hunting load for 44 cal

[pitbull8151]

I am needing a good hunting load for 44 cal. I was thinking of using 180 gr. remington hp.but did not get enough penitration on last kill (deer).
Anyone else use 44 cal for deer? What is your load set up?
Thanks in advance!!

 

[Idano]

pitbull8151,

My favorite load I use for hunting in my Colt Anaconda in 44 mag is a 240 gr JHP driven with 23.4 gr of H110. I haven't chronographed the load but the published velocity is 1336 fps. I don't have experience on deer with it but I do with black bear; four years ago I shot one out at 30 yds. I was going for a chest shot and he ended up dropping his head when I shot so the bullet caught him about 2" from his left nostril and dropped him in his tracks. It's the only load I pack in my 44 mag anymore.

 

[TN Shooter]

Hi PB:

I really like the performance and accuracy of the Horn. 240 gr. XTP bullet. I have heard of stories that the 180 gr. bullet does not penetrate well but I have never tried it myself.

I have good luck with 2400 and H-110 powders- I suggest you try both and find out what your particular firearm likes the best. Typically, my best accuracy has been with the hotter loads in the .44 mag.

Good luck and good hunting,

TS

 

[Walkalong]

19.9 Grs of AA # 9 and 240 Gr. Magtech softpoint. I also like the 270 Gr. Gold Dot soft point and W296, but I do not remember the amount. It will give better penetration than the Magtechs if that is what you are looking for.
This is from a carbine, but I would expect similar results from a pistol.

This load is safe in my carbine. Reduce 10% and work up.

 

[byf43]

I worked up a load to take on a boar hunt in .44 magnum, several years ago, that yields great accuracy and wound up stopping a 265 lb. boar with one shot. Distance. . . 7 feet. Shot entered in the neck and stopped in the left jawbone. That boar dropped like he'd been hit by a freight train!

Here's my (now favorite) load for both my DW 44VH-4 and Marlin 1894S:


Winchester brass
Winchester LP primer
19.5 gr. Alliant 2400 powder
Hornady 240 gr JHP
Moderate crimp

 

[Bula]

Pistol or rifle?
Any 250-310 gr hard cast with a wide meplat should be fine. Try a 250 gr keith on top of 20-21 grains of 2400.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I shoot the .45 Colt, not the .44 Mag, but my preference is always for wide, flatpoint cast bullets. They shoot well, penetrate straight and deep and with their large diameter are just as big as a small-caliber rifle bullet at full expansion.

If you get your wheelweights free, they're a lot cheaper than jacketed bullets, too.

 

[LHB1]

Hunting load for deer and feral hogs in my .44 Mag pistols (S&W M629 Classics): full charge of W296 (check manuals) behind 250 H&G cast bullet or 240 Nosler HP bullet, ignited by Win LP primer. VERY effective and accurate.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB

 

[Brillo]

I shoot 180 gr. Hornady JHP with 30.8 gr H110 CCI 350 primer for hunting all the time. It will knock a deer on its ass out to 100 yards. It is deadly accurate out of my 9 1/2 inch Super Redhawk with a Leupold 2X scope - about 3/4 inch at 50 yards. This is a very stout load so make sure you build up to it in your weapon of choice. The Super Redhawk is a very strong revolver. By the way, the MV is 1810 +/- 15 fps. Recoil and muzzle flash are both grand. Remington 180 gr. JHC are almost as accurate and a lot cheaper.

 

[critter]

I killed a 6-point whitetail this year with my .44 mag Blackhawk Hunter at 65 yards. I used a 240 gr Rem JHP over a good charge of H110 and magnum primers. My gun seems to like heavy bullets and rather warm loads with a good crimp. It is a very accurate load in my gun and did the job as advertised. The recoverd bullet looks like one on a gun magazine ad. It is perfectly expanded and measures nearly 1" any way you measure it. Obviously, I did not get full penetration but, as I said, very effective. Couldn't ask for more.

 

[ATAShooter]

For the 44 mag, I use 240gr Hornady XTP, 12gr of Alliant Herco, Federal No. 150 primer. OAL of 1.57" ( that was seated to cannelure ). This load is also good for silouettes. Out of a S&W 629 with an 8 3/8" barrel it produced 1112.33 avg FPS out of a 24 shot string chrono'd.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Haven't used it on deer yet but I've got a 240gr hard cast over 21gr of AA-9 in Winchester brass and WLP primers. This load is very accurate out of my 7 1/2" SRH and chrono's at 1530fps.