Ruger 99/44 Deerfield will it drop a black bear?

[s2scout]

Will the Ruger 99/44 Deerfield drop a bear, providing of course I hit the bear just right? I was told this semi-auto 44mag will only shoot light loads. I realize there are way better rifle choices for large game but this will be a farting around all purpose kind of rifle. I Need it for target practice and protection from black bear & moutain lion.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

It will work fine. Just use a good bullet like an XTP, Gold Dot, or even better a nosler Partition.

 

[s2scout]

Ruger 99/44 Deerfield will it drop a black bear? Reply to Thread

Thanks much Ben. Any idea what grain weight I should use in this semi-auto?

 

[knoxx45]

Yup

I know an old timer who lives in Maine, and hunts deer and black bear with the old version of the deerfield.

 

[Matt-man]

The manual (click here for a copy in PDF format) has this to say about ammunition:

The RUGER® DEERFIELD® CARBINE relies upon the gases produced from the fired cartridge to cycle the action and is chambered only for the .44 Magnum cartridge. It should not be used with any other .44 caliber ammunition, such as the .44 Special. Most .44 Magnum ammunition factory loaded to U.S. industry specifications is suitable for use. However, “Medium Velocity” nonjacketed ammunition may not produce the volume of gas necessary to consistently cycle the action or give optimum accuracy and is not recommended. Do not use lead bullets -- they will clog the gas port in the barrel and prevent proper action cycling. Aluminum-cased ammunition should not be used, as it may stick in the chamber when fired, resulting in extraction and functioning problems. .44 Magnum cartridges with bullet weights below 215 grains are generally not compatible with the Ruger Deerfield Carbine, and those with bullet weights above 255 grains generally exceed the maximum overall length of 1.610” allowed by U.S. Industry Standards and may not fit into the magazine. Such cartridges at either end of the spectrum of .44 Magnum ammunition loadings should not be used in the Ruger Deerfield Carbine.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

A 245 grain slug will most likeky work the best, as noted in the above post. But as posted above avoid lightweight or lead slugs. Heck, jacketed 300 grain loadings will work fine. They'll just kick a little harder.

An exellent(in my experience anyway) factory round is the speer 270 grain gold dot flat point if it's short enough for your gun.