I am returning to rifle hunting (using a rifle as primary gun) after 10 years of handgun hunting. I have been using a Ruger Super Red Hawk with 7 1/2 inch barrel, chambered in .44 magnum. My two best shots were:
80 paces, deer quartering away (mis-judged lead) hit near side ham, bullet exited in front of offside shoulder. Meat recovered: one ham, one shoulder, all else deemed a loss.
Three does ten to thirty paces, each one shot = belly flop.
The loads in question were both running about 1,100 fps, one a 300 grain xtp, the other 240 gr cast swc. The xtp destroyed much too much meat. A couple years ago I tried cast bullets in the 45-70. Two deer, ten shots total, all hard hits to chest and shoulder area, both ran in excess of 50 yards, both were eventually recovered.
Loads were running 1,800 fps.
I want to give the 45-70 a chance to redeem itself. This time using 300 grain Hornady hollow points. I want the deer to drop when hit like with my .44, or my .25'06 that I hunted before I switched to handguns. So I am thinking 1,800 fps at the top end (I was thinking 2,100 fps, but doubt the bullet would hold up and penetrate properly to the vitals). On the lower end of muzzle velocity I am leaning toward 1,600 fps, but there seems to be evidence that 1,200 fps would be a better choice (the velocity of the 300 grain .44 magnum load that penetrated the length of the deer at nearly 80 yards)
I welcome your thoughts and input...max range expected is 50 yards.
