44 Mag bullet for deer

[VingThorr]

Hello,

I'm new to reloading and to handgun hunting. In the myriad of .44 bullets available, 180gr to 300, what's a good bullet/weight for deer hunting with a revolver in .44 mag?

Thanks

 

[atvalaska]

all grains in 44 are killing deer

old school 265 gr round at 35yds took a moose.. (7.5 barrel)...20" barrel rifle ,.. took one at 175...."All shot placement".. I've now moved to a better bullet 270gr and site "Dead On" from a rest at 50 in a pistol..cause i know what 50yds is with my tired eyes and iron sights....it helps to bow hunt for some years than move to a handgun.. to put things in prospetive(?)...

 

[Walkalong]

The old boring 240 Gr bullet of any good make will kill deer all day long. I like 200 & 240 XTP Gr bullets in my Redhawk, although the 180 Gr XTP shoots very well indeed too, as well as the Speer 270 Gr GD.

I have only shot them on paper with my Redhawk, but would like to try my hand at deer with it.

My old Model 94 would kill em dead with the 240 Gr pills. My son has it.

 

[SPW1]

You would be hard pressed to find a 44 mag bullet that wouldn't work fine for deer. As a general rule of thumb mid range(aprox. 240-260gr) and heavies(aprox. 270-320gr) will shoot more accurately than light bullets(180-200gr) in most guns. The down side is that heavier bullets recoil more. If your new to reloading and handgun hunting I would recommend starting in the mid range of 240-260gr. Those weights are tried and true you really can't go wrong with them. As you gain more experience you might want to experiment with the lighter or heavier side of the 44 mag but there isn't any reason to do so for deer hunting unless you want to.

 

[Steve in PA]

I've been using the Hornady XTP bullets for reloads in my Ruger Super Redhawk .44mag.

 

[dmazur]

I've been using the Speer 240gr JSP (#100457). I understand it works as well in revolvers as it does in carbines.

 

[Franco]

I recommend the Speer 240gr Unicore Soft Point. Excellent dear bullet -- I've killed two bucks with my S&W 629 6".

I'm not sure yet about Hornady's XTP bullets. I have a Marlin 1894 44 mag lever action that my son used to kill a doe this winter (using Hornady LeveRevolution cartridges that use XTP bullets). It took a bit for the doe to fall down and when we skinned her, the exit wound looked like a shotgun wound. Tiny holes everywhere through the shoulder and ribs. Seems as if the hollow point part broke up into many pieces. I'm not dismissing it as a good bullet but I have my reservations. Deer that I've hit with 240g JSP flipped over and died without drama but with a nice exit wound.

Having said that, I have used the LeveRevolution shells with my 1895 Marlin Cowboy lever 45-70 and they explode whatever they hit (although I haven't had a chance to use them on live game). I reloaded a few of the cartridges with 325gr XTP bullets and H4198 powder so I can let you know how those work next fall.

If you're using a 44 mag, I would stick with Speer JSP per dmazur's recommendation.

 

[VingThorr]

thanks for the advice, i think i'll start with the 240gr and some 2400

 

[Paints]

I've used 300 gr LSWC with just under max load of AA#9. I've only fired one round at a deer with it and he ran about 50 yards before he dropped. Iron sights on a Super Redhawk. I did not think that recoil was bad.

Beginner's luck

Ken

 

[calaverasslim]

I have dropped 4 white tail with the 240gr JSP in front of IMR 4227. Great, clean and accurate

 

[Asherdan]

I'm not sure yet about Hornady's XTP bullets. I have a Marlin 1894 44 mag lever action that my son used to kill a doe this winter (using Hornady LeveRevolution cartridges that use XTP bullets).

The LeveRevolution cartridge does not use the XTP bullet, it uses the FTX.

With that said, I have read some issues with the FTX bullets not holding together real well. How common that is I don't know. But the 240g XTPs are a good bullet that I've had success with, as are the 210g Speer Gold Dot.

The old boring 240 Gr bullet of any good make will kill deer all day long.

But I didn't need to say anything really because this guy's comment has it covered.

 

[evan price]

I get good results with either the Speer Gold Dot 240 grain, or else the lead SWC 305-grain gas checked slugs I cast myself.
I loaded up a bunch of Nosler 240JSP's recently and need to see how they do.

 

[Franco]

Thanks for the correction. Yes, the LeveRevolution uses FTX, my mistake. I also load Hornady XTP/HP 240gr and just switched them in my head... I don't think I would use those for whitetails either. We've only had one experience with the FTX on live game and the bullet broke up into 4 or 5 pieces that left ripping type exit wounds similar to buckshot. I think we'll stick with the GDSP, UCSP or similar for .44 mag hunts in the future.

 

[hydraulicman]

I've never done it. I would load the XTP in 240 or 300 grain infront of a fat charge of 296