.44 Magnum Hunting Loads

[27hand]

.44

I've been using Speer soft points and 296 for as long as I've had my Redhawk (I'm thinking about 82 or so).

I use the Redhawk (no scope) as a weak side gun while I'm taking a nap under a tree and have only shot one deer at about 40 yds with it. It didn't go far.

 

[lonestardiver]

+1 on the h110 and win296

 

[Scipio Africanus]

The beauty of the .44 is that there are so many fine hunting loads for this really outstanding caliber.

Almost any 240-270 grain bullet, jacketed or cast, will work wonderfully on deer at any velocity above 1000 fps. Pick what is most accurate in your gun and practice!

I am a little surprised to hear negatives on the XTP, as my experience with it has been very good. I have shot them extensively in .44 and .45 calibers and they have been very accurate, demonstrated good penetration, reliable expansion, and they seem to hold together well. But that is only my experience and by no means exhaustive.

I have recently been experimenting with the 225 FTX. It seems to expand no matter what, even when shot into solid wood. This is interesting to me and bears further testing.

A personal favorite .44 load is: 300 gr Sierra JSP , 21.6 grains of H-110, Winchester LP.
This gives around 1100 fps from my S&W 629 4" and is nicely accurate.
The 300 JSP is hard and does not expand all that much but it does penetrate!

 

[T.R.]

200 grain Hornady XTP - 28.0 gr. WIN 296 - Bang flop!

TR