Author Topic: I do believe....  (Read 1828 times)

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Offline coug2wolfs

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I do believe....
« on: December 06, 2002, 04:47:07 PM »
You have said quite a bit there Sir.  Let me start out by saying I would be surprised if they let you light up a 44 mag rifle in the indoor range, maybe in your neck of the woods they allow it, but up here the boys that own the business don't take a shine to the rifle boys blowing up their bullet traps :roll:

In as far as the 44 mag rifle and its killing effectiveness on game, it will, with limitations of course.  Myself, I would think a man on the foolish side if he were to take a 44 rifle to a big bear, REGARDLESS of what bullet he were using.  In my passle of 44 levers I have found the Marlin Microgroove to be the most accurate of all of them.  In so saying, the best one I ever had would do about 1.5 inches at 50 yards, and thats with the 265 Hornady which was designed for the 444 Marlin but will open up in the 44 Mag just so long as you don't push the range and drop down too low in the velocity window.

I do not wish to get anyone up in arms, but I have a most difficult time in believing that any 44 round would penetrate both shoulders of an elk, the round just does not have the energy to do that.  I don't believe even a solid would do it, leastways not on the elk I've shot.

IMO, I would rate the 44 rifles as good deer guns in close cover as they are light, fast to cycle, and the Marlins hold some serious firepower in reserve.  Too, the lever throws are short so you can really pour the lead if you know what I mean.  But then 11 rounds of 44 mags in the tube does change the balance point of the rifle, and it adds weight.

Now sure as shootin, somebody is gonna smoke me like a salmon about this verbiage since just about all critters on the planet have in fact been knocked off with the 44 mag HANDGUN.  On this matter I will say that those who do this, and do it regular, are people who know how to shoot well, have a discipline to get close and then get closer, and hold fire until they get the shot they need to get it done.  I reckon if a man was to adapt this same logic to the 44 rifle he could kill outside of what one would consider normal.  Most of the chaps I know that tote 44 leverguns aren't all that keen on precision shooting, if they were they'd run bolt guns.  The guys I know who do, myself included, are the ones that need a light fast short rifle to get on a jumped deer while burning up the boot leather.

Of course this is all just my 2 cents worth and I do not wish anyone to go ballistic over my experience with the round in question.  As I have seen on another board, the lads went snake do when I said I did not feel that a 22 short was the right thing to be hunting elephants with after one character gave testimony that it was sure in the right hands.  In that case, I am doubtful that the punny bullet even penetrated the skin, much less into the vitals.  If said elephant did in fact cross the Great Divide from such an attempt I would guess his time was up and he more than likely died from heart failure at seeing the nimrod and not as a consequence of the 29 grain bullet :grin:

I do like the 44 levers. So long as you use them within their effective range they will do a good job for the bearor.  Like any other rifle or caliber, if one pushes the envelope, stretches the range, takes "Hail Mary" shots, then, they don't do so well.

Peace Bro 8)

Coug


Best Regards,
Coug
AOL IM coug2wolfs

Life is a Journey, not a Destination.  Take the time to enjoy the gifts of the Great Spirit along the way.

Offline myronman3

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i thought that...
« Reply #1 on: December 06, 2002, 04:50:06 PM »
only the 330 grain garretts were too big for lever guns (  only for use in sbh ).   maybe  i am wrong but i could have swore that i read that.   check again or maybe someone else knows for sure.   i definately was under the impression that the lighter hammerheads would fit.

Offline Graybeard

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Garrett or Buffalo Bore in .44 Mag?
« Reply #2 on: December 07, 2002, 09:36:08 AM »
I have tried the 310s in my old Marlin 336 .44 Magnum and they will not feed. You can single load them directly in with some difficulty and shoot them but you ain't feeding one from the magazine. Now I dunno about the newer 1894s.

GB


Bill aka the Graybeard
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I am not a lawyer and do not give legal advice.

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Offline dabigmoose

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Garrett or Buffalo Bore in .44 Mag?
« Reply #3 on: December 08, 2002, 07:56:06 PM »
8) I  have had the same experience on Big Bull Moose and some black bear
with Buffalo bore 305 grain hard cast and it will feed in a lever gun.
Shot a 1400 lb bull this year on a proxy for one of the Elders with a ruger red hawk five and 1/2 inch Barrel at about 25 yards one shot behind shoulder went through and boke the opposite shoulder first bullet ever recovered under the skin was about 98 percent weight retention.I have shot a lot of moose,caribou and bear that hunters didnt kill cleanly and the 44 hardcast works well and i had  never found a bullet. But on big Brown bear dont try it without adult supervision and I use it as a last resort.I can agree with coug on not just anyone using 44-mag with out dedication and lots of practice before trying to take a really large animal over the 1000 lb categorie.Coug i do make the best Indian style smoked salmon.

Dabigmoose

Offline coug2wolfs

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Garrett or Buffalo Bore in .44 Mag?
« Reply #4 on: December 10, 2002, 02:17:11 PM »
WoodWalker

All of your info jives with my experience, and it sounds like you aim pretty much where I do.  I do believe you get complete penetration, even on a raking shot, that makes sense based on what you are shooting and where.

I am curious, do you go along with a 44 making it out the other side of an elk enroute of BOTH shoulders?  That's a lot of elk and bone to go through.  I might try it with a 454 Casull and a 300 grain bullet and be pretty sure it would, or should, but I'm having a tough time with the 44 doing it.

What do you say about it, sounds like you have the experience on this one...

Coug


Best Regards,
Coug
AOL IM coug2wolfs

Life is a Journey, not a Destination.  Take the time to enjoy the gifts of the Great Spirit along the way.

Offline John A

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Garrett or Buffalo Bore in .44 Mag?
« Reply #5 on: December 10, 2002, 07:23:08 PM »
Don't know about an Elk, but did see a 265 gr hard cast bullet hit a 400+ LB hog in the chest and exit the rear ham for over 5' of penatration, one dead piggy!