Ruger .44 mag carbine ammo

[TexasPatriot.308]

Got a wild hair while ago and ordered me a Ruger M77/44 carbine from Buds gun shop, should have within a week. I plan on using this rifle for hogs inside 100 yards, just wondering what ammo performs the best in the rotary magazine, especially heavy loads like I plan on using, I already got a .44 mag pistol so wanna use ammo in both firearms that match.

 

[VThillman]

I doubt if it matters, as long as you are talking jacketed bullets. The thing to be aware of is that you will be getting several hundred more fps with the same cartridge when you run it through the rifle.

 

[CraigC]

I like the 270gr Gold Dot for hogs.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

do yall know if the Hornady ammo made for lever actions work in the Ruger rotary magazine

 

[WestKentucky]

Reload. You can build as heavy of a round as you want for the wheelgun, and then use that in the carbine. If it shoots well then great. If not pick another bullet and work it up in the rifle. Or work up in both simultaneously and pick what has the best tradeoff of power and accuracy.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

I've heard from several .44 mag shooters in the know that say Hornady XTP 240 grain ammo is the way to go...meantime am gonna shoot any .44 mag ammo I can find till I find the right one....so many hogs,so many thick covered creek bottoms I wanna hunt next couple months cause you wont catch my ass in that snake infested area when it warms up.

 

[dubbleA]

....so many hogs,so many thick covered creek bottoms I wanna hunt next couple months cause you wont catch my ass in that snake infested area when it warms up.

You'll probably be better off driving to HEB and picking up a few bags of corn and corn the roads then sit back with a AR15 rather than running through brush with a bolt gun hunting pigs......just saying

 

[zerobarrier]

My 77/44 worked well with every type of ammo. I don't think they are picky rifles.

 

[M1key]

If you plan on handloading, try 240 XTP over 24.0 gr of H110. It is listed in my manuals as max for pistols and rifles and shot fine out of my Marlin.

M

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

double A, I have AR10s and an M1A, I got lots of open shots as far as 600 yards or more, the .44 mag was just something I wanted. I kill hogs every day as I feed cattle or check cattle every day and the hogs are everywhere, also got feeders all over the place.

 

[CraigC]

I've heard from several .44 mag shooters in the know that say Hornady XTP 240 grain ammo is the way to go...meantime am gonna shoot any .44 mag ammo I can find till I find the right one....so many hogs,so many thick covered creek bottoms I wanna hunt next couple months cause you wont catch my ass in that snake infested area when it warms up.

I'm not real nuts about the XTP's, especially for hogs and especially with the elevated velocities a rifle puts out. They can and will separate and that's not a good thing with tough hogs. If you're gonna use XTP's, I'd use the 300gr. I prefer Speers because they are bonded. I've had the Gold Dots turn completely inside out without separating. The 270gr is a tough bullet that will not over expand but will penetrate deep and is fully suitable for larger game like elk.

All that said, unless I'm after massive trophy sized hogs, all I use is my standard handload consisting of a 240gr SWC over 10.0gr Unique for 1100fps in sixguns or 1450fps out of my two Marlins. It does a fine job.

 

[nastynatesfish]

I shoot a lot of 200gr xtp. I load some 240gr xtp or nosler jhp and they all shoot well. The 225gr hornady ftx bullets are awesome on a hog

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

bought me a box of 50 Winchester 240 grain JHPs to break rifle in, read a little on em, supposed to be ok for hunting, but for hogs will probably go for Buffalo Bore or Hornady 240 grain XTP and see how they work out, should get my gun this week, should have a couple hogs down by the weekend...go from there...new to a pistol caliber carbine, got to start somewhere

 

[nastynatesfish]

Do t get me wrong...hogs are tough but don't over think it. If your that worried about it get some barnes bullets. I killed this one with a 10/22

 

[Maj Dad]

I tend to prefer the 240 XTPs, but I also want to try the 265 gr Hornady Flat Nose Interlocks (http://www.midwayusa.com/product/605468/hornady-interlock-bullets-44-caliber-430-diameter-265-grain-flat-nose-box-of-100?cm_vc=ProductFinding). I tend to agree with CraigC on the 240 SWC over 10 gr. Unique. That has been my standard 44 Mag load since the 70's, and it has punched big holes in a lot of critters. I use an RCBS Keith style mold that drops linotype at around 245-250, depending on if I throw in some wheel weights, but that bullet won't feed through the magazine of my Rossi M92, so I have to use RNFPs or jacketed (it wouldn't feed ~270 JSPs either). Cast Performance has a 260 Grain Lead Wide Flat Nose Gas Check I want to try eventually (http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1988761786/cast-performance-bullets-44-caliber-430-diameter-260-grain-lead-wide-flat-nose-gas-check?cm_vc=ProductFinding).

 

[Saint Dennis]

I had some of the .265 Hornadys I had bought for the .444 Marlin. I think they put that bullet together just for that round. If they didn't, they hit the nail on the head for the .444. I have the tube fed Ruger carbine, so I loaded some in .44 Mag cases for that. Seem to work real well. I found an article on loading for the Ruger carbine. May have been in Reloader Magazine, cant remember. Interesting reading anyhow.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Prvi makes fantastic 300 gr jsp load that I use in my Vaquero. Out of a rifle it should be devastating. About $35 /50 rounds

300 gr
Muzzle Velocity: 1279 fps
Muzzle Energy: 1095 ft. lbs.

http://www.sgammo.com/product/44-ma...rain-sjfp-soft-point-prvi-partizan-ammo-ppr42

Midway has it too:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/77...-300-grain-semi-jacketed-soft-point-box-of-50

 

[Maj Dad]

Doc, that's cheaper than buying bullets alone - do you know the OAL? My Rossi isn't too fond of long rounds...