ANOTHER 94 Trapper Issue: 44 Mag

[Gun Geezer]

Yep, I have 2 of them. This one is a 44 Mag with iron sights.

Soooo... I shot some 44 special reloads out of it. VERY light if any recoil, hitting pretty much spot on at 50 yards. Then I slip some factory 44 Mags in the tube. Yep, they had some punch. All slugs fired were 240 grains.

What I found odd, is that the 44 Special reloads hit, as I said, spot on at 50 yards. The 44 Mags were off the paper low! At least 8" or 10" low. Easy to adjust the rear sight elevation for, I just thought that it is odd for them to hit paper so far apart at only 50 yards.

The barrel is a stubby little 16" I did not think would whip much. But it is somewhat thin walled in appearance.

Again, an easy elevation adjustment. Anybody seen that before?

 

[rcmodel]

Yes.
Quite common for a light lever-gun unless you really hold it down.

The slow .44 Spec in still in the barrel longer during recoil raising the gun.

The faster .44 Mag certainly kicks harder, but the bullet is getting gone out of the barrel much faster too, before the gun rises as much in recoil.

Bench-resting a 94 30-30 carbine?
Hold it loose and Let it jump 5 rounds.
Then hold it down hard on the bags 5 rounds.

You will shoot two good groups.

One about 6" higher then the other one!

rc

 

[Gun Geezer]

Makes sense!

Thanks

 

[Matthew Temkin]

Yes.
Quite common for a light lever-gun unless you really hold it down.

The slow .44 Spec in still in the barrel longer during recoil raising the gun.

The faster .44 Mag certainly kicks harder, but the bullet is getting gone out of the barrel much faster too, before the gun rises as much in recoil.

Bench-resting a 94 30-30 carbine?
Hold it loose and Let it jump 5 rounds.
Then hold it down hard on the bags 5 rounds.

You will shoot two good groups.

One about 6" higher then the other one!
H
rc

Which is the better way to sight in---holding it hard or loose?

 

[Gun Geezer]

You're not asking me. But, I would think you'd sight it as if you were hunting with it. For blind hunting with rest on a window ledge, sight it at the range that way. If hunting off-hand, sight it that way.

I guess. My next range trip, I'll try it both ways with the same ammo and see exactly what difference it makes. I'm betting RC is right.

 

[witchhunter]

He is.

 

[OilyPablo]

I've had the exact thing happen. First time I assumed the .44Mag loads were just way more accurate than the smoky cowboy .44Specials - sort of the reverse of your assumption.

 

[rcmodel]

I prefer to hold lever-guns (in fact all hunting rifles) hard, regardless of off a bench, or off-hand.

Too much potential variation in elevation if you don't do it all the time the same way.

Besides, they kick harder and hurt worse if you hold them loose and let them jump!

rc

 

[1911 guy]

Agreed. Whether a light .22 rifle or a heavy .30 or .33 centerfire, use the same hold all the time. Pull it into your shoulder, get the left elbow (assuming right handed shooter) under the stock and do it the same way every single time.

When shooting from a bench with a rifle to be used for hunting, pull it into your shoulder, get the front bag near where your hand will be and hold it under the forend right behind the bag.

 

[Gun Geezer]

It been a couple of months. Here's an update.

I took that bad boy back to the range and spent some quality time. I held it loose. I held if firm. I pulled into my shoulder hard. I shot it off hand and on sand bags.

It made no difference at all any way i shot it. The 44 spls shoot 6" high and 5" right from the 44 Mag rounds.

I was hoping to be able to plink with the 44 Spls and pop hogs with the Mags. It is not to be unless one of you tell me something else to try. Any ideas?

 

[Jackal]

Lobbing a .44special and pounding a 44mag downrange are always going to offer different trajectories and different points of impact. Its science. There's nothing wrong with it, its just how it works.

 

[shootniron]

Are you using the same bullet for the special and the 44mag?

 

[silicosys4]

I was hoping to be able to plink with the 44 Spls and pop hogs with the Mags. It is not to be unless one of you tell me something else to try. Any ideas?

Just shoot .44 specials with a good 255gr keith style SWC bullet, loaded to 1000-1100fps. Hogs or paper, it will work for both.

 

[Hookeye]

Grew up varminting, so don't hang onto guns very hard.
I take a beating with some rigs.........but get good groups, repeatably.

Another thing to consider, your shooting position when zeroing in. Too many lean way over, or use sleds or vises.

Do that and then take a shot offhand at yonder critter and proly go over the top.

Replicate your most common field position in upper body when at the bench.
I build up my rest, lay my sandbag on top and shoot from a more upright position with my deer rifles.

Heck, it's more comfy too.

If you're gonna get slammed by a thumper, just add in a sissy bag.
Leave that freakin' sled crap at home.

Better yet, Ebay the dang thing.

Unless you have retinal issues that keep you from taking any bump.

 

[Gun Geezer]

Both 200 gr. But the SPls are HPs while ghd Mag's are FPs.

I considered that as the root cause. But I was only shooting 50 yrds so i discounted it. Could be wrong.

 

[Gun Geezer]

Just shoot .44 specials with a good 255gr keith style SWC bullet, loaded to 1000-1100fps. Hogs or paper, it will work for both.

You're likley right. But I like to lay down the velocity hammer! Have not a chrono, but the load should be 1500 ft/sec plus out that 16" barrel.

 

[Gun Geezer]

Lobbing a .44special and pounding a 44mag downrange are always going to offer different trajectories and different points of impact. Its science. There's nothing wrong with it, its just how it works.

Of course! I just never thought it would be THAT much different at only 50 yards!

 

[OilyPablo]

Does twist rate have any effect here?

ALL I know is my B94 is just way way tighter with 44Mag.

 

[Tommygunn]

Does twist rate have any effect here?

ALL I know is my B94 is just way way tighter with 44Mag.

B94? You mean Browning B-92?
I have one too and mine is also much more accurate with .44 mag than with .44 special. Must be a feature not a bug.

 

[OilyPablo]

Yeah B-92. 1892. Must have been all the 44's!