44 mag. for deer.

[birdshot8's]

The last couple of years I have been deer hunting with a Marlin 1894 in 44 mag. I hunt canyons and wheat fields in Nebraska. I often see deer at 1/4 mile or so. I have several rifles and all of them are better suited for the style of hunting I am engaged in. I am not a serious deer hunter, only buy doe tags, so i don't mind if I don't have a shot. I am not sure why I have such a compulsion to hunt with the 1894. Maybe because it's like archery that does not require practice. Any one else using an "odd" rifle?

 

[jmr40]

I usually hunt with a modern bolt gun with the best equipment possible, but on occasion I do the same. I have several leverguns including a Marlin just like yours that are taken when I just want to do it the hard way.

We have a rather long bow season here and while I own a couple of modern compound bows I almost always prefer to use a 50 year old recurve I picked up for next to nothing in a trade years ago.

I don't own a muzzle loader,but if I ever buy one it will be a traditional style rifle, instead of the modern inlines.

I guess I'm either all or nothing. Give me either the most modern synthetic stocked stainless rifle with the best scope I can afford, or the most primative style weapon I can get my hands on. Nothing in between much interests me.

 

[snakeman]

what jmr 40 said

 

[JShirley]

If you don't desperately need the meat to feed your family, there's absolutely nothing wrong with using a tool that forces you to get closer.

John

 

[birdshot8's]

Jmr40, We could be twins seperated at birth. My Herters recurve that I have had since the seventies gets the nod over my PSE. I don't have BP but if i ever do, I am considering a Harpers Ferry flintlock in 75 caliber.

 

[T.R.]

Years ago I was stationed at Travis AF Base in northern California. I hunted coastal blacktails every year with my Marlin in 44MAG. My shots were typically taken at approx 75 - 90 yards after a stalk or ambush situation. Great rifle and cartridge for toppling deer and other animals as well.

Keep hunting with your 44MAG. It's more fun to hunt 'em than to just shoot at longer ranges (in my opinion).

TR

 

[Kachok]

Within 100yd the good ol 44 is a good as it gets, beyond that give me my bolt guns any day. 6.5x55, 30-06, or 308 inside 400yds and 270 WSM beyond that.

 

[Asherdan]

I buy a general zone tag every year just so I can get my 1894-44 out in the manzanita brush and go whomping.

Sighted in the 1895G last Friday for the same purpose.

 

[kyron4]

Here in Indiana we can't use rifle calibers only shotgun or select pistol caliber rifles which makes the .44 mag very popular here. My daughter has used a single shot .44 mag for the last 3 year and has dropped deer dead every year . Shots have been under 100 yds. but that's a norm here .

 

[Bushpilot]

Maybe because it's like archery that does not require practice. Any one else using an "odd" rifle?

I don't know that I would call a Marlin 1894 in 44 mag an "odd" deer rifle. It may not be quite "typical" anymore west of the Mississippi but a 44 caliber lever gun was one of the standard "deer rifles" for ages and one of the most numerous deer-killers of all time. The 44/40, although less powerful than a 44 mag, has dumped literally train loads of deer, year in and year out, even out west. It might be a little bit of a handicap in the west compared to a scoped bolt action but I really wouldn't compare it with a bow or even traditional black powder.

 

[Grumulkin]

I was carrying my Ruger Redhawk in 44 Mag. when I couple of deer. I drew and shot one. A lot of my Africa hunting has been with a handgun but a 460 S&W Magnum has a bit more range and powder than a 44 Mag.

That said, I prefer a rifle with a lot of range since my shots can be up to about 400 yards. My top choices would be things like 257 Weatherby, 300 Weatherby, 270 Winchester, 300 Win. Mag., etc. though I also one time used a 204 Ruger to drill one at 250+ yards.

 

[T.R.]

