44 deer loads

I am going on a handgun hunt in Ill. this year. What ammo do you guys use for these larger deer? (Large for me as I mainly hunt in Florida). I have been using Hornady ammo but they don't seem very hot. I was also recently looking up Buffalo Bore's deer grenade but they are pricey. Also what is a good range to have my scope sighted in for?

Google "Reed's Ammo", they have many heavy loads at affordable prices. With a stout load you should be able to zero @ 100 and be within a couple of inches above line of sight at midway and a few inches below at 125 which is about as far I'd wanna stretch the 44 on deer.

Another source for good and reasonably priced ammo is Double Tap (www.doubletapammo.com). They have a whole bunch of different loads for the .44 that have served me well over the years.

I think the hornady w/300xtp's should do just fine; Lynn Thompson, of Cold Steel, took many Austrian water buffalo with that round.

Do you have an email for doubletap? I sent them a message through there website a few weeks ago and never got a reply.

It's easiest to call them toll free at (866) 357-1066.

You don't need monster bullets for whitetails. Remington 240 gr. HPs are soft, expand well, and are accurate. I've taken a bunch of deer with this bullet. All one shot out to 100 yards.

If you want a factory load I would look at a 240 XTP Hornady-- may also want to look at a premium Federal load

240 gr. PMC Starfire bullets are perrfect for WT deer.

I like the 300gr XTP over 23grs of H110 in my SBBH., but thats just me.

Bioux-yeah! What does that clock over your chrony?

I like heavier bullets as well. They tend to hold their energy downrange better than the lighter bullets. That being said, just about any bullet in the 240 to 300 gr range is going to work just fine.

I would sight in at 100 yards. With either of these bullets this should give you a point blank range of about 120 yards (~ +2.3 @ 60 and -2.6 @ 120) which is farther than I would consider shooting at game. If I had a very steady rest and a calm animal I might consider 100, but I don't think I could make it happen reliably at 120.

The 300gr XTP over 23gr of H110 is the load I have used for many years in a Contender. I love it; the deer, not so much.

Joe W

Lots of good advice here, and they all will do the job. I would suggest picking a few and heading out to the range to see what your gun likes. just my 2 cents...

Great advice!

great advice!!

I run 300 gr xtp out of my SRH because those are what it likes to be feed. "I" sight my in at 75 yards, a couple in low at 100 and an inch high at 50.

I run the 240gr Magtechs threw my sbh becasue that is what THEY like.

The 240s will get-er-done, but the 300s give a little more umph. I just like the little more umph... LOL

Just a plain ole 240 grain cast wheel weight,semi wad cutter drops em like they fell from a tall tree. I have to guess I have killed 50 deer with that bullet loaded to max power level (for lead bullets in any load book). 6" Handgun to 50yds or Marlin 1894 carbine out to 100 yards. Deer are not hard to kill. You just need to hit them in the right spot. You can gut shoot a deer with a cannon and you gonna have to track him. A .222 in the head and he will drop right there.

This has been my experience also, loading them to about 1000-1100fps and they have done the job. I find no reason to push a bullet any faster for whitetails. And, they are cheap to practice with.

I like the 225gr FTX from Hornady, always a pass thru(heart/lung shots) But I can honestly say that all the bullets I have hit a deer with my 44mag have killed them fast. Dead is dead.

Most 240 grain bullets work well but, I'd keep it under 100 yds. Good luck.

i have took all my deer i shot with 44 in 240 gr xtps and win partitions never tracked one if its hit right the will be in your site

For those using the 300 grain XTP in a contender----what crimp groove are you using?

Second-- in the new model barrels the older barrels will not allow--not enough freebore

Both you and grendel listed this load for the 300 grain XTP. But Hodgdon's website lists only 19 grains of H110 as max for this bullet. 23 grains seems like a 240 grain load.
Or is this possible because of using the second crimp groove?

I used to use Winchester platinum tip. They were awsome on deer here in Michigan. I can't find them anymore, so have switched to Hornaday Reverlutions in 225gr. I figure these will be around a while. I have shot deer @ 12-85 yards and all deer have dropped within 30 yards.