[viking499]

What can I expect out of my Ruger Redhawk ballistics wise if I use 240 grain(or other) bullets for deer hunting? Thinking of taking it to Ohio with me this year.

There is no scope on it yet. It is stainless and has a 7 3/8" barrel.

Any factory ammo work good for use with deer hunting? New Hornady ammo?

[buck460XVR]

Any factory ammo work good for use with deer hunting?


Winchester White Box 240grn, JSPs. Last time I bought any it was about $34 a box at wallyworld. But then that's been awhile. Pretty accurate and stout enough for any whitetail. I load 240grn XTPs mostly for huntin'.

[pbearperry]

If you can hit what you are aiming at,a 240 grainer at 1200 fps or more will take any whitetail out to 100 yds.

[Shadan7]

What the others have said.

For more info on the specifics of .44 mag performance, check here: http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/44mag.html

Jim D.

[usmc1371]

I second the winchester white box, they are pretty stout and should work great on deer. I have had good luck with the fedral hardcast 300 grainers out of my super blackhawk they penatrate very well on deer and elk.

[viking499]

Thanks for the info. I want something to hunt with factory wise until I get all the stuff I need to reload for the 44. Picked up some brass and XTP's the other day. For some reason, powder and primers are hard to find......:rolleyes:. But at least it is slowly getting better.

[Ben Shepherd]

240 XTP's? If so, stuff them on top of around 21 grains of 2400, and use a firm crimp.

That load works well in every 44(including three redhawks) in the extended family.

A note of caution here- That load is right at most current published maximums, so work up to it with all due care.

[higene]

Think Buffalo Bore bullets.

:scrutiny:

Higene

[Ben Shepherd]

Buffalo Bore and cast Performance offerings are most likely overkill for deer really. Elk or moose would be a different story.

[Magnumite]

I worked up loads years back that duplicated factory loads in my 5.5" Redhawk - 240 gr JHP over 15.5 grains of Blue Dot. It went 1275 fps over the chrono - same as factory 240's went.

Same powder charge and a RP 240 gr SJHP bullet out of my 7.5" NM Super Blackhawk went 1440 fps over the chrono. With a scope, this load would shoot into 7/8" off the bags at 75 yards. Honest. Even backed up those groups with several 1-1.25" groups.
To this day, that is my favorite single load. Works very well with other make JHP 240 grain bullets as well.

That loads goes into under an inch all day out of DX S&W revolver all day long also.

[Ben Shepherd]

Blue dot is a fine powder, and as noted by Magnumite, it can be wonderfully acurate. It's still my go to powder in 41 magnum(recall/warning be hanged), and is wonderful in both 357 and 44 mag for 3/4 loads as well.

It has one drawback though- It acts up in temperature swings, so be careful if you push the charge weights to the top of the charts.

[Magnumite]

copy that, Ben Shepherd. Starting out reloading with Blue Dot, I found out how fast it can erode a barrel in 357 Magnum when the pressures are pushed.
Set back the barrel twice to dress down the breech face of the barrel.

That is why I only go to 15.5 grains with a 240 now. I've really taked to the 20.7 - 21 grains of 2400 or another favorite H110 (23.0 gr) just for barrel longevity.

I've had good luck with good preformance from all the factory 240 I've used. Not a light bullet fan and with the 240 performance, I have no need to look.