Lynn Thompson is a world-wide hunter and president of Cold Steel knives. One of his hunting DVDs features Lynn and his 44 MAG revolvers in Australia. He topples dozens of heavy bodied asia water buffalo and feral hogs with his mighty 44 MAG shooting 300 gr bullets by Hornady. The strike power of this ammo is impressive!

44 MAG is far more lethal than mere ballistic paper charts would suggest.

TR

 

[BBQLS1]

.44 Mag is about perfect for where I hunt.

Ever think about a Savage 99? It's a cool old lever in a longer range caliber.

 

[birdshot8's]

I never intended to imply the 44 was odd, but was trying to express it was not a popular choice for the terrian I hunt. Open Western big country, where a bottle neck cartridge makes more sense.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

I cant bowhunt cause of a bad shoulder, but I kill lots of deer and hogs from a tripod stand at the same bow ranges, preferably with my .45 colt Ruger blackhawk, also a .44 mag and I can load the .45 to surpass the .44 mag. makes it a bigger challenge with a pistol compared to a rifle. just makes it more fun, more challenge for me. 300 grain flat nose cast are my bullett of choice, especially for hogs.

 

[huntershooter]

Sure; I'll carry an old '86 Winchester in .33 Win. occasionally.

 

[Skyshot]

The hunt is what we make out of it. It's your hunt and that's what you enjoy,kudos.

 

[Sav .250]

The 44 Mag is not my cup of tea but if it suites the way you like to hunt.....
....... enjoy.

 

[Mauser lover]

Archery doesn't require practice? I may have to take up archery!

I don't deer hunt, but if I did, here in this area of CA, I would use some sort of 9mm carbine. These stupid deer will let you get to within 20 yds of them, and still just look at you. I would use the 9mm simply because ammunition is inexpensive, and it won't really disturb the neighbors too much. Of course.... the ammunition needs to be lead free.

 

[Mauser lover]

Last night I got within 16 yards of a deer, with a weed eater running! Not quite full throttle, but still... I think that I can safely switch from a carbine to a pistol!

 

[Hanshi]

Years ago I killed several deer quite easily with a RSBH and a Marlin 94. Ironically, the longest shot (90 yards) was made with the SBH.

 

[Texan Scott]

Odd confession for a grown man and hunter in the year 2012; I've never actually fired a centerfire bolt action. I LIKE short-range leverguns. I ENJOY getting within 50 yds of my quarry.... AND... I know that if I shot a deer at a quarter mile (which will never happen), I'd have to walk a quarter mile to get it, and drag it another quarter mile just to get back to where I started, plus the distance from there to the truck...

Stupid old joke, but do you know the best place to shoot a deer?

.... 20 feet from the tailgate.

 

[Victor1Echo]

Maybe because it's like archery that does not require practice.

What do you mean? Just walking around the woods with a gun or bow and not planning to shoot anything? Or that archery is really easy? Because I just got an archery deer tag and was expecting it to be way harder than shooting em with my savage 250.

 

[kyron4]

Odd confession for a grown man and hunter in the year 2012; I've never actually fired a centerfire bolt action. I LIKE short-range leverguns. I ENJOY getting within 50 yds of my quarry.... AND... I know that if I shot a deer at a quarter mile (which will never happen), I'd have to walk a quarter mile to get it, and drag it another quarter mile just to get back to where I started, plus the distance from there to the truck...

Stupid old joke, but do you know the best place to shoot a deer?

.... 20 feet from the tailgate.

I like your thinking, as I drag my deer by hand cart , no ATV here; so the closer the better. Makes you wonder how's the better hunter, the guy who hits a deer 400yds. away or the guy who stalks within 50 yds. and takes his ?

 

[birdshot8's]

Victor1Echo, I have always enjoyed the thrill of getting close to a game animal as archery requires. Archery requires practice, hunting experience, and a lot of time in the field to become proficient. Using my 44 I still feel like I need to be more stealthy, than when I am using a flat shooting rifle designed for the plains. I just don't need the many practice repetiitions I require with my bow.