MY 44 Mag or my 30-30 for the Mulie

[357smallbore]

Ok. Here's the setup. I will be hunting Mulies and Elk in AZ this Fall. I usually use my 06 for the elk. But this year will be different. Been hunting for 35 years so I know the ins and outs of calibers, velocities, energies and such. This is really a loaded question. I have hunted theses critters before with excellent success with said weapons. What would you use and why. I took an elk with the 44 in 1990 at 63 yards. One slug in the lungs and down it went 30 yards away.
The Mulie was dropped with one slug to the neck at 90 yards or so. I think either will do an excellent job out to 150 yards or so. I'd try and keep the 44 at 100 yards.

 

[natman]

I think either will do an excellent job out to 150 yards or so. I'd try and keep the 44 at 100 yards.

You've answered you own question. For deer within 100 yards I'd take the 44. Past that trajectory and velocity are dropping fast, so I'd take the 30-30 if ranges might extend to 150.

My personal preference would be not to use either for elk if I owned a 30-06.

 

[357smallbore]

I've taken 4 elk with the ole 06. 2 cows and 2 bulls. All were shot no further then 225 yards And no less the 175 yards. 5 rounds and 4 critters in the freezer. Used my handloads. 200 grn Nosler Partitions. So I am looking for more challenge. I like the stalk. So I will work in close for the elk and mulies.
Wont pull the trigger if over 100 yards. Will be shooting my handloads. 170 grn jacked soft point.

 

[Boxhead]

I would load the 170 gr Partition and go kill an elk. I am thinking along the same lines for my elk hunt in Colorado this year, maybe my Browning M71 348.

 

[vongh]

Ive used the 30-30 loaded with both 150 grain and 170 grain bullets for mule deer with success in NM.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

I am 61 and until 5 months ago never owned a .44 mag carbine...since then I have bought a new Ruger M77/44 and a Ruger "44 mag carbine" discontinued in the 80s....I kill hogs everyday and the .44 mags have become a favorite for hogs up close....great lil caliber for hogs.

 

[natman]

I've taken 4 elk with the ole 06. 2 cows and 2 bulls. All were shot no further then 225 yards And no less the 175 yards. 5 rounds and 4 critters in the freezer. Used my handloads. 200 grn Nosler Partitions. So I am looking for more challenge. I like the stalk.

I find locating a worthwhile elk sufficiently challenging. I like to make the shot itself as unchallenging as possible.

There's nothing keeping you from stalking in close while you happen to be carrying your 30-06.

 

[Casefull]

No way I would use the 44. Lots more killing ability with the 3030. No offense but I think you are kidding yourself that the 44 would be good to 150 yds. Might get the job done some of the time but not always.

 

[mboylan]

The 44 Magnum is not for taking down 350 pound elk. The other thing is mule deer live in open scrub oak country. Your shots are going to be at 200 yards.

Living conditions are tough for game out here. Game is scarce. A long shot may be your only one.

 

[Hookeye]

People shoot deer to 150 yards here (IND) all the time with .44 magnum rifles.

 

[357smallbore]

I live in Flagstaff. I know the hunting areas like the back of my hand. I’ve shot 6 elk in my time as a hunter. 4 with my Savage 110 in 30-06.
The other two were with my 30-30 and 44. The 30-30 dropped the beast at 70 yards. But it took a second shot to anchor it. Went about 30 yards before piling up on a fallen aspen tree.
Both bullets were recovered in the chest cavity. The 44 slug mushroomed out on the far side of the hide. 63 yard broadside shot. These two calibers are plenty of gun if you can place your shot correctly and
Within the weapons killing range (Elk no further than 100 yards for either) Bullets used were soft points.
As for Mulies. You can stalk them here in Northern AZ fairly easy. And I have taken many with everything from a 243 to 444 Marlin. They hoof out about 200-225 lbs

 

[TimSr]

I'm normally the first guy to jump on marginal calibers, but you are a very experienced hunter, and you have realistic expectations, and a good knowledge of the limitations of both weapons, so I'm in full support. I think 150 yards is realistic, I think the .44 would be more effctive at short distances while the 30-30 would be more effective when you reach out a little bit. Handgunning for whitetails is old news here, and when you put the 44 in a carbine and shoot it over a chrony, it ain't a pistol round! Personally, I'd be using the .06, but I've never taken an elk, so I'd want that longer range option, but you're not gunning for your first one, so why not?

 

[jmr40]

Based on my experience a 44 is just as good, maybe better on anything that walks out to 50-75 yards With better loads I'd feel just as comfortable with a 44 mag as a hot loaded 45-70 on big stuff up close.

But, at least in my experience the 44's aren't nearly as accurate as the 30-30's I've shot. The 75 yard limit is as much due to accuracy as performance. Beyond 75 yards I like the 30-30 a lot better.

I don't consider either ideal BTW. But we don't always have to hunt with the most efficient tool for the job, if you'll enjoy the challenge then go have fun.

 

[Gordon]

30-30 without a doubt, very effective on big deer to at least 200 yards, the .44 mag is a 100 yard rifle in my experience. Sure you can get lucky.

 

[Milt1]

Smallbore, I'm puzzled as to why you're asking the question of which caliber to hunt with. You're just like me in that the stalk is the most exciting part of the hunt and you know you love the handgun so go do your thing!

 

[TimSr]

I was under the impression the .44 was carbine. Now I'm re-reading and am unclear on that. No way I'd shoot to 150 yards with a .44 revolver. Carbine, no problem.

 

[357smallbore]

Tim Sr. The 44 is a 1978 Marlin 1894 rifle

 

[357smallbore]

Milt.
44 is a rifle.

 

[Patocazador]

My personal preference would be not to use either for elk if I owned a 30-06.

I agree with this. Elk tastes to good to mess around with marginal cartridges.

 

[mavracer]

For myself I'd probably take both with me and hunt with the 30-30 if the weather was nice and the 44 if it was bad weather, but my 44 is stainless Rossi and my 30-30 is a Winchester Legendary Lawmen commemorative.

 

[gbran]

Take the '06. It will cover distance and size.