44spl for deer and bear

[oldhunter]

Several months ago, I bought my only .44 special and began to try several different kinds of factory ammo as I do not reload.  I quickly discovered that this is a very accurate cartridge and with only iron sights is as good a shooter as any revolver I have owned.  After reading as much as I could and learning all that I could find available on many forums, I decided that I would prepare for using this on whitetail deer this fall.

I contacted Buffalo Bore as they seem to be one of the best at producing big game ammo for handguns.  Ordered a box of 50 at a cost of $65.99 that included shipping.  The ammo is 255 gr. SWC rated at 1,000 fps.

Only had to shoot a few rounds to discover that this company is all that I have read about .  Very accurate and powerful with heavy recoil in my S&W 696 with 3" barrel.  I will spend a lot of time at the range between now and November getting prepared for what I hope will be a successful season.

I do not hunt black bear and have passed up several chances over the years BUT, if I did want to shoot one, I firmly believe that this cartridge with the proper ammo, such as the above described Buffalo Bore or the equal handload would be more than adequate.

[Gregory]

 Very accurate and powerful with heavy recoil in my S&W 696 with 3" barrel.  I will spend a lot of time at the range between now and November getting prepared for what I hope will be a successful season.

Oldhunter
When I lived in upstate NY (1979-1990) you had to use a handgun with a barrel at least 4" for hunting.  Have they changed the law?

[oldhunter]

Greg,

You remember well.  It used to be a minimum of 4" but was changed 3 or 4 years ago to:  "HANDGUN---Any centerfire pistol or revolver.  Barrel length maximum is 16".  It further describes "an autoloading pistol must have a barrel length under 8".  No minimum length is required.

You can see how liberal the lawmakers have become when you could legally use a .25 caliber peashooter to hunt big game.  Constant pressure from the insurance industry to reduce deer herds because of car/deer accidents has overcome common sense.

I will get off my soapbox now and read some "good stuff" I always find on this forum.

[oso45-70]

Gentlemen.
This will probably the last post that i will make on this topic, I can't tell you how dissapointed i was by some of the replays on this topic. First let me say when i answerd this topic it read ( store bought ammo ) no reference was made about specialty loads, so i assumed we were talking about Rem----Win---Fed factory off the shelf every day Ammo. I think i know as much about the gun buisness as any one on this topic and to think
you folks would take this oppertunity to come up with what i think was some of the dumbest things i have ever heard in my fifty five or so years is totally beyond belief and to think most of it came from the moderators.
I must say that i was deeply hurt by the lack of judgement that took place.
I have been an avid pistol shooter since 1948, I have done every kind of
pistol shooting that has come along from Bulls eye to you name it and have never been treated like this before. A couple years ago i started surfing the net to find a place where it wasn't loaded with kids playing my guns are faster than yours and my gun shoots flatter than youre and so forth and thought i had found that spot here on GBO. Belive me guys i didn't come on here to be a problem, I figgered i had some input and could also learn, I may be 70 years old but i can still learn. I have had a great time posting and following whats going on until this last go around.
I truly belive some one let this post get out of hand. I was brought up to belive that outdoorsmen should stick togather. well gentlemen i have done that and will continue to do so............Joe.........

[myronman3]

well i am sorry you feel that way.   but i went back and re-read the entire thread and can not see any reason you should feel hurt.  and as far as dumbest  things you have heard,  like what?   and outdooorsmen should stick together?   and never been treated like this before?  and lack of judgement?   i guess i dont have a clue as to where you are coming from.      unless you have some p.m.s that the rest of us can not see,  i really dont understand your complaint.  care to clear it up?

[myronman3]

and i dont see where the original post specified FACTORY loaded ammo only.

[oso45-70]

Myronman3,
Well since you asked i will try to explain what i felt. If you read my last post and still don't get it its going to be hard. The Post was on 44 spl off the shelf ammo,( Question ) Did the question get answerd? answer NO.
We learned about shooting horses, we learned about Rmoulearts BB Gun.
We learned about Buffalo bore. Got a lecture on ethical kills
Cknight was the only one that stayed on topic. And Lloyd tried to make an apology and was told none was necessary. Frankly the whole thing got out of control and i think that you and the others were out of line. I thought the person actully had a question he wanted answers to, Guess i was wrong.

[oso45-70]

Anyone have any success with factory 44spl on deer or bear ?
thanks

Deer maybe, but bear  :eek:  you may want to consider a 44MAG and up. I would not use it personally.

[oso45-70]

What dose Factory Mean ?
To me it means Common ammo like i said to start with...Joe........

[Redhawk1]

Before all the magnum mania, these standard cartridges did the job well enough to kill the intended game. They did it with enough authority then to leave a bear dead at the bait site 30 years ago. If it worked then, it will work today.

All the lecture on an ethical kill is okay. But in my book, its only for those who can't put the bullet from a capable cartridge where it counts on the animal. In this respect, the 44spl deserves its rightful place as a capable med size game cartridge at revolver distances.

