44 mag for hunting

I recently purchased a Smith and Wesson 629-1 to hunt with. I was told by a friend of mine that it's only good out to 50 yards. I told him that in the right hands it's good out to 200. My shots will be at 100 yards or less. I've already sighted it in at 50 with 3 shots touching. I'm using the Hornady lever reveloution bullets and I think they will do fine on deer but he has me second guessing myself. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Thad

I don't recommend that you shoot game at 200 with a 44 but 100-125 is very possible if it's scoped. With open sights, depending on the light conditions and the amount of cover the animal is in, 50-75 is more realistic. Keep in mind that a game animal is mobile (not static like a target) and they frequently blend in fairly well with their background. The biggest problem in making the longer shots is getting a good sight picture on the animal so you hit where you want. Of course the individual shooter's eyesight plays a big role too. Some are fortunate enough to have very good eyesight. I'm not so lucky.

I forgot to mention that the gun is scoped and i will have a very solid rest. This is the second handgun that I've purchased to hunt with. The first was a contender in 7-30 waters. A gentleman offered me 2 times what I had in it so I sold it. I love shooting handguns and they are easier for me to handle than a rifle since I'm in a wheel chair.

Excellent! I still don't recommend 200 yards. Just take a look at some ballistics tables and you'll quickly see the difficulty. Just a few yards makes a huge difference in where the bullet will impact. It's one thing to shoot steel at known ranges and zeroing for each distance. It's another matter entirely to consistently shoot an animal that far out with a 44.

Just some quick figures.

Ballistic Coefficient: 0.200 G1
Caliber:0.429 in
Bullet Weight: 270.0 gr
Muzzle Velocity: 1250.0 ft/s

Range Drop
(yd) (in)
0 -1.5
25 1.3
50 2.6
75 2.2
100 -0.0
125 -4.2
150 -10.4
175 -18.9
200 -29.8
225 -43.1

Thanks for that info. My shots will be at 100 yards or less. You know how it is when people start saying things they really don't know much about. My friend had me second guessing my purchase. Bought the gun with a 1.5 to 4 Burris scope and holster for $500.I really like the way it shoots and the accuracy is great at 50 but I will sight it in at 100 in the next couple of days. Hopefully next year I can purchase another single shot pistol. I'm thinking about going with a 7-08 since I already have the reloading stuff for that caliber.

I zero my scoped guns at 100 too. What bullet weight are you shooting?

225 Hornady lever reveloution

Being from south Arkansas I can speak on behalf of them Louisiana boys. They can kill a moose with a pea shooter and if you don't believe that then tell me when is the last time you saw a moose in Louisiana?

Thad,

One of more memorable times with Contenders was back, a lot of years ago. We were on an organized prairie dog shoot. I think I was the only one with a handgun. Lots of shots out to 300 yards and more. At the end of the first day, one guy pulled me aside and said "I had no idea that you could do that with a handgun". I can only imagine what he was thinking when we were setting up our guns that morning ;^)

Practice, learn the limitations of you and your gear, and have confidence in yourself.

Craig

I have no problem shooting out to 150 with my .44 mag/red dot site,thats when shooting at a known distance at a stationary target...but just like the tables Gary put up,....I can't tell the difference with my eye sight between 150 and 200 yards and that's a lot of difference in impact point between those two distances when hunting,so I try to make sure I keep my .44 mag. shots to 100 yards or below on game.

The Hornady lever reveloution ammo was ok when it first came out but I quit using it a couple years ago. Had problem with tip falling out of cylinder after a few rounds were fired and jacket comming off the core passing through two pices of cardboard at twenty five yards. I feel the plain XTP is a much better choise today

One good thing where I'm hunting is that I know my distances. My food plot is 100 yards long and my feeder is half way. I also have a 4 wheeler road that is 100 yards from my stand. The deer really don't get in a hurry to cross the food plot or come down the road. There is not a lot of pressure on them. I really appreciate all of the input you have given me. I will be after them this weekend! Thanks.

Good luck - let us know if you get one.

I am shooting a 480 Super RedHawk with a 30mm UltraDot. I shoot on the range to 100 yards warming up for deer season. I can get 2 Inch groups shooting at White Dots that I can center the Red Dot in. In my deer stand it is another world. I have a 100 yard shot to a watering hole on the creek. However I do not feel good about the shot. Like was said above the deer blending in with the background, shadows, and shade. Hunting in the woods has problems you do not notice on a range.
Your food plot should mean no shadows or shade to mess with your sight picture. With you limited to 100 yards, you should be able to make any shot that you can get set up for.
Good luck.

Bob

Thad, Good luck and good huntin.....

Wow 629 with burris for $500.00 you did well. Don't let people who don't really know what a handgun can do talk down to you. My son and I have always had one shot kills on whitetail with a.357 so a .44 will be great. Best of luck hunting.

excellent advice...

Seems like things are working out for me so far. I was able to pick up a TC Encore with a 16 inch barrel today in 7-08. Looks like I will have 2 good guns to hunt with. Thanks for all of your input but if anyone shoots the Encore in 7-08 I would love to hear from you also.