Hardcast for Deer hunting in 44 mag?

[ldlfh7]

I came into a quantity of 44 mag SCW hardcast bullets with a pretty decent sized meplat. They are pretty hard at 18 BNH.
Would these be acceptable for deer hunting?

 

[a98doc]

Yes esp if you and your gun can shoot them well but with a quantity have fun with practice with hunting loads. Good hit placement is the most important thing with bug game. Remember most muzzle loading rifles are not much more then a 44 mag in power.

 

[critter]

I have taken deer with a .45 Colt using hard cast just like what you are considering. They will punch a nice, big ole hole through and through. Short tracking jobs are the norm.

Been a TON of deer taken with similar bullets.

Just place 'em where they should go and you will be golden.

Have fun as handgun hunting is a real hoot!~

 

[Zeke/PA]

Personally, I prefer a Jacketed Hollow Point in the .44 Mag for hunting but I've killed a couple of deer with a cast round ball out of my Ruger Old Army.
As others have stated, CAREFULL shot placement IS the key.

 

[Sav .250]

If you hand load. I`d use them at the range. Hunting. Buy a box. JMO

 

[dprice3844444]

hard cast will work just fine.they were using them in the old days before jacketed bullets were invented.they will do their part,if you do yours

 

[Charles S]

I have never had a problem with hard cast for hunting. Careful placement is the key. If you choose to hit the offside shoulder... you will generally have a very short tracking job. Penetration is not an issue.

 

[cpt-t]

You Bet: I have been using hard cast lead SWC`s and lead RNFP`s for a long time, since I started casting my own in 1971. In 44MAG, 45LC, 45ACP, and 38/357MAG. And shoot hard cast lead bullets 95% of the time even now. And have never had any problems, they work just fine to hunt Deer or Pigs with and will give You all the peneration you need or at least they have for me. I even shoot Hard Cast Lead Bullets most all of the time in my Large Bore Rifles.
ken

 

[reddrumtoo]

yes I've had one shot kills , no tracking w/ proper bullet placement . Penetration is not a problem out of a 7 1/2 " ruger 44 .

 

[jmr40]

On deer size game I'd much prefer a JHP. Penetration isn't a problem on deer and a HP bullet will put one down much faster with the same hit. Hardcast are meant to increase penetration on game animals much larger than deer. Of course it will work, just expect a little more tracking after the shot.

 

[rondog]

I recommend target shooting to see how they perform.

I planned on using LSWC's in my Winchester Trapper for deer, until I tried sighting in with them. The bullets I had have a beveled base instead of flat, and my Winnie hates them. The bullets were hitting all over targets, like minute-of-dinner plate. No consistency whatsoever.

I changed to handloads with Winchester Silvertip hollowpoints that have a concave base, and can put all the shots on a playing card now. Got my deer too, hit exactly where the crosshairs were. Ain't no way I'd have trusted those LSWC's.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

If you hand load. I`d use them at the range. Hunting. Buy a box. JMO

I disagree.
I don't see me ever shooting a deer with a store bought round again. Part of what makes handloading rewarding is taking game with your ammo. I've done it several times now, and can't wait to take one with a bullet I cast myself.

And BTW, I doubt seriously the OP would just go out chasing deer with it without practicing with that load first.

Hardcast are meant to increase penetration on game animals much larger than deer. Of course it will work, just expect a little more tracking after the shot.

I can't out and out say that you're wrong, as I have never shot a deer with a cast lead bullet before, but that is not consistent with reports I have heard from many who have done it. Most I've talked to that have used them say the deer make very few tracks after a 250 grain lead pill through the boiler room.