44 Magnum hunting

[RAVEN1]

I didn't know where to ask this question. I want to hunt with my 44 Magnum Redhawk and Marlin. Is it better to go with 1 weight bullet for both guns or go with a different weight for each. I refer to 430,465,465 weight bullets.


Sorry, I ment 240, 265 and 300

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

If that one weight is accurate in both, then yes. My main question is, where in the hell are you getting 430, 465 grain bullet weights at? Heaviest one I have ever seen is 350gr cast and it was so close to being too long it was funny. You sure you didn't mean 240gr to 300gr?

Next question is what are you planning to hunt? Deer, Elk, and Hogs all easily fall to that weight range.

 

[willypete]

Agreed. Did your finger skip a key or two? You're likely to find bullets weighing from 180 to 300 grains, and some people cast or manufacture heavier and lighter than that, but not by much.

Find something that shoots well in each gun and don't worry so much about generalization.

 

[hardluk1]

Raven You may find that your marlin could be more limited to what bullet it can shoot and still be accurate. No so much with the ruger as they can handle the heavier and longer loads but don't think that anything over 370gr will be found.

What will be the largest game you will be hunting?? If deer, hogs and black bear, just pick a basic 240gr sp and hp and see how they do to start with. No fancy ammo needed.

 

[T.R.]

My 44 MAG carbine shoots 200 grain bullets most accurate of all. These lighter bullets do not bounce off deer!!

TR

 

[BossHogg]

Just see which bullet works the best with both guns and go with that bullet. I think it would be best to have one bullet for both guns.

 

[willypete]

hardluk1 brings up a good point. IIRC, the twist rate on Marlins is 1:38, which will only stabilize a 270 grain or lighter .44 cal bullet. The Rugers have a twist rate of 1:20, and the Winchesters had anywhere from 1:16 to 1:2x (I've read various sources regarding the Winchester models 92 and 94).

 

[DM~]

I would use 240's or 250's, what ever shot best in both...

DM

 

[JustinNC]

I shot a doe out of a an old Ruger Deerfield Carbine this year with a 240 Hyrdoshock........ WOW is all I can say.

 

[buck460XVR]

I use 240gr Nosler JHPs/JSPs and 240gr Hornady XTPs in both my 629s and .44 carbines. One carbine is a Ruger 77/44 and the other is a Marlin lever. Both types of bullets are accurate and effective on deer.

I forgot to mention, I use the exact same loads in the revolvers and the carbines.

 

[WNC Seabee]

My Marlin (Ballard cut rifling) likes 240gr XTPs over 23.5gr oh H110. This combo dropped 2 small doe in their tracks earlier this week.

My 629 likes hard cast better, so I load both.

Earlier this week....

 

[Big Bad Bob]

Ive loaded a pretty effective .44 magnum for the Marlin, 240 grain Speer Deep Curl loaded on 20 grains of H110. Within range its a deer thumper

 

[willypete]

Ive loaded a pretty effective .44 magnum for the Marlin, 240 grain Speer Deep Curl loaded on 20 grains of H110. Within range its a deer thumper

Interesting, as this is below the minimum loading spec in all the reloading manuals (hodgdon.com, speer, lyman, hornady) that I currently have access to. H110 has a reputation for being low-load density sensitive.

Have you experienced any wide velocity spreads? How accurate is this load?

 

[Big Bad Bob]

Not sure on the velocity because i dont have a chrono. Got the data from a loose 44 Magnum specific loading manual picked up at Sportsmans Warehouse. In fact it patterns better than the 270 winchester factory stuff I was shooting, and I got tighter groups at 80 yards then 225 grain leverrevolution rounds. I loaded some 270 grain Speer Deep Curl on 20 grains of H110 and got similar results.

This is my swamp rifle, so my shots are under 60 yards at the longest. But within that range its put a wallop.

 

[Big Bad Bob]

My mirco groove 1894 in 44 magnum shooting 225grain JHP thumped another buck, (you can see the photo in the deer season thread)

Interesting hit at 65 yard right behind the shoulder, he never took another step, the bullet did not exit, tried to recover it, couldnt find it in the guts.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Use a soft point instead of a hollow point.

Prvi 300 gr JSP's are pretty impressive out of a handgun and will feed in a Marlin. 240gr Winchester JSP's shoot a little flatter from the rifle. Both drop like a rock after 125 yards.

 

[rcmodel]

Marlins is 1:38, which will only stabilize a 270 grain or lighter .44 cal bullet.

Then how come my 1894P shoots 300 grain Noslers just peachy keen?

rc

 

[willypete]

Then how come my 1894P shoots 300 grain Noslers just peachy keen?

Because you, and your gun, are both super duper special. Tried shooting any other 300 grain bullets from this gun, or is it just the Noslers that work "peachy keen"?

The more appropriate question to ask is why did manufacturers besides Marlin catch on to the fact that people might want to shoot heavy bullets out of their carbines?