What do you think is the most versatile bullet to use for the .44 Mag. I plan on target shooting quite a bit and hunting deer and hogs. It would be nice to come up with a load that works for both. I just purchased a Smith & Wesson 629 Classic. I was thinking about buying the Nosler 240gr Sporting Handgun bullets because they are affordable and got a good review on Midway's website. Also what about brass? What brand do you find lasts the longest?

I've owned five .44 mag revolvers and don't ownone anymore as my hands just don't like the recoil.

I had a lot of fun with Hornady's 200 grain XTP for practice with a 44 special load. You must shoot a lot to be proficient with a revolver.

Lead cast also work as thrift is also important.

For hunting however the Hornady 240 grain XTP is an excellent bullet and if you can handle it the 300 grain bullets are also good.....I just couldn't handle them!.....even in a rifle they smacked a bit much!

plus what vapodog just said - if this is your first go with a handgun - go out and but a 22. pistol shooting takes practice practice practice. a 44 is just to much gun for that kind of practice. First you must learn how to shoot a pistol, then you get the 44 going

If you want to target shoot, get a 22 LR handgun as the above posters have said. If your intention is hunting deer, pigs and such, get a 44 Mag. There is nothing to stop you from target shooting with a 44 Mag. but unless you're recoil tolerant, you may tire of it quickly.

As far as most versitile loads, for lead bullets I go with 240 grainers over Unique. For jacketed bulletes, I use either 180 or 240 grain Hornady's with a preference for the 180 grain ones. My powder of choice for jacketed bullets is Blue Dot.

There are a number of ways to deal with recoil. One would be good ear protection and a muzzel brake. Good grips also help; my Ruger Redhawk tore the skin off my hand until I installed Hogue Monogrips. A weight lifters glove on the right hand also is a good way to keep the skin on you hand (it even works with the 500 S&W).

My brass choice with no particular preference would be Remington, Federal, Winchester, Starline or Hornady. I don't think brass choice makes much of a difference.

Thanks for the info. Recoil is not really a problem. Im 22 yrs old and 230 lbs with hoofs for hands. Ive shot a super redhawk and a model 629 and didnt catch myself fliching. Plus the 629 I just bought is ported so that should lessen recoil a little more. I wont be able to shoot it until the ten day waiting period is over and I would like to get some loads worked up for it before I pick it up.

Kind of defeats the purpose trying to work up a load without the gun in hand. I have several .44 mags and they all shoot different loads. What one shoots accurately the others may not. My 300 gr loads are tack drivers in my 629 Magna Classic but don't group that well in my other Smith nor in my SBH. Same with several other loads. I think it is either the 240 gr. Seirra or Speer bullet that is the all around best for all my guns though. Where one particular load shoots well in all of them. Don't have my data handy though so I can't ell you which one it is right now.
Keith

I have been shooting 240 gr JHP XTP 24 gr H110 for 10 years.

Rob, Pistol/revolver shooters tend to shoot a fair amount of ammunition so don't lock yourself into just one bullet early on. I do like the 240 grain weight in my Model 29, 8 3/8" but have also shot heavy cast with excellent results. For me it was the Hornady XTP as my current go to .44Mag bullet, but Nosler makes awesome bullets too!

Good luck and good shooting.

I agree.
Buy yourself a good 22 revolver for practice. Then go to the range at least twice a week and shoot 100 to 200 rounds through it before shooting 50 or 100 through your 44.

A good practice round for the 44 is an Oregon Trail Laser Cast bullet in 200 gr push by some HS-6.

2400 and a 240 grain LSWC is all one needs in the 44. Hollow point bullets and the associated maximum velocities needed to make expansion reliable aren't always necessary when big bullets are in the equation. A moderately fast hard cast SWC will cut a hole through any animal for which the 44 is suited, and it will do it without being pushed to the limit.