energy out to 150 yards by about 150 ft lbs. I think i might start with a 240 grain bullet and reload and see how much I can get out of it. Looking at 240 grain bullets would you guys think I would be better going with a 240 sp/fp bullet or the hollow point. Some reviews I have seen sayd that the sp dont expand that well so maybee a hollow point though expanding a little more violently would be better at leaving all its energy in the deer. If correct the xtp says max velocity is 1600 but at 50 to 75 yards I will probobly be close to those speeds.   

[dpe.ahoy]

Hornady lists the 240 XTP as performing at the range of 900 to 2200 fps.  I've used the same bullet for years in the 44 mag rifles and it works perfectly on mule deer and whitetail.  Haven't taken as many deer with soft points, but hey have worked as well.  I have yet to recover a bullet as I shoot for the heart/lung area.  DP

[bikerbeans]

DH#1,
 
 
I picked up a 20" compact 44 mag barrel off the classifieds and have started load workup with cast lead.  This barrel was made in Illion, NY.  I haven't slugged the bore but it likes .430" cast GCed lead and I already have one load that is slightly over 1-moa @ 100 yards.   I am using a Lyman 250 grain HP bullet with an as cast weight of 270 grains.   I don't remember the mold # but I believe this the bullet referred to as the Devastor, and it has a very large HP.  I am using H110 which I think for newer manufacture is the same powder as ww296.   I plan to chrony the good loads fairly soon.
 
 
BB

[omegahunter]

300 XTP load was with 18.5 grains H110 (don't remember the exact velocity, but was in the 1500 fps neighborhood); and it did not have very much recoil at all.  I really like the GoldDot bullets (called Deep Curl now?).  It is a bonded bullet but they have a premium price.  I have also used the 240 XTP on deer (well, others that borrowed the rifle).  Two does that were poorly shot with the 240 XTP did not get over 25 yards from bullet impact site.  The 240 XTP was driven at a little above 1900 fps.
I settled on the 270 GoldDot partly because that is what I used to shoot in my muzzleloaders and it always performed great.  Never did find any of those bullets in any deer.  The non-GoldDot 240 HP Speers shed their jackets EVERY time in a 100 yard clay berm.  The Remington SP's would occasionally shed a jacket as well as the 240 XTP's.  But I have since found that the clay berm is harder on the bullets than a deer's body.  The GoldDots always peeled way back and retained above 90% of their weight.  Now knowing that the XTP's will probably hold together perfectly well on a deer, I will start loading them when I am out of the premium-priced 270 GoldDots.

[Deerhunter#1]

Thanks for the info Bikerbeans. looking at Hornadys site it shows the max velocity for the xtp to be 1500 ft second when you look under bullets and the xtp line. Does anyone now what it is they are listing as the xtp magnum? it is saying 2200 is the max but that is all the info they have and I cant find it anywhere. Maybee this was there way to sell more of the 225 grain as it is showing being pushed at the higher speeds.

[Deerhunter#1]

Well talked to hornady and he informed me that the xtp mag bullets were made for the 45 cal. He said that the xtp 240 will be fine for deer even at the higher velocities. The data was for a 18 inch barrel with 240 xtp max load was pushing 1800 ft second so he said with the 22 inch I have i should pick up 80 to 100 ft second additional. 1900 ft second Is good for me. The 225ftx out of an 18' is only going 1870 ft second. I will take the heavier higher bc bullet and start with that. Let you know how it goes. Now to just wait for the gun to come back.

[Deerhunter#1]

He is something else I was thinking of. The 265 hornady ftx with a bc of .225 which is for the 444 caliber because it is to long to cycle in the lever guns but will probobly work in our single shots. I think that will have to get a try also.