[Timothy]

I use a S&W 44 Mag, 8 3/8” for White tail and was wondering what bullet you guys using the same revolver prefer for accuracy and stopping power. I roll my own and from what I read on different forums, the old adage...”the heavier the better” seems to be going by the wayside.
Any guidance here is appreciated.

[critter]

I have heard everything from 'use 180 JHP for good expansion' to 'use 300 hard cast flat nose for penetration' suggested for the .44. Guess somebody had had each of those work at some time or another.

I have personally used the .44 with 240 Rem JHP's on 2 deer and one hog. All three were DECISIVE as in DRT (dead right there). I got GOOD expansion and GOOD penetration. I can't complain.

With the longer barrel you have, I would suspect you can be successful with a wide range of loads. Balance your need for penetration with that of expansion (I personally want TWO holes-in AND out-with a handgun: that is for tracking if necessary) AND shoot what your gun likes best as far as accuracy. I would tend toward more penetration for heavier bodied game.

Good luck with your choice. Handgun hunting is a BLAST (pun intended)!

(BTW my gun is a Ruger Redhawk with 7.5" barrel.)

[HankB]

You're shooting an 8 3/8" barrel? That will gain you a bit of velocity over the more common 4" and 6" barrels. Just about any honest .44 Mag load out of your revolver will do for a whitetail deer. They're not bulletproof, and archers take a lot with what amounts to embellished pointy sticks. :neener:

Now, a 180 JHP *might* not be ideal for a shot at the south end of a northbound deer, but I'd say anything from a 240 on up will do just fine from just about any angle, as long as you place it properly.

I've taken deer with a .357 with no problem, and any honest .44 Mag load will hit harder. So just choose what you like.

Have fun.

[Fire1]

This year I will be loading my Dan Wesson with 270gr Gold Dot SP over a max charge of H4227. I know the 240gr JHP is a great deer round, but I wanted something that would give better penetration if I ran across a big hog. I shot a Blackbuck doe with a 240gr JHP a couple of years ago and it was devistating.