44 mag ammo question

[SNAKES14009]

Well this is my first post and it is about the first gun that I have purchased. It is a new S&W 629 8 3/8". My question is pretty simple but I imagine it has lots of anwsers. I plan on using the gun for deer/hog hunting this fall. Is 240 grain factory ammo enough or should I go larger and if how far. Also any thoughts on range ammo would be greatly appreciated.

 

[birddog]

I have had good luck with factory ammo (Magtech and Winchester White Box) as well as slightly more anemic (but fun to shoot) handloads in 240gr XTP and SJSP.

Here's a link to one of my .44 mag / deer stories, with technical info and photos a little way into the thread.

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=114110

It's a great caliber, and the 240 is a good bullet for deer / hog sized game.

 

[Triple S]

Stick with at least the 240 grain bullet for deer or hogs and stay away from the lighter bullets (200 grains and under). I have used quite a few different weights and like the 240's or larger for deer or hogs. I have tried 180's and 200's, but they do not penetrate near as well as the larger bullets do. My favorite factory loads are the 250 grain partition gold's by Winchester or the 300 grain Hornady XTP's. The last deer I shot with a .44 mag I was using the white box, Winchester 240 grain JSP. After double lunging the deer, it ran approximately 150 yards. The bullet went right through with out causing much terminal damage. It was a "pretty" little hole, with very little expansion or "shock".

 

[huntershooter]

Deer and hogs are on oppisite ends of the spectrum re. bullet choice. Read that: Deer; thin skin/light bones-requiring less penetration and ideally more expansion, Hog; heavy boned/thisk gristle plate and hide-requiring deep penetration at the expense of expansion (in a .44 mag./handgun). Granted, there are hogs and there are hogs. 350 lbs. and up I really want adequate penetration. For smaller hogs (250#'s and under) AND deer a 240-300 gr. XTP or Nosler partition (as loaded in Win. Partition Gold) should be great. If I'm looking for hogs 350 lbs. and over I use a 300 gr. WFNGC (hardcast) bullet by Beartooth or Cast Performance. Good luck.

 

[critter]

I killed a 145 lb whitetail last year at 65 yards with a .44 mag using Rem 240gr hollow point bullets in a reload using a moderately heavy load of H110 powder. Hit was right behind the shoulder and the bullet was caught by the offside skin right behind the shoulder.

Expansion was perfect-it looked like an ad in a gun magazine. The expanded bullet was nearly 1" across in every directioon.

Deer ran (with both lungs penetrated) about 80-100 yards with a good blood trail. His path could have been followed by footprints in the leaves as he was stumbling and staggering, tearing up the leaves as he ran. Recovery was easy with the trail he left.

I might have wished for complete pass through for a better blood trail, but that was not needed. I consider it to be a near perfect outcome.

If you need/want better penetration, (and/or hunt bigger, heavier bodied game) use a more strongly built bullet or a heavier bullet. If you want faster knock downs, hit something solid such as centerpunch a shoulder or some such.

I think a 240 grain .44 is a near perfect combo for deer sized game. Good luck. Handgun hunting is a total blast! Have fun!

 

[Deanimator]

I can't imagine that the Winchester White Box 240gr. ammo from Walmart wouldn't kill anything smaller than a T-55. I've shot it out of both of my 29-2s (4" and 6") and it's BRUTAL. I imagine it'd send most Ohio deer end over end.

 

[Triple S]

I can't imagine that the Winchester White Box 240gr. ammo from Walmart wouldn't kill anything smaller than a T-55. I've shot it out of both of my 29-2s (4" and 6") and it's BRUTAL. I imagine it'd send most Ohio deer end over end.

Deanimator: If I would have hit something solid on the deer (like a shoulder) where the bullet could have expanded, I might have a different opinion. However, it slipped through the ribs went through both lungs and out the opposite ribs. It had the look of shooting something with a FMJ. There was nothing more than a clean, hole all the way through. The heavier hollow points have worked well for me on deer and hogs up to 325 pounds.