First 44 mag, load questions

[nmxdaven]

Hey guys. After 10 years of owning simi-auto's (6 total) I finally got my first revolver. I got a Taurus (Yea yea... I love them though!) Tracker in a 4 inch ported after an encounter with a black bear in the woods that got a little too close for my liking. As I'm a complete noobie to the large caliber loads I would appreciate a little help and kindness with my ignorance.

1. First off what would be a good back-pack load for the woods? I have 240 grain soft point rems right now. Is that good enough for a black bear or any other beasts that would like to have me for lunch? I'm not into handloading so if anyone has any off the shelf suggestions it would be very helpful

2. From my first firing yesterday it seems like full mag loads would be a bad idea in a home defense type situation. While the bad guy may be dead, I would figure so would my ears and my neighbor. I couldn't imagine firing this thing indoors with a mag load so I figure a .44 special would be needed. What would be the best SD round in the .44spl?

Thanks for the help!
Cory

 

[Stainz]

Your 240gr SJHP Remi's are fine for woods defenders, if your marksmanship is good - and smallish black bears are your possible targets. The 180gr SJHP UMCs are really hot - probably better for hard to penetrate targets (skulls - hogs). For large cats, probably two-legged ammo is sufficient. Certainly, my choice for home defense is the Speer #4427 200gr low speed .44 Special Gold Dot JHP. You can get it in Speer's 20 rd packs for ~$25; their CCI Blazer (Al cased) boxes ~$30/50; and even from Georgia Arms in new Starline brass it runs less than the Al-cased Blazers (and you gain great brass). It opens to twice it's frontal area by 800 fps incidence in brisket and ballististic gelatin. I've chrono-ed all three loads - and my homebrews (5.7gr Titegroup, Fed LP primer) - to get 870-875 fps from 4" 629 & 629MG. Your Taurus is ported, so the muzzle velocity is likely less. GA Arms also loads .44 Magnum brass with cowboy-ish loads - quite mild - great plinkers. Great folks, too. Good luck - and welcome to the world of revolvers!

Stainz

 

[7.62X25mm]

If you're shooting a bad guy in your home, you're not going to even hear the gun go off.

44 mag. is a poor choice for an apartment or any densely populated area. A 44 Spl w/ JHP would be a better choice, but it's still going to penetrate walls.

44 mag. was the first caliber I got in a handgun, and the first cal. I started reloading. Reloading is this cal. is easy. It's all "eyeball" on the sizing and seating.

44 mag. w/ 4" bbl. is hard to beat. I have a Smith 629 -- my favorite sidearm and the one that stays in the nightstand. (But then I'm out in the boonies and can legally/safely shoot off the porch.)

44 mag w/ 240 SP for bear out in the woods is merely "OK for backup" . . . You'd be better served to avoid bear encounters. "Bear bells" -- and other noise devices warn the bear that you're in the area. The bear would just as soon avoid you too.

Bear defense in a handgun cal. is why they came up with the 454 Casull and the Smith 500.

But 44 mag. is the long-time standby for AK guides and bear defense . . . but they're expecting they can get to the rifle in 45/70 Govt.

 

[abuelo]

nmxdaven
Welcome to THR, glad to have you with us, congrats on your new purchase, and again welcome to the world of the wheel gun. I also shoot and reload the 44. IMO the 240's will be ok for black bear they are not as tough as grizzlies. the idea of using full loads in the house would scare me, 44spcl loads will work. Cowboy loads have enough velocity but are only available with lead bullets, no JHP.

 

[wellthought]

My favorite is Hornady 300gr. JHP XTP. They hit VERY hard and will stop any thing that can walk on the North American continent (even Bigfoot)!

 

[nmxdaven]

Thanks for the reply's!

This gun isn't going to be my first line for home defense but I think ill pick up some of the suggested 44spl just encase.

wellthought: Those 300gr look pretty promising, however will they be too much for the Taurus?

 

[wcwhitey]

Is the Tracker a .44 Special or .44 Magnum, excuse my ignorance. For Black Bears I would go with a solid SWC in both special and magnum. Need penetration for bears.

Aw, the title said magnum so I will assume that is the case. I would check out the UMC, Remington or whatever bargain line of .44 Magnum 240 SWC loadings you can find. Generally they are not full blown magnums but will give an upgrade to most .44 special loadings without the blast and recoil. If you reload I would suggest 10.5 Grains of Unique over a good Keith SWC for magnum and 7.5 grains in the special with the same bullet. Both are classic loading that will penetrate deep and take care of business.

 

[lloveless]

For home defense cci blazer .44 spcl with a 200 gr GDHP, and Corbon .44 spcl 165 gr. HP. fill my Bulldog Charter 2000 and Redhawk.
lloveless