44 mag on whitetails

[canoe13]

I  have a shorty (17.5 in.)  44 Mag.; and all  I could find at the local shop were  Remington 180gr. soft point loads . Will  these drop a deer out to 75 yards or should I get heavier factory loads?

[Ranger99]

can't say with those.
i've used 240 gr cast and nosler 240 jsp's
and it dropped  'em like a lightning bolt.
haven't used the .44 this year.
still trying to iron out a .357 for my
nephew.
i don't see why some 180's wouldn't
have as much or more juice

[hillbill]

I  have a shorty (17.5 in.)  44 Mag.; and all  I could find at the local shop were  Remington 180gr. soft point loads . Will  these drop a deer out to 75 yards or should I get heavier factory loads?

if they dont yu mite want to practice up a bit.u shud be fine at 75 yrds.

[keith44]

practice and see where they shoot, and if they stabilize in your gun I'd say go for it.


Technical InformationCaliber: 44 Rem. Mag.Bullet Weight: 180GrainBullet Style: Jacketed Soft PointCase Type: BrassTechnical Information:Muzzle Velocity: 1610 fps
Muzzle Energy: 1036 ft. lbs

[siamese4570]

I got a buddy that shoots 44-180 xtp hp out of a muzzleloader.  The velocity should be about the same.  He doesn't alway get an exit hole but he doesn't lose many.
 
siamese4570

[yukondog]

If you keep to lung shots I would think they should be fine, otherwise I would stay with the 240-300 grn.

[LaOtto222]

I think it all depends on bullet placement. As long as it does not hit heavy bone, I think you will do OK with them. I get about 1800 fps with 240 grain Winchester White box soft points out of a 20" barrel. A 180 grain bullet will more than likely be traveling North of 2000 fps and is designed for handgun velocities. It may splatter on a heavy bone like a varmint bullet but then again it may not. Through the lungs it may do a real good job. Personally I would not like to take the chance. The 240 grain Winchester White box SP can be had just about any where ammo is sold, including discount stores. Think Walmart, we also have Meijer Stores in our area that carries similar merchandise. I am sure there are others as well. They are about as cheap as it gets, some where around $40 a box of 50. They are accurate and should do a good job on a whitetail, mulie or even an elk, if you keep it to 50 - 75 yards.

Good Luck and Good Shooting

[srussell]

people use a 357 with allot  less . and do well

[Joey V.]

You will do great with that round to 150 yards. Put it in the boiler room and get out your gut hook! I always try to wait for a quartering toward heavy bone shoulder shot. Never had a deer or hog take a step.  I executed this shot with everything from a 357 mag pistol, 243 with 85 grain game kings, on up to 350 rem mag. When you hit a hard bone the bullet explodes sometimes and bone frag becomes a bunch of internal bullet. 

[briannmilewis]

You are all nuts, they are just playing with you. Doesn't everyone know you cant kill a deer with a 44 Mag, no way not possible, especially with those crappy, cheap and inaccurate Handis. Go get a 300 Win Mag for up to 100 yards, and a 375 H&H for the longer shots. "I read it on the internet, therefore it must be true."

[Spanky]

A 300 Win Mag won't even scratch the bulletproof deer we have nowadays... you need a 300 ULTRA Mag.
 
When it comes to the 44 Mag I've had great luck with 240gr. Winchester white box and 240gr. Hornady XTP's. Both will hammer a whitetail.
 
 
 
Spanky

[OldSchoolRanger]

A 300 Win Mag won't even scratch the bulletproof deer we have nowadays... you need a 300 ULTRA Mag.
 
When it comes to the 44 Mag I've had great luck with 240gr. Winchester white box and 240gr. Hornady XTP's. Both will hammer a whitetail.
 
 
 
Spanky

Spanky,
You sure that's enough gun?  I respectfully suggest that you use a Barrett in .50BMG. 

The 44 Mag is definitely more than enough gun.  The 180grain SP will suffice, the 240grain is a much better choice.

[gcrank1]

The 180 will impact in a totally different place than the 240s, so make sure you get it -0-ed for your rifle, then put it in the boiler room (heart/lung). I used them 25ish years ago in my Ruger Redhawk. I wouldnt get too concerned about the chance of 'blow up' on a deer shoulder bone, but I dont think you need to try to hit that bone to take a leg out to anchor the critter either.

[hoytcanon]

You will do great with that round to 150 yards. Put it in the boiler room and get out your gut hook! I always try to wait for a quartering toward heavy bone shoulder shot. Never had a deer or hog take a step.  I executed this shot with everything from a 357 mag pistol, 243 with 85 grain game kings, on up to 350 rem mag. When you hit a hard bone the bullet explodes sometimes and bone frag becomes a bunch of internal bullet.

I consider this shot placement recommendation, extremely bad advice. By all means AVOID a quartering on animal... the vitals are BEHIND all that bone... should your bullet frag, there is a chance that you won't even contact the heart/lungs. I guided a hunter one time who took a quartering-on shot on a 200 pound black bear with a 7mm Mag... that was a MESS... tracked the bear for 400 yards and finished it with my bow... the results that were revealed on skinning and butchering showed that the bullet fragged all AROUND the vitals... the only thing we save on the bear was the shoulder mount and three roasts off the offside hind quarter... please wait for a high percentage broadside or quartering AWAY shot... sure you can make the quartering on shot work (it'll be messy), but it is a lower percentage shot, so why not wait.   
P.S -  the 240 XTP's are what I like... but I am working on a Trail Boss subsonic load with cast 240's and 300 XTP's. The 180's will be fine but please take the high percentage broadside lung shot.