Using my S&W Model 29, 8 3/8" topped with a Leupold 2X, shooting the 240 grain Hornady XTP's over the maximum charge of Winchester 296 powder, Winchester brass and CCI mag primers. This load will shoot into 2 MOA at 100yards.

I'm sure the load will be effective and any range you are likely to be able to hit something and I assume you that something to be a deer. Practically this means about 125 maybe 150 yards as the bullet drop gets a bit excessive. It is more a function of your skill level and confidence than of ballistic performace. If you can shoot these loads into a 6" circle at 200 yards, the bullet will take down a deer. Now my personal maximum with the .44 magnum is 100 yards. This is the longest shot I have confidence in with my gun and would prefer the range to be shorter. I also prefer the 200 grain XTP for the flatter trajectory but 240's are a great bullet.

Good hunting.

Thanks Courtney, yes the target should be a whitetail deer. I didn't think that the 200 would carry it's energy as well as the heavier slug. I would assume my field maximum to be somewhere around the 100 yard area as well. Shouldn't have to shoot that far where I hunt. Will run a few ballistic charts on that one... thanks again and good hunting.

I'll go to 125 with my 9.5" SRH and 1.5-4x scope. My 7.5" 41 I'll use out to 100, and my 7.5" 45 Colt I'll use to about 100 as well. If you think longer shots are in the work, use it as an excuse to buy and xp-100, they are HUGE fun.

That maximum range will be the distance that you can consistantly keep your shots on a 9" paper plate, without a benchrest, but from sitting, kneeling, offhand and braced, after one quick lap around your truck. I think you will find each position will have a different effective range. Your pistol is sighted, now the shooter. BOL.

If you could get 1400 fps that would drop to about 1000 at 200 yds. Do you consider 1000 effective for deer ?The real test is, as Blackhawk says is your accuracy under field conditions .In my days at metallic silhouette there were many who though that if they could hit the ram at 200 yds they could hunt with it .But it's getting that bullet consistantly into the vitals ,and penetrating ,under field conditions.Set a deer target out,in the woods , in the shade ,partially hidden, up hill,down hill, and see what you can do.You'll probably do it at 100-125 yds.

For me, 100yds is max. w/ the 44mag w/ any load. I think you will see penetration suffer much past 100yds. Do some wetpack penetration test & see?

the effective range is your limitations. at what range can you keep your shots on a paper plate from a hunting position?

Everyone has good answers. I was able to keep 12 out of 12 in a 5 gal bucket at 400 meters from Creedmore position, (Ruger.) The effective range is WAY more then you can hit with reliability. However if I was hunting anything from deer up, I would go to the 300 gr XTP. The 240 has shown too fast expansion, limiting penetration. A heavy bone hit can really mess it up. Both are extremely accurate.
The twist in the S&W doesn't stabilize a bullet until you get to 265 grs. Watch the 240 go down range with a spotting scope and you will see it rotate around it's flight path. Years of watching them in IHMSA shooting brought this to my attention. Going to a heavier bullet cured it. I never seen a Ruger do this but they still shoot better with a heavier bullet.

While the creedmore is a steady shooting position I wouldn't consider it a hunting position. It would take too long to assume the position and once there you will find out how much stuff is in the way. I know you can see the bullet inflight with a good spotting scope but it would take some awfully good eyes (as in superman)to see the actual rotation on the bullet.

Maybe I wasn't clear enough! I was not talking about spin but a yaw around the path that a stable bullet would follow. At times I would see the bullet actually heading for the wrong ram only to return in it's
swing to hit the proper ram. Gets kind of confusing to watch and to call a shot.
Picture it like this; imagine first the straight line path to the target. Then the bullet moving in a spiral around this path.
From the S&W a 300 gr bullet will follow the straight path but the 240 will spiral.