Im loking on such gun as a Ranch Rifle. What did it weight, and howe long barrel is it? Does it reload on different ammos? Other pros and cons?

Thanks in advance

Matts

If you are talking about the semi-auto ones from 10-15 years ago I would check it carefully for accuracy. I bought one for use as a kids first deer gun. Best I could make it shoot was 6-8 inches at 50 yds. Pricey too. Sold it a bought a comapct Ruger 308

The original semi-auto 44 Magnum Ruger Carbine was made in the mid 60's.
I weighs just under 6 pounds, it's quick handling and fairly accurate, maybe 2 inches at 100 yards with good reloads.

Very handy little rifle, ideal for close-in (under 100 yards) hunting!

I've had the newer model Ruger .44mag Deerfield for around 4 years now.

It's a short light handy little rifle, that has never jammed once. Accuracy is about 3" at 100yds with well tuned handloads. Trigger is a little creepy & rough.

If your chasing deer in thick brush or out of a tree stand and will be shooting at 100yds & less, its a good rifle.

If given the choice again, (and had to stick with Ruger) I would have went with the Mini-30 or the new 6.8SPC.

There are better semi-auto hunting rifles out there than these, in calibers that get a lot more done, at a lot farther ranges, for just a little bit more money.

Based on my experience, the 44 mag is at its limits when used on whitetail. I have a Marlin carbine and have used it on whitetail but it is not my choice. I would not recomend it on larger game. JMO

you will have better results with a yugoslavian sks. really.

quote:

you will have better results with a yugoslavian sks. really.

I agree.

When I was a kid, my first deer rifle was the Ruger Deerstalker, the old model.
I have also had a Marlin 44 Mag and currently a Winchester Trapper in 44 Mag.

I like a 44 Rifle as I most always carry a 44 Mag revolver when in the field.

I have shot a lot of deer with a 44 rifle, and strangely, only one pig.

I have killed deer as far as 125 yards with the Ruger.

All these 44 Mags shoot about the same, they all had the 1 in 38 twist.

They would shoot a near one hole group to 75 yards, but at 100 yards the groups opened up.

My Winchester shoots the Speer 270 gr and the Federal 300 Cast Core the best at 100 yards
better than the 240gr bullets.

These heavier bullets were not avialable when I had the other rifles.

Out to 100 yards I find the 44 Mag, even with 240 factory ammo to be as good a killer on deer as anything else.

My 44 Win Trapper is a favorite of mine even though I do not hunt with it much, I carry it a lot when traveling and use as a Utility Rifle.

However, as a farm/ranch gun the 44 Mags and esecially a semiauto has a few shortcommings.

First, if you ride around in a truck and see a "pest" you want to shoot a semiauto can eject a spent case and break a mirror or crack a windshield.

Also its accuracy past at 100 yards is not good enough for small critters IMHO... [I do not think a SKS is either, I had one for a while].

What I think would work best is a 18 to 20" bolt action rifle in a calibre suitable for the animals you will be shooting, with a scope in the 2 to 8X power range...

And this is comming from a guy that likes 44 Mag rifles.

For varmints I would pick a 223.

If I was going to be shooting wild pigs, I would pick a 308.

If I was "Sveeeedish" I would think an 18 to 20" 6.5x55 Bolt rifle would be about perfect.

quote:

Originally posted by RREESE:
Based on my experience, the 44 mag is at its limits when used on whitetail. I have a Marlin carbine and have used it on whitetail but it is not my choice. I would not recomend it on larger game. JMO

It mostly depends on the load... I've a friend who used his Marlin in 44 mag, loaded with his own 300gr cast, on a trophy black bear. One shot through the shoulders. DRT.

I own a Ruger 96/44 and handload it with the 265gr Hornady at 1700 fps. Also, the 300gr Speer and Hornady at close to the same MV. More energy and smack than the 30-30 or 35 Remington and makes a bigger hole. True, the range should be kept at 150yds, or less. Brian Pearce has used his on elk to 150 yds. With the right bullet.

Bob

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