I think if they had a 44MAG back then, they would of choose it over the 44 spl. What people fail to realize is they did not have a big selection back then. As far as lecture on an ethical kill, I personally want the animal down as quick as possible for my safety. If someone told me they got mauled by a bear they shot with a 44 spl. I would not feel sorry for them. There is just better choices these days in my opinion.

[myronman3]

This has turned out to be a good discussion. I posted the original question not because I was concerned with the ability of the 44spl on deer and bear, only what are some good factory loads.

it seems you are correct about the original being an inquiry into good factory ammo.  i missed that.  
   cabin4 was the original poster.   even he thinks it is a good discussion.  which is why i come here, to engage in good, clean discussion with folks.  so maybe some of the discussion wasnt a direct answer, but all of it was related to the 44  and folks experience with it.   i happened to enjoy following this post, and even learned a thing, maybe two.  
  i regret that you are upset.   but i think perhaps you are being a little too thin skinned here; as i dont think anyone really has been out of line.   i guess you can always contact g.b.o. management and see what the opinion is on that end.

[Redhawk1]

What dose Factory Mean ?
To me it means Common ammo like i said to start with...Joe........

You are correct. I read factory ammo also. But still even reloaded 44 spl are pushing it in my opinion.  Yes it can be done. But if the bear turns on you you are going to wish you had a cannon.  

[oso45-70]

Gentlemen,
Maybe i was a little thin skinned, but i was trying to stick to the post and if i had not killed as many bear as i have i guess i would have had a different take on some of the posts. I see that a lot of the guys on this forum hunt over bait which is different from the type of bear hunting that i have been envolved in which would of course make one heck of a difference in the type of weapon you would use. My youngest son was envolved in one of those shootouts with a bear that was shot with a 44 mag. and if he had not had his 30-06 the whole bunch would have been bear bait. When you run bear with dogs the bear takes on an attitude unlike one that has been shot at a bait station. If the bear is in the tree they are easy to take down, ( but ) when you catch him and he must fight
he's one very fifferent fellow. And yes a black bear is not hard to kill if you have the advantage of the situation. From a man that has taken more than his share of bear i wish all of you the very best.........Joe..........

[Cabin4]

Do I dare open an old wound here ??

Anyway, I guess its fare to conclude that thier really are no good factory loads for the 44spl. With the exception being either Buf Bore or Cor-Bon.

I will look into what they have to offer.

[.358buddy]

I must agree with ISO45-70 regarding doing something that may be questionable when there are better things out there.  I have used the .44
mag with .44 special loads since 1972 for fun and for teaching others to shoot a big bore.  I have shot deer and elk, goat and Dall sheep with
a .243 to prove to myself that it could be done.  Everything falls with an ear shot and many fell quickly with a body shot.  The first time I encountered
someone that tried to claim an animal I shot cured me of the challenge.
I had a friend that shot a really monster deer which ran 200 yards, jumped a fence and died within sight of the fence.  He went to get permission of the landowner and was denied?

This past spring I shot a 300 pound black bear with a 180 Hornady while having a 250grain in my hand ,using a 358 Winchester in the Encore.  Shot was  from 100 yards point of brisket entry and under the hide rump recovery.  He jumped off the log and died.
There was virtually no blood on the ground. I used the 180 only because I was checking penetration as an all around load.  I have since loaded 200 grainers as I want a hole all the way through.  Reminder: bear fat plugs
holes and hair absorbs the blood equaling no blood trail even if it had been a short one?

In short; hit them big, hit them hard all the way through and remove any doubt!

[Lawful Larry]

Anyone have any success with factory 44spl on deer or bear ?                
thanks

 I think we got off topic a little, If i read the post right it was about store bought ammo. And i still don't think it would be a good idea to go after a bear with that kind of ammo. I think i know what it takes to kill a bear at lest i hope so. If i told you guys i had shot a running deer at 600 yds with a 44spl would you belive me.( I hope not ) Guess who said he had done that. I think you know where i'm coming from. Have a great day gentleman...............Joe......................

You make it sound as if factory ammo is insufficient in comparison to hand loads.  Well I have had just the opposite experience.  

I was shooting some some hand loads in my S&W 629 and using my Chrono.  My friend came over and handed me some factory loads and asked me to test them across the chrono.  I was surprised to see that they recorded velocities over 1400 fps.  Had me scratching my head for a long time.  

The second time this happened was when I was testing some hand loads for my .300 WSM using 180 gr. bullets.  Well when I was loading my cartridges I reviewed all the standard loading manuels and noticed that for the 180 gr. bullet there where no loads that would put the bullet over 3000 fps.  Well to make a long story short, I was at the range and had a few factory rounds to sight in the gun and ran them across the chrono.  I was very surprised to see that they recorded velocities over 3300 fps.  Don't know if this is the norm or the unusual.  But after that, I will never put down factory loads over handloads.   :wink: