44 mag heavy slugs?
- Thread starter catfish
- Start date
- Status
LAH
Member
Nothing new about this. It's been going on for some time. Are they needed? Probably not. Do they work? Yes. Can they be accurate? Yes.
We sell a lot of over weight bullets as I like to call them. Shooters want them. They have their place too, but while others may need them, I don't. Like you standard weight bullets have worked fine for me. I will admit though I don't hunt big bears, elk, moose and such with a sixgun as there's none around here. I am however around horses and cattle at times so the big bullets would work great there should the need rise.
Since I'm more of a shooter than a hunter a 44 or 45 using a 240-265 gr. bullet at 1200 fps will do anything I need done around here. In fact I could probably do it with a .357-170-K at the same speed or one of the above @ 900 fps. To each his own though. If heavy is what you want, then heavy is what you should shoot. I'm not knocking the big loads at all, I just don't shoot many of them.
We sell a lot of over weight bullets as I like to call them. Shooters want them. They have their place too, but while others may need them, I don't. Like you standard weight bullets have worked fine for me. I will admit though I don't hunt big bears, elk, moose and such with a sixgun as there's none around here. I am however around horses and cattle at times so the big bullets would work great there should the need rise.
Since I'm more of a shooter than a hunter a 44 or 45 using a 240-265 gr. bullet at 1200 fps will do anything I need done around here. In fact I could probably do it with a .357-170-K at the same speed or one of the above @ 900 fps. To each his own though. If heavy is what you want, then heavy is what you should shoot. I'm not knocking the big loads at all, I just don't shoot many of them.
Shooter973
Member
44 mags "heavy slugs"?
I've never understood the desire to throw extra heavy bullets myself. I've been a 44 mag shooter for about 40 yrs and just don't understand the desire to throw a heavier slug at a lower velocity. It's a trade off and I think a bad one. More recoil for a more "Rainbow " like trajactory . I've shot a few Mule deer with my 44's and with 240gr -250 gr bullets have never been able to recover one yet. Thru and thru on every shot. What more can you ask from a Handgun. Most of my 44's "HATE" light weight slugs. Just won't shoot them well at all. Middle weight slugs will do anything that I want done.
I've never understood the desire to throw extra heavy bullets myself. I've been a 44 mag shooter for about 40 yrs and just don't understand the desire to throw a heavier slug at a lower velocity. It's a trade off and I think a bad one. More recoil for a more "Rainbow " like trajactory . I've shot a few Mule deer with my 44's and with 240gr -250 gr bullets have never been able to recover one yet. Thru and thru on every shot. What more can you ask from a Handgun. Most of my 44's "HATE" light weight slugs. Just won't shoot them well at all. Middle weight slugs will do anything that I want done.
Mikul
Member
I play with 300gr LFN bullets. They run 1,320 fps out of my 5-1/2" gun. If that sounds like a lot out of a handgun, you're right. I've never shot more than 60 of them in one sitting.
They have obnoxiuos penetration. I would have a chance against any living thing with one of these although I wouldn't volunteer for a Cape Buffalo hunt with them. I would be very surprised if they wouldn't run bow to stern in a whitetail and exit. I would also be surprised if you'd find all of the bone fragments after that shot. Bon Appetite! This bullet is popular for bear.
The are amusing on steel poppers.
They have obnoxiuos penetration. I would have a chance against any living thing with one of these although I wouldn't volunteer for a Cape Buffalo hunt with them. I would be very surprised if they wouldn't run bow to stern in a whitetail and exit. I would also be surprised if you'd find all of the bone fragments after that shot. Bon Appetite! This bullet is popular for bear.
The are amusing on steel poppers.
Well, obviously different bullets are made for different purposes just like different calibers are used for different purposes.
If you are deer hunting and are presented good broadside shots are close to moderate pistol range, the 240s will work fine.
However how about a raking shot on an elk at 50 yards ?
What about if you were going on a little fishing trip to Alaska and were going to carry your .44 on your belt for the unlikely chance that you might encounter a grizzley ? Would you want all the penetration you can get, or would you be happy with a bullet you know works on deer ?
If you are deer hunting and are presented good broadside shots are close to moderate pistol range, the 240s will work fine.
However how about a raking shot on an elk at 50 yards ?
What about if you were going on a little fishing trip to Alaska and were going to carry your .44 on your belt for the unlikely chance that you might encounter a grizzley ? Would you want all the penetration you can get, or would you be happy with a bullet you know works on deer ?
stans
Member
The 300 grain bullets probably work well on the big game where deep penetration is a must, for deer I don't think you need anything heavier than 240 to 250 grains. I really think the 300 grain loads were first developed for shooting steel targets at long ranges. Yes, they will have a very arched trajectory, but a heavy bullet has greater mass and that means it retains energy at extended ranges.
LAH
Member
Thanks Mike. I sure hope it's warmer in the Lone Star state than here. Things in the hollow are frozzzzzzzzzzzzze. It's so cold my Black Mouth Cur won't keep the bears away from the trash cans. Even the crows are under the bird feeders. Something unheard of in my yard.
Edward429451
member
It wasn't quite 50 yds when I made this shot on an elk. He was hit once through the shoulder, we didn't wait quite long enough to let him bleed out and when we topped the ridge he started getting up. One raking shot anchored him in place and saved us from having to chase him into the night (probably). He was hit good already but I didn't want to take a chance. It was a 300g/320 actual, lead keith bullet at 1401 from a 7.5" RH. The bullet exited and was not recovered. Entered high Exited low, no bones hit.
I think the heavy 44's have their place and extend the versatility of the 44 mag a wee bit more...
P95Carry
Moderator Emeritus
Agreed!
I blame you for my ''heavy trend'' being kicked off
..... since you kindly sent me those samples. Now I have moulds and will pursue that more.I actually have never minded rather marked parabolic trajectories - once sighted for the round ... what is left is excellent terminal energy.
Edward429451
member
(Mr. Burns voice)
Eexcellant.
JohnK
Member
Who says they're moving at a lower velocity?
Loads like Mikul's referenced are moving faster than many factory 240gr 44 Mag loads today. Are the 300's @ 1,300+ needed? Not generally in North America, but they are fun to shoot every once in a while.The bullet that Mike had pictured there is the RCBS 313 that LAH sells as he mentions. I ordered some from Lynn for my 10.5" SBH and it loved them. With 21.5 grains of 296, I was getting a consistent 1430 fps at the muzzle and was shooting groups under 2" with regularity at 100 yards from the bench. That is the most accurate 44 bullet I personally have ever tried. Penetration is way more that adequate with that load on most game. I used it to shoot a whitetail doe last year at about 60 yards. She trotted about 20 yards and fell over, can't ask for much more than that. With the lighter slugs, 240-250, I never could get that gun to shoot groups like it would with Lynns heavier bullet so I stuck with it. I sold that gun last year to a buddy for a low price because he wanted to get into handgun hunting. So, now I need to call Lynn and see what he has for my 41 Hunter. If you haven't tried any of Dry Creeks bullets, I strongly suggest that you give him a call and order some. I have called and bothered him several times and ordered bullets and brass on several occasions and he has always sent the orders out fast and been a great guy to deal with. www.creeker.net
Glenn
Glenn
LAH
Member
Thanks for the kind words Zeus. We started casting this bullet and the results from the field have been great. This is one that can be used on elk and bear from the 44 sixguns. It works great in most 444 rifles also.
- Status
