44 Mag Ammo for deer

[billyzink]

I am going to town this weekend to buy a gun, I know it will be a 44 mag and I know it is going to be a Ruger, whichever one feels best in my hand, blackhawk or redhawk. What would be the best store bought ammo for whitetail deer up to whatever range the gun and its owner are capable of shooting? Also what barrell length should I be considering? Thanks

[chuck41]

In a pistol the longer the barrel the better for hunting. I have two Rugers and another one (LC9) on the way. Great guns all. Never had one of their "heavy irons" though. Be anxious to hear how it works out.

[wilmsmeyer]

IMO, even the hottest .44 mag loads using a 240 gr bullet are operating at the lowest end of our old 100 gr BP rifles using sabots and 240-250 gr bullets.

I killed several deer with a .429 240 gr bullet in my thunder hawk. Velocity was a little over 1400 fps at the muzzle with 100 fr FFg. Always got "full" penetration and recovered just about every 240 gr XTP under the hide with little weight loss. One memorable shot was on a nice 10 pt at about 125 yds. Double lunged with this load, he trotted 10 yds and ran around in a few tight circles and dropped.

So, to answer your question, any 240 gr soft point should be very adequate. Anything in the same style but heavier should also be good...and do not rule out hard casts which may be the safest bet as far as bone crunchers and guaranteed 2 holes

[Rifleman]

I have killed over 40 deer with a 44 mag handgun. Have shot several loads and quite frankly every thing I tried killed them dead as a stone. However I really like the Rem 180 gr JHP load in a 6-8 inch revolver. Reason is that it is faster and flatter then the 240 gr and on a moving target it makes a real difference in the lead. The 180 does not always shoot all the way through, but I have always found it on the far side of the animal. I would use it in my 44 rifle as well but the accuracy is just not there in it. But in my revolvers it always shot very well. Longest shot was on the far side of 175 yds and it was DRT. I was getting 1600 fps from a 7.5 Ruger Super Bhawk.

[mike3132]

White box Winchester ammo usually shoots good in most guns. I think it would be my first choice to try. Mike

[thelefthand]

I've had good results with 240 gr XTP, and 250gr Winchester Supreme, but I also agree with Rifleman. About anything will work. Find something that shoots well for you and go with that. Even if it's cast lead.

Don't get all caught up on barrel length either. The main factor with regards to velocity out of a revolver is the cylinder gap. A 6" with a tight gap will shoot a lot faster than a 10" with an average gap.

[deadon]

IIRC Elmer killed everything he shot at with his 240 gr semi wadcutter, punches great holes also. I hand loaded it with 22 grs of 2400 back in the seventies. The powder maker said "only shoot this load with the Ruger Super Blackhawk. Later found out for my Ruger, 18 grs was the accuracy load. With 22 grs there was 18 inches of flame with every shot. Talk about Cool, It was.