Accurate 44cal deer hunting .
What is you favorite load. Do you like cast bullets or jacket. What weight works best for deer inside 100yrds.
Thaanks

Except for the real fast opening personal defense loads.

I don't think it makes a difference.

I use either 240 grain or 265 grain Hornady jacketed bullet for deer. I like 2400 powder. Deer are easy to kill.

I loaded the Hornady 300-grain XTP over a dose of H-110 the two seasons I hunted Oregon mule deer with a Ruger SBH with 10 1/2-inch barrel and Leupold 2X scope, but never got a shot. My thought was plenty of penetration and a chance for expansion -- and a bullet capable of four-inch groups at 100 yards from field positions.

disappointed in my loads today.
I had some 245gr keith style 255gr lee tumble and 255gr copper coated all were SWC.
I have a Ruger RH. 7 1/2" barrel
All 3 loads were 19grs of 2400. Shot at 50 yrds'
after 20 rounds I took the red dot scope off and tried open sights and could not group that way either.

I cast a Keith 250G. in linotype over a charge of 22G.of 2400 for a MV of 1250.It works.

quote:

I took the red dot scope off and tried open sights and could not group that way either

Try some Jacket bullets you are trying to find out if it the bullets, the gun or you.

Have another known shooter shoot it.

21.0 grains of 2400 with a 240ish cast or 24.0 grains of WW296 with a 240 grain jacketed bullet. Works like a champ.

I load a 265 gr SWC-GC that I buy from Gardner's. WW Super cases, CCI-300 primer, 12.0 gr of Silhouette gives 1125 fps and is the most accurate load I've fired from my 629 Classic.



With my UltraDot 30 sight it will shoot 1.8" 15-shot groups at 25 yards, and sighted 1.5" high at 25 it shoots flat out to 100 yards plus (+/- 2.5 inches).

love those 29's.
im shooting a Ruger SRH 44mag.
I slugged the cylinder earlier and the throat measures .431, OD.
My bullets on hand measure .429 and.430. 245gr SWC.
not sure which way to go for now.
I will slug the barrel next see what I have,

Use any normal load that is most accurate in your gun.
They all will perform well on deer out to 100 yards.
I like Hornady XTP's but have had good results with Speer bullets also.

A nice ,soft Rem. 240 gr. HP over 24.0 gr. WW296 is amazing on deer.
Had penetration problems with XTPs. Never use them.
Old Speer 240 gr. Half jacket are great if you can find any.

thanks for the suggestions. Im going to look around and try to find some larger diameter bullets 240 or 245 gr.
ill pick up a box of jacketed 245 to 265gr if I can find them
Ill try some of the loads listed above see anything works

On another note;
Has someone done any penetration tests on 44 factory loads through bone or layers of plywood.
I am after a load for back up for myself (and other guides)that will penetrate a Buffalo skull at close up, should my (our) rifle be empty or fail.
I am new here, should I start another topic.?

quote:

Originally posted by AusExpress:
On another note;
Has someone done any penetration tests on 44 factory loads through bone or layers of plywood.
I am after a load for back up for myself (and other guides)that will penetrate a Buffalo skull at close up, should my (our) rifle be empty or fail.
I am new here, should I start another topic.?

Buffalo Bore has a new line of Dangerous Game loads for revolvers (and the .45/70) to include a .44 Mag load. They used the excellent LeHigh Defense copper flat-nosed solids. They will be perfect for what you seek. Unlike hardcast bullets, they won’t distort on heavy bone. This would be my recommendation.

I think Buffalo Bore is awesome. I don't have to cast anything until I use up my current three boxes of 300 gr WLN in 45 LC. That might be a long time. I think for the 44 the solids are the thing. Just sight them in and go. But do shoot a bit with the gun when you have the chance. I was ten times the shooter when I expended lots of practice rounds for IDPA. It truly made a difference. Won't tell the story here. Practice will be what you fall back on in an OH ! experience. Right Whitworth? Be Well. Packy

For the penetration factor with my cast linotype loads I used the old wet phone books w/ bones interspersed.I averaged 16" to 18" @ 25 yds.

16" to 18" sounds good. Packy

I have an old Lyman 429421 mold. using WCWW they dropped out at about .432. I pan lubed and shot as cast. Let the cylinder and barrel size them.
Using 2400 I settled an 17.5 grs. It wasn't quite as accurate as the 21 gr load but was easier to shoot.
At 25 yds. Sitting with my wrists on my knees the 21gr load was one hole. and not very ragged.
The 17.5 gr loads was a bit more ragged hole.
As far as penetration goes a deer won't stop one, even end to end. A moose might.
Leo

I loaded up a few loads using 2400, unique, 4227, and H110. 245gr xtp's
Groups were shot at 25yrds And the groups sucked.
the H100 shot the best at about 4" or so.
I loaded 10 more rounds H110 this morning for the range tomorrow morning.
I starting to think it could be the shooter

In my S&W 629 Light Hunter 7.5" barrel:

17.5 gr of 2400
310gr. TrueShot

Very consistent 1,250 fps and plenty accurate for my needs.

I'd feel confident with that on just about anything in NA that doesn't bite back.

rnovie, the 310 gr bullets can you shoot out to about a 100yrds

quote:

Originally posted by hivelosity:
rnovie, the 310 gr bullets can you shoot out to about a 100yrds

Yes. I never had the chance drop any deer with them but I could hold a 5" group at 100 yards with them. It's not hard at all to ring 200 yard steel with it though I should note, I do have a Doctor-style (JP Enterprises 4moa) in place of the rear sight. That sure helps.

PS: Minor correction: True-Shot bullets. https://www.oregontrailbullet....FP-GC-430-p104527519

Power-wise, the ballistics support 650#+ fps at 100 yards. I don't doubt it will punch through a deer or hog.

thanks, I see they are gas check. I have a design from a friend for a mold similar to that bullet.
I will have to order some and try them.