The "standard" bullet for the 44 Magnum is a 240 grain thing, though Elmer Keith's Lyman 429421 was about 245 grs, and that bullet is what he used in his pre 44 Magnum reloads. His experiments were the basis for the commercial cartridge. I don't know why 240 grain was selected, I know there will be those who will offer heavy bullets, 265 to 300 grain in the 44 Magnum. What I don't know is whether those things will feed through the mechanism, as OAL is critical for proper feed in lever actions. And what I don't know, is what rate of twist your Henry has. There are Henry's with 1:38 and others with 1:20. In my experience, the Marlin 1:38 would not stabilize 290's when I tried them. I don't know how 1:20 will do.
And I am going to say, I don't know if heavier is better for anything. I shot my Marlin offhand at my gong target at 100 yards, and a 240 grain bullet moving 1700 fps at the muzzle, really whacked the target. I am sure that the 240's will have all the penetration needed at that distance. Expansion may in fact be better with the 180 grain bullets. The old advice was that the 44 Magnum in a rifle was good out to 125 yards, maybe 150 yards. I am sure the bullet drop past 100 yards turns into a rainbow somewhere between 100 and 200 yards.
As for bullets, I have never shot an animal with a 44 Magnum, but I am of the opinion that penetration is more important than "expansion". And that is based on the assumption that around 100 yards, the velocities for any 44 Magnum bullet, (muzzle velocity 1700 fps) are too slow to expand the bullet. And in that case, a Keith lead semiwadcutter will do everything a jacketed will do.
this web site has lots of experience with the 44 Magnum on game, how he pushes his bullets as fast as he does, I don't know. He has some zingers!
https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.44+Remington+Magnum.html
My opinion is that the two best powders in the 44 Magnum with 240 grain bullets is 2400 and H110. And in a rifle, H110/W296 gave the most velocity and acceptable accuracy (about four inches) at 100 yards.
The thing is, H110/W296 is not flexible, you can't cut the load. Which is OK if you are only going to use full power loads.
I conducted this load testing before it was finally announced that H110 was the same as W296. But after my load testing, I came to the conclusion the powders looked the same, shot the same, and therefore, had to be the same. I never saw that opinion in any of the in print tests of 44 Magnums, and the in print writers used both powders, and usually made claims that one was better than the other. When in fact, the only differences were differences in lots. Well , now we know better.
M1894 Marlin Ballard Barrel
240 Speer JHP 22.0 grs 2400 CCI 500
21-Dec-01 T = 54 °F
Ave Vel =1747
Std Dev =21
ES =68
Low =1717
High =1785
Number rounds =7
240 Nosler JHP
24.0 grs W296 WLP Fed cases
23-Mar-05 T = 65° F
Ave Vel =1725
Std Dev =7
ES =21
Low =1715
High =1736
N =5
240 Nosler JHP
24.5 grs W296 WLP Fed cases
23-Mar-05 T = 65° F
Ave Vel =1752
Std Dev =12
ES =28
Low =1735
High =1763
N =5
240 Nosler JHP
24.0 grs H110 WLP Midway cases
23-Mar-05 T = 65° F
Ave Vel =1710
Std Dev =3
ES =9
Low =1705
High =1714
N =5
240 Nosler JHP
24.5 grs H110 WLP Midway cases
23-Mar-05 T = 65° F
Ave Vel =1745
Std Dev =12
ES =45
Low =1723
High =1768
N =10
240 Rem JHP
24.0 grs H110 WLP Midway cases
23-Mar-05 T = 65° F
Ave Vel =1719
Std Dev =10
ES =29
Low =1705
High =1734
N =10
As a comparison, this is what the same loads in a revolver clock out.
S&W M629-4 5" Barrel
250 LSWC
22.0 grs 2400 Midway cases, Fed primers
1-Oct-95 T = 75 °F
Ave Vel = 1336
Std Dev = 39
ES = 108
Low = 1286
High = 1394
N = 6
240JHP R-P
24.0 grs H110 Midway cases WLP
9-Oct-05 T = 66 °F
Ave Vel =1228
Std Dev =21.47
ES =70.16
Low =1268
High =1197
N=22
