44mag reload for ruger 77/44, which one is best?

[zerobarrier]

Hello all,

I just purchased a Ruger 77/44 and put a redfield 2-7 scope on it. I am planning on using it for whitetail deer hunting maybe bear. Where I hunt the woods are pretty thick so 150 yards is about the farthest I could shoot. I do reload for the 44 but just for target practice, never hunted with this round. Deer season is next week so I bought 20rds of the winchester 250gr platinum tips for this year but next year I would like to make my own. My question is which type is better; 240gr or 300gr hornady xtp, 210gr winchester silvertip, 270gr speer deepcurl, swift a frame 280gr or 300gr? or any other type. Any info would be helpful and thank you in advance. Powders I have are H110, W296, and IMR 4227. Primers I have are CCI 350, 300, and Winchester WLP.

 

[Kernel]

Welcome to the handloading forum, new guy. That's a cool rifle. Be sure to post some pictures of it and the deer you get this year.

I've been using the Hornady XTP for 20 years with good results - handgun and muzzleloader. After a long time I settled on the 240 gr version, though I've shoot and hunted with a lot of 300 gr ones as well. The 240 gr bullet is more than adequate for any deer, and our Midwestern whitetails tend to be on the larger size, due to the cold winters and high quality and plentiful food supply.

The only way I'd feel the need for a heavier bullet was if it turned out to be significantly more accurate. Some guns just like heavier bullets. The three powders you listed are all ideal for magnum level loads. For mid-power plinking and practice you should use something like AA5, Unique, or W231. Those magnum powders don't download well.

 

[rcmodel]

There is no logical reason to use a 300 grain bullet in a .44 Magnum jut to kill a whitetail deer.

The 240 grain will shoot flatter, and hit faster, with just as much killing expansion, if not more.

IMO: You'd be hard pressed to find a better deer bullet then the Hornady 240 XTP.

rc

 

[gamestalker]

I like using a JSP 225 gr. - 240 gr, and a book charge of H110 / 296. Personally, I feel like going with a bullet any heavier takes away from the potential of the 44 mag., do to the lack of velocity. I've used 2400 and IMR-4227 also, but for full tilt magnum loads, nothing beats H110 / 296, IMHO. Use magnum primers, and don't reduce H110 / 296 to below published start charges.

GS

 

[zerobarrier]

Thanks for the responses so far. I will post a pic of the rifle and deer if I get one. I think I will get a box of the 240gr xtp and 300gr xtp and see which one shoots better out of my rifle. I am leaning towards the 240's. Will the 240's be good enough for bear? I live in PA by erie and hunt about 50 miles south. It would be black bear. Also any opinion on thee ftx bullets either 225gr or 265gr? or the hornady interlock 265gr flat nose? Thanks again

 

[buck460XVR]

IMO: You'd be hard pressed to find a better deer bullet then the Hornady 240 XTP.

rc

While I like the XTPs in my revolvers, they are not my favorite in the .44 levers and my 77/44. I prefer either the Nosler 240 gr JSP or the Speer 270 gr Deep Curls. They tend to give better penetration and still expand reliably. I've had the 240 XTPs fragment and not exit when hitting shoulder and other bone @ .44 mag rifle velocities.

 

[OldRook77]

I have two of the Ruger 77/44 magnum carbines. The boy and I hunted with them while living in Indiana

Both been in the safe the last couple of years due to relocations.

240 grn XTP on top of a max load of H110 perform great in both of them

We killed maybe 8 deer with them. No failures or losses and the furthest shot just a touch over 120 yards. And that was a 5 yr old 11 pt that scored in the mid 140's. DRT for that large tough deer and most others. Can't recall one we had to track. We both shoot for the high shoulder shot so that contributes a lot to the DRT performance I believe

You will love the compact build of the rifle in a tree stand and particularly in a shooting house

I put several hundred rounds thru them off the bench and can say its a dead nuts 150 yard gun, but you better have a darn good rest and known yardage to push it out to two hundred.

1 1/2 inch groups at a hundred as I recall. Not tack drivers but fine for white tail sized game.

I'm assuming your Nikon is 30mm or so unit? A standard scope won't work on these. Running leupold muzzle loader scopes on ours. The darn bolt won't clear a standard objective scope unless you go to god awful high rings and I don't shoot that well

You made an excellent choice in my opinion for a 150 yard white tail gun

 

[zerobarrier]

Yeah I am going to try the 240gr xtp's with h110, just ordered them from cabelas. I also want to try the speer deepcurl 270gr bonded bullets but I can't find them anywhere online. The redfield scope is 32mm or 33mm objective and it sits real nice with the rings that came with the rifle.

 

[OldRook77]

You will have som fun with that little gem. Just might drag mine to IN Thursday and see if I can find a white tail..


Enjoy!!

 

[zerobarrier]

Here is a pic of the rifle that Kernel asked for.

 

[OldRook77]

Sweet looking rig. Both of mine are synthetic and stainless. Like yours much better from an aesthetic standpoint

 

[zerobarrier]

Yeah I wanted the stainless one but this was the only one around. I wanted it for deer which starts monday so getting one online was out. Has anyone upgraded the trigger? I don't think it is too bad, mine has no creep and feels like a stock AR-15 trigger. I just upgraded my AR trigger to a geissele ssa-e trigger and I love it. I wouldn't ming something like that but in a single stage. 2-3lbs would be great.

 

[James2]

240 to 255 gr bullets do a fantastic job in the 44. My first 44 was a Colt SAA 44 Spl. It was my woods gun for many years. I have killed many critters with that piece up to the size of deer. My bullets? Home cast 255 gr SWC. Believe me if you can hit it, in the right spot, with a 44 you've got meat on the table. The 44 mag is a good step up in velocity. Should be even better.

 

[James2]

zerobarrier, welcome to the forum and that is a nice looking piece. Thanks for posting the picture.

 

[buck460XVR]

Yeah I am going to try the 240gr xtp's with h110, just ordered them from cabelas. I also want to try the speer deepcurl 270gr bonded bullets but I can't find them anywhere online.

Speer also makes a excellent 240gr JSP as does Remington. All have shot very well outta my 77/44. I also have found that my 77/44 likes IMR4227 under them.

 

[Kurastduuks]

I would definitely consider 4227. Especially out of a carbine length barrel it will not disappoint. I recently took another coyote with the 44 magnum sbh 4 5/8" with a true magnum load 240 xtp. Having always used hardcast, 300 xtp's or 270 speers on game I have to say I was disappointed with the 240's performance. It did break both sides of the skull but was stuck in the hide on the oppisite side with everything from the shank forward completely gone. While over penetration is obviously not the purpose of a hollow point i expected more. Fine for deer but ill stick with the other options for anything with claws and fangs