.44 Mag bullet on elk...hardcast or something else?

[priv8ter]

This year I am going elk hunting with some co-workers in an area that is new to me. Some of the guys were talking about finding some elk bedding areas, but it is in 'some pretty thick stuff'.

So, I got to thinking that it might be nice to sit in that 'thick stuff' with my .44, if nothing else seemed to be working. Plus, it was a good excuse to get more practice in with my new 626.

The load I have been practicing with is Federals 300gr Castcore load, figureing penetration is what is important...but, as the season gets closer, and I overthink things, might I want to choose something like a Jacketed Soft Point instead, to get a little bit of expansion?

greg

 

[huntershooter]

On large game like Elk, I use a hardcast lead bullet with a large meplat. Although I don't use a .44 for Elk, I think a 300 gr. WFN would be sufficient-with proper placement of course. I agree that penetration is a definate requirement on large deer. I would prefer a cast bullet to a JSP.

 

[priv8ter]

groovy

I'll admit to being a little...concerned at first that .44 would be enough for elk...I mean, why else would they make .454 or .500 S&W if .44 for was enough for elk .

With any luck, I won't need to find out. My caliber of choice is .35 Whelen...I'm just one of those 'cover every base' kind of guys.

greg

 

[H&Hhunter]

I've seen the results of a 330gr Garret Hammer head on a couple of large hogs. I'm here to tell you that penetration is not a problem with this style bullet.

Ashley Emerson has a neat little takedown .44 1894 Marlin that has been specially chambered for the longer Garret rounds. That little devil is like a pocket rocket .45-70. He punched a huge tough old boar hog with it last winter. That bullet sliced through the shield which was a formidable chunk of cartilage. One of those 1.5 plus thick ones. The bullet exited after taking out the top of the heart.

The hog ran about 150 yards or so leaving a 4 star blood trail. Inside of 100 yards I'd expect your 300gr cast cores to give good penetration. They don't have much punch in regards to shock however. Pick your shot and it will go through an elks ribs no problem.

After the shot however, treat it like an archery kill. Give it plenty of time before you start blood trailing and just because the animal didn't react to the shot doesn't mean you didn't hit it. Make sure and check for blood. Large animals often will not react to being hit in the lungs with a pip squeak round like a .44 mag.

PS

Ashley has killed a couple of hogs with his .44 pistol with these rounds with the same effect.

 

[Dr.Rob]

A popular choice among my buddies is a hand loaded 300gr Hornady XTP & 21.5 gr of H110 that you wouldn't dream of loading in a non-Ruger revolver. It's a tad hot.

I've seen a cow elk killed with that load.

I usually stay away from the nuclear handloads and stoke my 44 Vaquero with Winchester 240 gr soft points @ around 1200fps. That's plenty of gun for me.