Garrett's 44 Mag 330 gr Hammerhead Ammo vs buffalo bore 44 mag 340 grain plus p plus.

[MUSICALGUNNUT45]

Which one is the most powerful, and which one is the best all around load in you opinion.

 

[Prosser]

I'd go with buffalobore's offering. I gather you are shooting brown bear in Alaska, buffalo, 1500 pound plus animals?

 

[336A]

Which one is the most powerful, and which one is the best all around load in you opinion.

I'm not sure which is more powerful as I haven't compared them per their respective web sites. As for the best all around load I'd have to say niether unless your application is for use as defense from the largest of bears(Grizzly). The best all around load would be a 250gr Keith bullet at full power or mid range levels. A load like that will accomplish any task that you would likely use that revolver for except for the largest of game animals.

The simple answer is to buy some of both and let your revolver tell you what it likes best. BTW what revolver are you using? I know that the Buffalo Bore stuff is recommended for the likes of the Ruger SRH due to cylinder length.

 

[cochise]

The heavy loads do NOT fit in S&W, Ruger SA, revolvers. Your make of revolver dictates your choice. You can step down to 310 grn loads. I have some and use them for pig hunting. I'm sure they work a variety of game but 90 % of my shooting is done with 225 to 250 grn LSWC, 9 % with 240, 265 grn JSP. So the Garretts I bought 7 years ago is still almost a full box.

 

[hardluk1]

What are you wanting these cartidges for?? Grizzly or brown bear. Go with garrett. he puts more thought into the design of the bullet for the job intended. If piggy hunting or black bear. Any ole 240gr sp in the stores will do like winny white box or remmy green and white. Like allready covered too Better have Ruger SRH or a Dan Wesson if your bang'n with the super heavy weights.

 

[CraigC]

The heavy loads do NOT fit in Ruger SA, revolvers.....You can step down to 310 grn loads.

Better look again. The Buffalo Bore loads work in Ruger SA's. Beartooth 355's fit just fine in a stock Ruger SA and can be pushed over 1200fps.

 

[cochise]

Better look again. The Buffalo Bore loads work in Ruger SA's. Beartooth 355's fit just fine in a stock Ruger SA and can be pushed over 1200fps


I learn something new almost everyday.
http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=54

The long bullet must be set pretty deep in the case to chamber in the SA cylinder. I wonder what the peak preasure is?

 

[RhinoDefense]

Here's more reading:

http://www.lasc.us/fryxell44overweight.htm

 

[98Redline]

I read that article as well. I think that he makes a pretty good point about the heavier bullets (>330 gr) being too much of a good thing.

What "is the best round" is really too broad of a question. You need to narrow your parameters a bit. What is the primary purpose of this round:

1) Short range protection
2) A hunting round
3) Long distance accuracy

Each parameter will lead you to a different result.

Short range protection would guide you to very hot/heavy rounds. You could accept mediocre accuracy as your shots will probably be close in (<25 yards).

A hunting round would guide you toward something long the lines of one of the LBT WFN bullets. Very large meplat for maximum tissue damage, however you will give up longer range accuracy as the WFNs to get a bit unstable beyond 100 yards

For long distance accuracy a SWC style design provides the highest accuracy levels however you will give up some wound channel size and some of the penetration of the heavier bullets. You will also probably find that the most accurate round will not be the max load, it may be close, but I have never found the max charge weight to be the most accurate.

 

[Prosser]

Either is going to work, and, the guys that designed these combinations have had guys go to Africa, etc. and prove they work.

Both look like excellent, well designed rounds.

Pick which ever one you like, and go with it.

I like Tim Sundles, and Buffalobore. Don't know much about Garrett other then his stuff has been used in Africa, and, since he only makes .44 and 45/70, I would guess he's done most of his R and D with those two.

I've ordered from Buffalobore many times.

Garrett has some good stuff on his website:

http://www.garrettcartridges.com/defensive.html

http://www.garrettcartridges.com/penetration.html

Pretty obvious there is more to hunting big game then just penetration.

Also, it's pretty clear he has one goal: Selling his 500 grain Hornady 45/70 load is this article.

A good place to double check Garrett's observations are here:
http://www.handloads.com/misc/linebaugh.penetration.tests.asp

What I can say is recoil is going to be huge:
Out of an FA 83: 330's at 1400 fps.
Recoil Energy of 28 foot pounds, and Recoil Velocity of 24 fps.
Keep in mind that you are pushing the limit of what the .44 can do, so you are going to pay the maximum load recoil penalty, which is when you get up around maximum, or more loads, you get a geometric increase in recoil, for a
sum increase in velocity. NOT a good trade off.

 

[Alaska444]

The Buffalo Bore in a large enough gun isn't that bad at all. Tim notes that the gun used to develop this load, a Ruger Redhawk still works fine after over 5000 rounds of the 340 gr ammo. I have a Ruger Super Redhawk 7.5 inch barrel that takes the high powered loads well. It gives you .454 Casull power in a .44 magnum. Not a bad commentary on the ammo at all.

 

[44Magnesium2ndAmendment]

Have shot and used Garretts Product, paid a good penny for it.

It goes through steel pickup truck wheels.

 

[Alaska444]

Why would you want to shoot out your truck tires? (wink, wink) LOL