Hey guys,
I just picked up an old 3 screw 44 from my neighbor. He gave me an old box of Remington 240's also. Took it out to try and bust some jackrabbits that day and hit nothing. Tried to hit a small target at 50 yds or so to see how it grouped, man it was ugly. I pretty much figured it was me that was the problem. I haven't shot a pistol in quite some time. So, I need to re-learn. What's your best advice for hunting scenario type shooting.

First I would get several different types of ammo to try. Then I'd shoot them from a bench rest to see which does the best and to adjust the sights. Next Id carry a stick long enough to use as a steady rest. It could be the gun doesnt "like" the Remington ammo Good luck!

Jason, as Snyper suggested, get it on a bench, shorten up the distances a bit, get a variety of ammo to try and then you will need to site it in. If that doesn't work, give me the pistol!

Get a .22 or a .357 mag and load it with .38 special wadcutters. Learn the basics with that.

Alternatively, get, if you don't have one, a reloading setup and load .44 special target type loads and practice with those.

While I wouldn't say it is impossible for someone to learn accurate revolver shooting with a .44 mag, it sure as hell makes the process more difficult.

Those old Remingtons were loaded very hot. If they are the old lead boolits, they were not very accurate either. The old lubaloy Winchesters were also hot and innaccurate. Back in 1956 I shot a lot of them to get brass. Before you can ever do any good with the gun, you need to first get some better loads. I agree with everyone that you need to shoot from the bench to see what the gun likes and to get used to the recoil. Then shoot a lot of light loads for practice.

Jason, If you intend to hunt with a magnum revolver you must practice a lot. If you are not independantly wealthy then in order to practice a lot with a magnum revolver you must handload. If you intend to load a lot of handgun ammo you will be much, much happier if you buy a progressive press. Load as light as safety and your sights will allow and start at seven yards. When you can shoot a ragged hole from all positions you are ready to move to ten yards, then 15, then 25, and so on. At longer ranges you will want to practice the field positions: standing, kneeling, braced sitting, rollover prone, improvised rest, etc. At any given moment your maximum effective range is wherever you can keep all six shots on a dessert plate. Work your way up the power curve as your skills and tolerance increases, but remember that deer fall over quite neatly if you shoot them through both lungs with a 240 grain SWC @ 900 fps. Welcome back. Good hunting!

Listen to the advice already offered. Get yourself a good .22 rimfire and wear it out. Next go to a .44 or .45 with light loads.

Reload using some 205 grain cast round nose flat points, so you don't confuse them with your hunting loads. Try "maximum" .44 Special loads and work up to "starting" .44 Magnum loads with the same bullet. I'd try 5.5 grains Bullseye, 7.5 or 8.0 grains of Unique or equal grains of 231. The sight adjustments to you hunting load should be your only remaining task. I'd start the full power loads with 10.0 grains of Unique and a 240 grain cast SWC bullet. As mentioned earlier, this level of performance, 1000 fps and 240 grains, will take any deer with ease. Light, 180 grain, to medium, 210 grain, JHPs at 1100 fps and above, will do nicely for lung shots on deer.

Get a .22 caliber revolver and practice.

Instruction....if you have never had any you might think about it. The NRA Basic Pistol Course is the place to start and if you contact the NRA Training Division they can probably give the name of several clubs or instructors in your area who give the course.

"get a .22 and practice"...practice doesn't make perfect...correct practice makes perfect. We have had students in our classes that have been shooting for 20+ years and have come to the instructors after the class saying that they never had shot that well in their entire life.

But do get the .22 and ware it out....Bob

Jason,

When I haven't shot iron sights for awhile (only scopes or shotguns) I'll have a tendency to focus on the target. Or I'll at least let my eye focus drift between the front sight post (where it should remain) and the target.

I also alway load an empty chamber, and spin the cylinder as I close it. That way, I can "see" that I'm flinching or milking the trigger or whatever.

Steve