Deer Hunting with a 44 mag 7 1/2" redhawk

[beagle]

Deer Hunting with a 44 mag 7 1/2" redhawk

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I've looked thru all the internet boards, and read all the interesting and non-interesting hunting stories.

I've read up on the ballistics provided by bullet mfgs. for all the various hunting loads, and even those ballistics from individuals which reload for themselves...

I've chosen the 240gr jsp for recoil purposes

And I've read all the speculations about this and that till my brain stem started wilting away.

So, I'm turning to you guys for some much needed help.

I generally hunt with a 30-06, but have recently acquired a Scoped Redhawk with the 7.5" barrel.

I've zeroed it for 125yds and get a 4.5" 6-shot grp every time using 240gr JSP on a 9" paper plate.

The bullet would then punch a hole thru a 1 1/2" thick pine board behind the target and lodge itself almost an inch into the tree behind it, well expanded.

I know the accuracy is plenty for hunting at that distance, and I would think that it punching a hole through that 1.5" board and the tree at 125yds shows that it still has enough power to punch thru the hide and thru the vitals on its way out or at least break a bone or two.

Yet I keep reading everywhere I look that it is "only a 100yd round out of a rifle and maybe 65-70yds max out of a handgun"... But from none with any experience past 65yds.

What I want to know is with a well placed shot behind the shoulder... Is there sufficient energy to drop a deer out to 125yds.

It would seem there is, but I want to remain a humane sportsman and get as much info as possible before I do shoot a deer with it.

I shoot both the 240 jsp and 240 jhp and these are the ballistics...

Velocity is around 1080fps @ 100yds
Energy is around 620f/p @ 100 yds

so I'm guessing that @ 125yds, it would be around 1000fps and 525f/p-550f/p.

Am I correct? And if so, wouldn't this be sufficient energy to humanely kill a deer with a well placed shot?

Anyone with any experience please help. It would be much appreciated.

 

[Preacherman]

Yes, it will do the job if you put the bullet in the right place. Personally, I can't hold an accurate enough group with a revolver beyond about 75 yards, so that's the range to which I'd limit my hunting shots: but if you can do it, consistently, at 125 yards, the .44 Magnum has more than enough energy to do the job at that range.

 

[critter]

Listen to preacher. He knows of what he speaks.

The .44 WILL do its job. I have taken both deer and hogs with the load you are using. PLENTY of oomph for those jobs.

 

[mbartel]

Velocity will decrease over distance, but diameter and weight will not. The .44 magnum will cleanly kill at distances well beyond the range at which you can accurately place the shot with a revolver. Especially with heavy cast bullets.

Good hunting...

 

[pcf]

If I preached that a Honda can't be driven on the freeway, because a Porsche is faster, I'd get a funny look.

If I say that a .44mag is inadequate for deer because the .480 Ruger is more powerful, many people will nod their heads in agreement.

It's pretty common for "experts" to judge the merits of a cartridge by comparing to the another more powerful cartridge, with no regard to it's intended purpose. The .44mag is great on deer, must mean that the .454casull is better, and the .500S&W must be gold, must mean that the .44mag is impotent. There're more than a few "Experts" that will tell you that the 500S&W is "adequate" for deer and that a responsible hunter would never consider the .44mag for anything larger than an empty soda can.

Your .44 mag will work fine. At about 100yds a 240gr HP will break both shoulders on a doe. Mind the wind a stiff breeze can push your bullet several inches at 100yds.

 

[Sergeant Sabre]

I personally know two experienced handgun hunters, a Father/Son duo, here in Michigan that have taken whitetail deer at 200 yards with exactly the revolver you are using. Their load was a 300gr Hornady XTP seated long. That is, only seated and crimped into the rear bullet cannelure, therefore allowing for more powder space. It's only do-able in the Ruger revolvers because of the long cylinder that they have.

I figure that if a 300-grainer will do the job with considerable penetration left over at 200yds, as in the case above, your 240 will be more than adequate at 125yds. Just make sure you can hit and the bullet will do the rest.

 

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

I've taken a few Blacktails with .44mag.

I use the 250gn FPJ Sierra or the 300gn SP also from Sierra. 21gns of 296 or 20 of AA#9. I've also taken them with my Lee lead load of 265gns pushed on the rather warm side from both my 5 1/2" Redhawk and my 7 1/2" Blackhawk.

All are quite adequate for Whitetail at the ranges you suggest. Personally, I don't want the expansion of the HP, but rather an entry hole, and an exit hole. Two holes to bleed from. You don't need a hollow point to damage the heart or lungs. But you do need a solid to go through bone at long pistol ranges.

Practice hitting a 6" steel plate at 100 yds. Open sight. It's quite manageble.

-Steve

 

[beagle]

Thanks guys....

I appreciate the wisdom and advice.

I went out this week and got a doe from almost exactly 110yds this week with the Redhawk and the 240s. Put it right behind the shoulder and it exited right behind the shoulder.

It ran about 10yds and folded. It only weighed 85lbs mind you, but that gave me about 45lbs meat and a little more confidence in the Redhawk.

I don't think the results would have been much different on a larger buck, but hopefully I'll get to try it out on one in the next couple of weeks.

Thanks again and have a Merry Christmas.