44 mag hunting bullet choice

[pathfinder]

On deer, which performs better, hollow of flat points in 44 magnum?

What velocity is optimum for 240 gr jacketed bullets?

[Mikey]

pathfinder:  lots of guys use hollowppoints and lots of guys use softnose or flatpoints (jacketed) but lots more guys use and are going to the use of hardcast bullets in 240 to 300 (or better) grain weights in semiwadcutter configuration.  It seems that some of the hollowpoints and softnosed bullets do not work as well as they should while the hardcast drives on through.  You will find that a lot of the responders have used hollowpints or softnoses successfully for years but that a lot of folks also prefer the hardcast.  

Optimum velocity - if you can get the slug moving to 1100'/sec or better it should do the job for you with good placement.  HTH.  Mikey.

[High Brass]

Mikey pretty much beat me to the punch on this one.  In any event, I know that for Hornady XTPs there are velocity parameters listed on the older gray boxes(not sure if they're on the red ones, haven't checked).  IIRC, the velocity window for 240gr. XTPs is 900-1600 fps.  Meaning that expansion can be expected to some to degree at least at impact velocities of 900 and the bullet "should" hold together at impacts as high as 1600. Contact different bullet manufacturers or visit their website to see if they list the velocities that they reccomend for optimum performance.  I use 240gr. XTPs and they worked very well on the ONE deer that I killed with it.  I have no more experience to offer than that but like Mikey said, shot placement is the most important.  I figure there are many bullets out there that'll give satisfactory performance on game.

[Redhawk1]

On deer with a 44 Mag I like the soft point bullets over the hollow point. Yes cast will work as well, but I like a hard cast for hog's and bear. 1250 to 1400 fps is just about right.  

[WD45]

They will all kill deer. I think it boils down to more of a personal preference thing.... My personal preference is a cast keith style bullet of 250 grains and up.. My motto is BIG AND FLAT IS WHERE IT'S AT  

[oso45-70]

Pathfinder

Iam Going to ECHO what Mikey said, I lean more to the 300 gr hard cast bullet, It puts a nice thump on game and they are where you shot them ........Joe.....

[Graybeard]

I've shot a lot of deer using the .44 Magnum with a wide variety of bullet weights and types. My preference is for a 240 JHP. The Hornady XTP and the Nosler 240 JHP are my favorites. Never recovered a 240 grain bullet from one yet. I did recover the only 180 JHP I ever shot one with. It was an old pre XTP Hornady. Stopped under the skin on far side.

[L-Ray]

Well guys, I'm going to try some 250gr Winchester Partition Golds this year in my new .44 Bisley Hunter.

L-Ray

[Redhawk1]

Well guys, I'm going to try some 250gr Winchester Partition Golds this year in my new .44 Bisley Hunter.

L-Ray

Welcome to Graybeard.

Those 250 gr. Partitions should do a great job.  

[oso45-70]

L-Ray

Welcome to Graybeard, I think you will enjoy your self here, You may have to put on your wading boots and a gas mask :roll: lol, But lots of good information here. Good luck with your 44 Bisley Hunter........Joe..........

[L-Ray]

I've been out here lurking for sometime. This just happens to be my first post.

[daddywpb]

I use Speer 270 grain Gold Dot soft point over 19.8 grains of W296. Gives about 1500 fps. It works well out of a S&W 29 and is very accurate in my Marlin .44 Mag Guide Gun with 16" ported barrel. I've never recovered a bullet from a hog or deer.

[longwalker]

I didn't so much select the bullet it's that the bullet selected my gun. Just after purchasing  my SRH  I purchased several boxes of ammunition.  Just to have differnet loads to put through it. I found the Federal American Eagle brand loaded with 240 grain JHp shot the best by far. So good there was no reason to reload for it. So I backed in to the JHp by default. The bullets have worked well for me.

Longwalker

[pistolhuntermn]

L-Ray
I've used the factory loaded Winchester Partition Gold 44's in Minnesota on 2 deer. They were big body size deer. One round went through the lungs, exited, and left good damage. The other round went through shoulder, both lungs and was lodged in far side skin. It expanded good and stayed together.  I have no complaints. The rounds did their job.

[MS Hitman]

I've got 26 deer under my belt with .44 revolvers.  They have been taken with a mixture of 240 grain XTPs, Remington JHP, Sierra JHC, cast SWC,300 grain Speer JSP.  In no case did I have a bullet fail to completely penetrate on a broadside shot.  Deer usually run less than 50 yards with a shot behind the elbow of the front leg.  Tracking has never been a problem as they paint up the countryside with blood.

Any of the above bullets should work just fine for you based on my experiences.