Just bought a like new Ruger deerfield 44 mag carbine and was wondering what would be a good factory load for whitetail deer and pigs.Thanks

I have ;limited hunting experience with teh .44 mag but none of the loads I used failed.

I did sell a Ruger Deerfield to a neighbor when I was 18. That gent has taken at least one deer every year since I sold him that rifle. he has always used factory loads. Deer are not hard to kill. I would use the most accurate load in my rifle. That's at least 29 deer he has harvested.

You have a wonderful rifle. I would advise you find whichever load shoots best in your rifle and use it.

IMHO, it is hard to beat most any factory 240 gn load.

Have got a Winchester 94 in 44 Magnum that I intend to consider using for small deer here in UK. Not quite there with it yet!

However some years ago I acquired a "job lot" of Pachmayr sidemounts and top mounts. The "Swing Off" type.

I believe that one of these is for the Ruger Semi-Automatic 44 or "Deerslayer"? Certainly from the time when Ruger didn't machine the top of that weapon for its ring mounts.

Frustratingly it has not indication on it of what it is for!

Keep your shots to 150 yards or less and stick with 240 grain loadings and deer and pigs both will fold up pretty fast with a good hit. On bigger pigs, 150+, you might limit your shots to 100 yards.

The first few deer I killed were with a Marlin 1894 in 44mag.. I used Norma 240 gr HPTS that were made for a rifle.

I have killed lots of deer with a 44 and I always liked a 240 grain plain Jane soft or hollow point. My favorite is the Remington 240 HP. I use a full load of 2400 and it will hammer deer to about 100 yards. Don't try to stretch it too much.

I have a Marlin lever, Win lever, and a Deerfield Carbine in 44mag. I like shooting deer with 240gr Beartooth cast. All of mine shoot em ok with the Deerfiend the least accurate. Fun rifle! Enjoy it!

Thanks for the good advise. I could not be happier with the Deerfield 44 mag,what a nice little rifle. Included was a extra magazine so I'm set. I really like the fold up peep sight so I think I will use that for now.I had a Ruger 9644 lever years ago and regreted selling it right off. I feel alot better now.The bolt looks like a big brother of the mini-14 so I think the design is good.

I'd suggest the 270 grain Speer Deep curl, or the 240 or 300 grain Hornady XTP. Either are available in loaded ammo from Speer/Hornady.

If you want some premiums they'll work very well like they do in revolvers -- Speer 270 gr "Deep Curl", Barnes all copper 225 gr Corbon DPX, Swift A-frame 280 gr Federal loading

Hornady 240 XTP factory loads willbe excellent in your rifle for deer and pigs.

Larry Gibson

I've taken several Deer with my Ruger Model 77/44 using 23.5 grs/ H-110/ 240 gr. Hornady XTP bullets.

Mojave
I also picked one up this year and with my handloads, the 270 grain speer deep curls seemed to be the most accurate out of my particular rifle. 240 to 270's worked the best though the barnes 225's did not stabilize in my rifle, I think my particular load was not fast enough, going to do more testing with the barnes.

Enjoy the new toy, hope this helps
Matt

Whitetail covers a lot of contry..big 300 pound plus deer or Coues deer of ariz or Texas whitetail that can be massive or in the 60 lb. range..

I had a buddy way back when that had a Ruger auto in 44 magnum and he killed Mule deer with his, but he told me he needed to get within 50 yards or he usually had a tracking job on the bigger bucks..He told me his 218 Bee was a better killer and he sure killed a lot of deer with both..His family owned a huge desert ranch but they were not wealthy by any means, nobody was back then, and they lived on deer meat. Today he is worth more money that Ft. Knox, he sold that ranch for millions, and kept the mineral rights and yep they got oil.

Any load with a 200 to 240 gr bullet will work well on most deer and pigs to 100 yards, a bit further on deer. 150 if you do your part. Bullets any heavier are no advantage.
I like a cast bullet, Lymans 429421 over about 20 grs of 2400 for around 1700-1800 fps out of my Marlin. Any factory load your gun likes. The Winchester 210 gr Silvertips look like a good load.
Leo

quote:

I like a cast bullet, Lymans 429421 over about 20 grs of 2400

PLUS 1, been using that same load for almost 40 years and it is a conistent performer

I have been playing with a pre-remington Marlin 1894 for the last three years and thus far my go to load has been a 240gr gold dot hollow point somewhere in the neighborhood of 1500fps at the muzzle. I am continually amazed at how well it kills inside 50yrds. I haven't taken any game any further than that, but they shoot good on paper at 100yrds. Thus far that bullet has accounted for a couple of black bear in the 250lbs range, several deer, and a couple of feral hogs. Not to mention a bit of pest control here and there.

I have an early Ruger M44 (model before the Deerslayer). Any jacketed HP ammo over 200 gr. will drop a whitetail if you do your part. Personally I would not take a shot past 100-yards.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Atkinson:


He told me his 218 Bee was a better killer (than a 44 mag.).
Ray, If you keep telling stories like this guys like Sea Fire and such are going to stop using the .223 and switch to the .218 for deer as not wanting to be over gunned . Red Elert KB roger

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Atkinson:


He told me his 218 Bee was a better killer (than a 44 mag.).
Ray, If you keep telling stories like this guys like Sea Fire and such are going to stop using the .223 and switch to the .218 for deer as not wanting to be over gunned . Red Elert KB roger

I got my .218 last week.

Dropped many a hog up to 300+ lbs at up to about 100yds. I shoot mostly 300grn Castcore WFNGC at magnum loads out of my Win. Trapper. It just really likes them alot. I also like the 300grn JHP by Nosler. I use the factory sights. For some reason I can just point that girl and shoot. She also has the prettiest Burl stock. Paid 287.00 in 1987. One of my favorite rifles.