180 gr. 44 mag load

[aerod1]

What is your favorite load for 180 gr. JHP in 44 magnum? The guns used will be a 10.5 inch Ruger Super Blackhawk and a 9.5 inch Ruger Super Redhawk, both of which will be used for Whitetail Deer hunting.
Thanks.

 

[Ranger J]

29g H110 under 180 G XTP (Lee 2nd ed) Of course I only use these in a Handi and a Marlin 1894. Don't know how they would do in a short gun.

RJ

 

[plinky]

+1 on "H110 under 180 G XTP". XTPs in every bullet weight have been consistantly good for me. Personally, I lean toward a little heavier bullet for deer but then again, it depends on the deer.

 

[Mal H]

My favorite is 29.0 gr of W296 (same as H110) under a 180 gr. Rem. JHP. I fire these in my 7 1/2" Ruger SRH. Every time I fire it, I think to myself, "now this is what a .44 Magnum is all about!" Definitely my favorite load in that caliber.

 

[ds/ks]

25gr of 2400 180gr xtp

 

[243winxb]

IMR 4227 WLP This powder works well with light bullets.

 

[NCsmitty]

The first deer that I ever took with a handgun was with a Hawes (jpsauer&son) 6" single action shooting 180 gr. Sierra JHC backed by 22 gr of 2400. About 30-40 yds with complete pass thru and total devastation of the heart and lungs. Ran about 30 yds. That was probably 30 years ago but that moment in time is still fresh in my mind.

NCsmitty

 

[geo57]

Years ago, I took a Nebraska whitetail buck with my Super Blackhawk .44 and my handload of a Rem. 180 gr. JHP on top of 16 grains of Blue Dot . My result was much like NCsmitty's was with a blood trail that Ronnie Milsap could have followed.

 

[aerod1]

The first deer that I ever took with a handgun was with a Hawes (jpsauer&son) 6" single action shooting 180 gr. Sierra JHC backed by 22 gr of 2400. About 30-40 yds with complete pass thru and total devastation of the heart and lungs. Ran about 30 yds. That was probably 30 years ago but that moment in time is still fresh in my mind.

Now this is the load I've had in mind. I have already decided on using 2400. I have shot deer before with my SRH which has a 2x6x32 scope using factory reloads, but I am wanting to shoot one with my SBH using iron sights. I don't even remember what the specifics were on the factory reloads I was shooting but I remembered they were pretty mild.
Lee has 21.9 grains of 2400 as a starting load in their 2nd edition, page#644. Using their data it will travel 1662 fps. Of course, I know that will vary.
It looks as if NCsmitty had good luck with it. With a "complete pass through and total devastation of the heart and lungs", how much more dead does a deer need to be?
I will definately be trying this load.
Thanks guys!!

 

[NCsmitty]

I don't think you'll be disappointed with your choice. Be aware that 2400 burns a little dirty but shoots well. Use of any of the heavier bullets, say 240 gr. do not open up well on deer unless heavy bone is struck. The 180's do a lot of internal damage and leave a big exit wound.

NCsmitty