Favorite 44 deer loads

[Takem406]

I don't really want to rifle hunt for deer this fall. It's just getting to be too easy. So I'm planning on my longbow and my Smith 69.
Just wondering what factory hunting loads you prefer for whitetail/mulies.
Are there any lower recoil hunting loads that are still effective?
Thanks

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[Barry the Bear]

A good pet factory load I like is the WWB .44 mag for deer and black bear. Shoots to point of aim in my model 29 and redhawk

 

[gotboostvr]

The WWB 44Mag load is good stuff.
Nothing fancy, but full power and accurate in my firearms.

 

[Hookeye]

Most of my handgun deer were taken w 180 gr JHP on top of max charges of WW 296.
Old Layne Simpson load.........31.5gr.

 

[Hookeye]

Being a 180gr, recoil isn't bad. But blast and roar (concussion) is pretty mean.
My 8 3/8" was like getting swatted in the face with a cookie sheet.
Buddy said it was annoying (outdoors).
Think shorter bbl its actually less annoying concussion wise..........but flame is worse.

Light bullets and ball powder, will get some flame cutting on top strap. It only goes so far and doesn't get worse. Forcing cone erosion can be sped up.

If you shoot a lot, proly need a rebarrel down the road.

Avg shooter proly do fine in their lifetime. Buddy shoots a lot (range in back yard). He had to get a new bbl for his old 6.5".

 

[theleo]

I'd look at the Buffalo Bore reduced recoil rounds for your 69. They show it delivers over 1,200 fps with a 240gr JHP from a 4" 329pd. When Elmer Keith was experimenting with his heavy loads in 44 specials (in prelude to the 44 magnum) the performance he was trying to achieve is pretty much identical to what the BB reduce recoil rounds are. I've worked up to Keith loads in my Black Hawk 44 special (over a 1/4 pound heavier than your 69) and they are still quite a handful with 255gr lead SWC going rite at 1,200 fps. Most guys find that Skeeter loads in the 44 special are a good compromise between recoil for target shooting and performance to kill deer size game. Those are ones that produce about 1,000 fps with 250gr-260gr lead SWC bullets and they will be much more comfortable to shoot in your 69.