jdkelly
Member
I don't have time to work up a hunting load for my S&W 629 before deer season starts. What .44 mag factory loads would you suggest?
Respectfully,
jdkelly
Respectfully,
jdkelly
I don't have time....
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Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
I'd say that a grain or two under the loading manual's max for the bullet you intend to use will serve just fine. I'd load a few for an accuracy test, of course, before doing a whole box.
Generalizing, a grain or two under max is the most accurate, anyway...
Art
Generalizing, a grain or two under max is the most accurate, anyway...
Art
Guns_and_Labs
Member
In factory loads, I've found the Federal 300 grain CastCore work pretty well. The Garrett loads (any of them) are awesome, but pricey.
Powderman
Member
I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) that the Garrett loads are recommended for the Redhawk and SuperRedhawk only. I've heard that they will wreck a SW in short order.
Guns_and_Labs
Member
Nope, the 310 grain .44 Magnum at 1325 fps is good for all steel revolvers.
http://www.garrettcartridges.com/products.asp
jdkelly
Member
Thanks for the infomation.
I'll look into the Federal ammo but the Garrett ammo looks scarey.
Respectfully,
jdkelly
I'll look into the Federal ammo but the Garrett ammo looks scarey.
Respectfully,
jdkelly
RCL
Member
Hornady
Hornady makes some good handgun ammo. I would go with the 240 or 300 for whitetail, depending on the size deer your area has.
https://www.hornady.com/
Hornady makes some good handgun ammo. I would go with the 240 or 300 for whitetail, depending on the size deer your area has.
https://www.hornady.com/
keano44
Member
If you "don't have time" to do the necessary preparations for hunting with a .44 Magnum handgun, (work up a proper load, practice and become confident with the load you settle on for hunting) and you describe certain factory hunting loads as "scary", maybe you should consider leaving the handgun at home until you have more time.
Guns_and_Labs
Member
I dunno...I use them quite a bit, and I still find the Garrett loads scary. How DO they make such a big piece of lead go SO fast?
Al Thompson
Moderator Emeritus
Several friends use the Gold Dot 270 grain loads and report good results. I don't think there are any really bad 240 grain loads with the possible exception of the Remington JHP. No adverse reports, but the bullet looks like it may open a bit quick for me.
I think I am going to try out some by a company called Bruin. They have some Keith bullets that look good.
http://www.bruincartridge.com/
http://www.bruincartridge.com/
Here's a very informative and useful thread about various .44 magnum factory loads:
Thread from TacticalForums
brad cook
Thread from TacticalForums
brad cook
jdkelly
Member
Maybe you should considering leaving your poor judgement at home...
Keano44,
I said, I don't have the time to work up a good load before hunting season. Of late I've been at the range 4 to 6 times a week and shooting 500 to 700 rounds. So no I don't have time to work on .44 mag development, I'm working on other things.
And I didn't say I couldn't shoot, in fact my 629 is a disgustingly accurate handgun, iron sight or scoped.
What I wanted was imput from hunters about their choices in factory ammo. And yeah the big ugly Garrett Cartridges looks scary, so what, that doesn't mean I couldn't X ring it.
Maybe you should considering leaving your poor judgement at home until you have more information.
jdkelly
Keano44,
I said, I don't have the time to work up a good load before hunting season. Of late I've been at the range 4 to 6 times a week and shooting 500 to 700 rounds. So no I don't have time to work on .44 mag development, I'm working on other things.
And I didn't say I couldn't shoot, in fact my 629 is a disgustingly accurate handgun, iron sight or scoped.
What I wanted was imput from hunters about their choices in factory ammo. And yeah the big ugly Garrett Cartridges looks scary, so what, that doesn't mean I couldn't X ring it.
Maybe you should considering leaving your poor judgement at home until you have more information.
jdkelly
keano44
Member
Whether taking the time to work up a proper hunting load, or deciding to use factory ammunition, IMO you still need to take the time to shoot whatever ammo you are going to use BEFORE going hunting. No matter what anyone else could possibly suggest, you still need to try them in YOUR gun before taking it hunting, IMHO. It's irresponsible to take new (different) ammo hunting without knowing exactly what it will do in your gun. You said you didn't have time.
Maybe I don't know you, and the extent of your experience; my reply was based on the information you gave, and I stand by it. It was not meant as an insult; merely an attempt to get you (people) to think about the ethics of possibly taking a shot at a deer with a load whose performance is questionable in their gun. So you can shoot, 500 to 700 rounds a week, and can X-ring the Garrett loads; still doesn't mean you should take new ammo, on the advice of your internet buddies, hunting without putting in the required range time.
If you know your 629 is "disgustingly accurate", just use whatever ammo it has proven to be "disgustingly accurate" with, and you should be OK. This way, the work-up work has already been done, and you won't have to take the time.
Maybe I don't know you, and the extent of your experience; my reply was based on the information you gave, and I stand by it. It was not meant as an insult; merely an attempt to get you (people) to think about the ethics of possibly taking a shot at a deer with a load whose performance is questionable in their gun. So you can shoot, 500 to 700 rounds a week, and can X-ring the Garrett loads; still doesn't mean you should take new ammo, on the advice of your internet buddies, hunting without putting in the required range time.
