Best Long Range 44 Handgun Bullet

[bluetopper]

I'm going to put a scope on a 10" Freedom Arms revolver and do some long range shooting, and grouping is all I'm interested in. What is the best reloading bullet for this. I think self defense type bullets need not apply. Smooth round nose or some kind of a spire point 44?

 

[buck460XVR]

The 225gr Hornady FTX is supposed to be designed with Hornady® pioneered secant ogive design, creates an aerodynamic bullet with a thinner, tapered front section and extended bearing surface for much higher ballistic coefficients.for long range shooting. While they are really designed for .44 carbines, that 10'' barrel is almost a carbine in itself.

Odds are, since revolvers are generally ammo selective, you are just going to try various bullets and tweak your load to find the best accuracy. I've found standard Hornady XTPs fly just as accurate outta my .44 carbines and revolvers as the higher priced FTXs.

 

[Mad Chemist]

Go heavy and go with lead. There is a decent amount of data available for 300gr LFP. If you want to save a little cash then stick with the standard 240gr SWC.

 

[TimSr]

I spent years working on the ultimate long range accurracy .44 round back in the 80's, and the tightest group I ever got was 6" (6 shots) at 100 yards with IRON SIGHTS using 240gr Hornady JTC-SIL (jacketed, truncated cone, silouette) over 24.7 gr 296. I don't know the true accuracy because at 100 yards, your target's "black" looks like a dot, even when I had good eyes.

I think Hornady still makes this bullet.

The Hornady 240gr XTP had not yet been invented, but I am still getting consistant 10" groups at 100 yards with iron sights and failing eyesight, so I highly suspect they have similar potential for a scoped gun.

 

[bocefus78]

I shoot hornaday 240gr xtp's over IMR 4227 (near max charge) from a marlin 1894 with a 3-9x40 scope and can easily keep them in a 3-3.5" group. I am new to firearms and I am not the best shooter either. I firmly believe a better shooter and my gun could easily achieve 2" groups or less fairly easily.

They also shoot good from my ruger SRH 7.5" but I have never shot it at 100. Again, I'm not good enough yet.

 

[Wil Terry]

The original KEITH 44 caliber bullet, the LYman 429421, has never let me down shooting out to heck and gone; NEVER. That includes both 44SPL and 44MAG sixguns.
And so it goes...

 

[Drail]

Yup, the old 429421 is pretty hard to beat and fairly commonly available at reasonable prices.

 

[ADKWOODSMAN]

Agree with post #6 and 7. Ii's my go to bullet in 7 1/2 in. Ruger SA.

 

[murf]

i vote for the 180 grain xtp bullet. get as close to a max powder charge of h110 as you can (following the reloading manual, of course) and use a cci 350 primer, then hold on to your hat! you should be getting close to 2000 fps with that gun and long barrel.

all the xtp bullets are accurate at long ranges. the 240 grain xtp will be accurate, just a bunch slower.

luck,

murf

 

[gamestalker]

I have used 200 and 225 gr. JHP and 210 gr. JSP's, along with full house charges of 296 / H110 for years. I tried a lot of lighter 180's for a few years, but 180's didn't do as well in terms of accuracy. These heavier loads have proved to be very good at long range, and from multiple revolvers, and a 44 mag. rifle also.

A Ruger SBH 10.5" barrel, that pistol doesn't have glass on it, but I've shot jack rabbits out past 100 yds. with little trouble before my vision went south. I traded that one for a pristine older Wingmaster, that I traded for a 6.5" SBH.

Now the 7 something inch SRH, Leupold glass, full house 296 loads has shot excellent groups at 100 & 200 yds., also been great on yotes out to 200 yds. with 210 gr. JSP's. On one particular memorable day, I shot a jack rabbit with my scoped SRH from around 150 yds., I laid my pack on the hood of my truck for a rest and drilled him. Turned right around that same day and center punched a coyote at a little over 200 yds., again, rested off the hood of my truck. Those were with the 210 gr. JSP's, Sierra's I believe.

And with the Marlin / Leupold rig, and some 225's was extremely accurate out to 200 - 250 yds.. I could pick off jackies all day long at 200+ yards. I basically stuff them with a full charge of 296, hasn't failed me so far.

Basically, you can't go wrong with a full house 296 / H110 load, topped off with a jacketed 200 - 225 gr. pill. I wouldn't personally waste your time on anything lighter than 200 grs. though, they just don't shoot as well as 200 through 225's. You definitely get higher velocity, but they haven't been as accurate for me.

GS

 

[bluetopper]

Thanks gentlemen, this info helps me a lot.