.44 mag hunting loads

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JEB

JEB

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i just made my first at handgun hunting last year (a success by the way) with a super blackhawk .44 magnum. in Iowa we are required to use "expanding type ammunition" for deer hunting so i have been using a 240gr XTP and plan on continuing to do so. so far i have been pushing this bullet right at 1400fps. i have been shooting mostly lighter cast loads lately and just yesterday put some of my full power deer loads downrange and they had a lot more blast and recoil than i remembered.

this got me to wondering if all that blast and power was really needed for deer. i have a feeling that it is probably not, but it got me curious as to what you other .44 mag hunters were loading. if any of you wouldnt mind sharing your hunting load it would be verymuch appriciated!
 
You can only kill 'em so dead.
My favorite 44 Magnum load (240 cast SWC) at ~1200 FPS shoots clean through deer.
1100-1200 FPS should be more than enough to do the job.
 
You can only kill 'em so dead.
My favorite 44 Magnum load (240 cast SWC) at ~1200 FPS shoots clean through deer.
1100-1200 FPS should be more than enough to do the job.
Click to expand...

kinda what i was thinking. i have been toying with the idea of dropping the load down to about 1200 fps. i just wonder if i am going to have a problem with under-penetration due to the fact that i have to use expanding bullets.
 
Nope, you can throttle them back to 1000-1200fps and do just fine. If 1000fps doesn't shoot quite flat enough, load them a little faster until they do.
 
The Hornady Manual, specifies 44 Magnum loads for this bullet from 1100 to 1400 F/S.
According to Hornady's own data, this bullet can be effective at velocities from 900 to 1700 F/S.
So, I would be quite confident of effective performance on deer at ~1200 F/S.
 
Do they actually classify an all lead bullet as "non-expanding"? Should be easy to find out.
Click to expand...

couldnt say for sure. all the regulation booklet says is that handguns must use "expanding type ammunition." apart from that there is no ammo requirements (save for caliber). i just figured this requirement ruled out a LSWC since they are designed to make holes, not expand (regardless of whether they do or not).
 
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Well, that's conjecture. One could use a drillbit to "hollowpoint" a lead slug, even just barely cosmetically if they wanted to get all uppity. Most lead slugs (around 10bnh) will "expand" to some degree, depending on what it hits and how hard driven. The bottom line is, lead is much softer than copper (which surrounds lead, save for the leading point in this case). Anyway, seems it'd be pretty easy to find out.
 
My hunting load is 20.5gr of 2400 under the same 240gr XTP you're using. It's just a touch under max. Dead nuts accurate and plenty of oomph from my 7 1/2" super blackhawk.

-MW
 
I don't know for sure but it is my understanding that most states have similar wording and that it is intended to prohibit FMJ's, not cast bullets. If it did, nobody would be able to hunt with a traditional muzzleloader and patched roundball.
 
My hunting load is 20.5gr of 2400 under the same 240gr XTP you're using. It's just a touch under max. Dead nuts accurate and plenty of oomph from my 7 1/2" super blackhawk.

-MW
Click to expand...

Wow! That is my 240 grain XTP load as well. Talk about dead nuts accurate out of my 5.5" SBH. Has some bark, but not enough to hurt ya.

I also load 22.0 grains IMR 4227 with a 240 grain LSWC from MO. Cast, and they are just as accurate, and shoot to the exact same POI/POA as the 240 grain XTP, lucky me.

I would be that "non-expanding" means ball or FMJ.

Another thing about the XTP bullet is that I use them out of my T/C Omega with two pellets 777, and I bet the .45 XTP is moving around 1100 fps or below when it hits the deer, and it has never failed to pass through.

Good luck, OP. I think you'll be fine around 1200 to 1300 for deer. Also try 10.0 grains Unique for around 1200 fps depending on the barrel length.
 
another way to manage recoil is with a different set of grips, or shooting gloves.

murf
 
murf is 100% correct.

When I got my SBH Stainless 5.5" barrel .44 Magnum. I couldn't keep a group @ 25 yards with high powered loads using the western grips. I switched to the Hogue Monogrip, it's ugly, but it helps me control the gun a lot better. Now I can hit out to fifty yards using factory irons pretty good.

Would I rather the gun look all fancy with the wood? Yes.
Do I want to be able hit with my revovler? Yes.

Therefore I have to sacrifice form to function until I get another with a 4 5/8" barrel to shoot puff loads out of. :)
 
1000fps is all that is needed, if you are hunting deer within typical handgun range...out to 100yds.
 
My hunting load is 20.5gr of 2400 under the same 240gr XTP you're using. It's just a touch under max. Dead nuts accurate and plenty of oomph from my 7 1/2" super blackhawk.
Click to expand...

well whadda ya know. that just happens to be the same gun i use and the exact same load!

another way to manage recoil is with a different set of grips, or shooting gloves.
Click to expand...

oddly enough, the recoil is no problem for me. its just the amount of muzzle blast. one of the shots i fired off last season, i didnt have a hood/stocking cap or anything covering my ears and it hurt. not that it was loud and made my ears ring, i actually really figgin hurt. im thinking a load to about 1150-1200 with unique might be a good idea. now i just have to make it to the big city and get me some more bullets.
 
I have a Ruger 44 mag. Bisley Hunter, my favorite hunting load is 22 grs. 4227 pushing a 240 gr. SWC., clocks at around 1100 fps.
Dead nuts accurate load:)
 
I hunt with a SRH in .44mag and my loads, either 240 or 300 grain XTP's are at the high end of the Hornady manual for both, but the gun and I have no issues shooting them.

My Super Blackhawks seems to like the 200 grain XTP's better, but again, they are loaded to the high end.
 
I'm a long time 44 mag. reloading fan and have hunted for years with H110/296 jacketed loads. I usually go with a 200 gr. or 225 gr. out of my SBH and have yet to have deer walk away from a properly placed shot. In fact, they typically hit the ground as though they were hit by an 18 wheeler at 75 MPH.

Another great hunting experience with the 44 mag loads as desribed above, is with a scoped SRH. From a rested position, 200 yd. shots with those loads isn't over challenging for someone who is confident and proficient with such.

A really good method of fine tuning your handgun skills for deer hunting is by hunting coyotes prior to deer season. Although, it doesn't sound like your having any difficulties in this area, it just provides for more hunting time behind the handgun, and is a lot of fun too boot! You should see what a 44 mag will do to a coyote with a JHP and a hefty charge of H110!

GS
 
.44

I use a 7 1/2" bbld Redhawk with 24.7 gr of 296 over a 240 gr Speer Magnum soft point. I've been using this combo since the early to mid 80's.
Manual says it comes out at about 1380.

The magnum soft points seem harder to find locally over the past few years.
 
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