If you know your 629 is "disgustingly accurate", just use whatever ammo it has proven to be "disgustingly accurate" with, and you should be OK. This way, the work-up work has already been done, and you won't have to take the time.
jdkelly
Member
To imply that one is lacking ethics is insulting...
keano44,
Again, I said the I don't have time
My statement and question were very simple and direct.
I never said, or implied, that I'd take my "internet buddies" advice without filtering it.
I never said, or implied, that I didn't have time to practice.
I never said, or implied, that I was going to take an untried load to the field. These are all YOUR creations, not mine.
And yes, to imply that I lack ethics, as you did, is insulting.
You can stand by what you said, but what you said is irrelevant to what I asked.
I'd like to thank "my internet buddies" who were kind enough to answer my question.
jdkelly
keano44,
Again, I said the I don't have time
and asked for suggestions on factory hunting loads.
My statement and question were very simple and direct.
I never said, or implied, that I'd take my "internet buddies" advice without filtering it.
I never said, or implied, that I didn't have time to practice.
I never said, or implied, that I was going to take an untried load to the field. These are all YOUR creations, not mine.
And yes, to imply that I lack ethics, as you did, is insulting.
You can stand by what you said, but what you said is irrelevant to what I asked.
I'd like to thank "my internet buddies" who were kind enough to answer my question.
jdkelly
keano44
Member
I've re-read this entire thread. I don't see where I've insulted you personally, or made any implications about YOUR ethics. I don't know YOU, jdkelly. I merely replied per the given information. Sorry if I misunderstood. Feel free to disregard any part of my advice which doesn't apply to you.
jdkelly
Member
Keano44,
First, let me thank you for your last post, perhaps we both misunderstood each other.
You implied I might go into the woods unprepared to hunt by not being practiced enough, or are even familiar with the ammunition I will use. Both are hunting ethics violations and were insulting to me.
Were it reversed, perhaps your hackles would be raised too.
Respectfully,
jdkelly
First, let me thank you for your last post, perhaps we both misunderstood each other.
You implied I might go into the woods unprepared to hunt by not being practiced enough, or are even familiar with the ammunition I will use. Both are hunting ethics violations and were insulting to me.
Were it reversed, perhaps your hackles would be raised too.
Respectfully,
jdkelly
Rich K
Member
If I may,last deer season here in Michigan,I shot my deer with a Mod 29 44 Magnum using the Speer 270 gr Gold dot bullet,and it dropped in it's tracks.I was quite satisfied with the results.
jdkelly
Member
How about the story behind the deer?
Rich k,
I'll look into the Speer, thanks. I'd like to hear the story of your deer.
Respectfully,
jdkelly
Rich k,
I'll look into the Speer, thanks. I'd like to hear the story of your deer.
Respectfully,
jdkelly
mohican
Member
What in the heck is factory hunting loads?
Seriously, though
The Winchester Partition HG load with the 250 gr partition would be good (very pricey, in fact, it's outrageous even as a handloading component)
Hornady cartridges with the XTP bullets perform well on deer
Federal had several offerings
Seriously, though
The Winchester Partition HG load with the 250 gr partition would be good (very pricey, in fact, it's outrageous even as a handloading component)
Hornady cartridges with the XTP bullets perform well on deer
Federal had several offerings
haynhogdogger
Member
44 Factory Hunting Loads
Hey JD Ive used the hornady XTP's for a time now on deer and hogs and they perform very well im totally satisfied with thier performance on game. In fact I just used the 240's to put down 2 boars today. Right place right time I guess. Good Luck!!!
Hey JD Ive used the hornady XTP's for a time now on deer and hogs and they perform very well im totally satisfied with thier performance on game. In fact I just used the 240's to put down 2 boars today. Right place right time I guess. Good Luck!!!
jdkelly
Member
Thanks for the advice guys.
mohican and haynhogdogger,
Thanks for your sugestions.
dogger, lets hear the story of your two boars.
I've been working with S&B 240 grain for practice. The S&Bs were priced right so I could shoot several hundred rounds during the last couple weeks.
When I checked into the .44 mag offerings in the local gun shops the only "hunting" loads were the Hornady 240 or 300 grain offerings. So that made my decision pretty easy. I've picked up several boxes of the 300 grain Hornadys yesterday and will start working with them tomorrow.
If I shoot them well, I'll pick up another couple of boxes (5 x $14.95 ouch) and should be all set by Saturday. If not I'll work with the 240 grain Hornadys.
Now if I can just find a deaf dumb and blind buck with no sense of smell I might have a chance.
Respectfully,
jdkelly
mohican and haynhogdogger,
Thanks for your sugestions.
dogger, lets hear the story of your two boars.
I've been working with S&B 240 grain for practice. The S&Bs were priced right so I could shoot several hundred rounds during the last couple weeks.
When I checked into the .44 mag offerings in the local gun shops the only "hunting" loads were the Hornady 240 or 300 grain offerings. So that made my decision pretty easy. I've picked up several boxes of the 300 grain Hornadys yesterday and will start working with them tomorrow.
If I shoot them well, I'll pick up another couple of boxes (5 x $14.95 ouch) and should be all set by Saturday. If not I'll work with the 240 grain Hornadys.
Now if I can just find a deaf dumb and blind buck with no sense of smell I might have a chance.
Respectfully,
jdkelly
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