44 Mag. bullet choices for hunting?
#139373
12/22/2013 1:20 PM
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Joined: Mar 2007
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Bowhunter57
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I've always used JHP bullets for hunting, in various weights. I had a conversation with another handgun hunter that has had some serious success hunting deer with hard cast SWC bullets. This style of bullet was highly recommended by him.
After reloading some 240gr. SWC bullets and sighting them in at the range, they were very accurate. I shot my first deer with them, but was not impressed with the lack of killing power from this bullet style. Shot placement is everything, but I will be going back to the JHP bullets for hunting.
Would you prefer a 180gr. JHP at 1700 f.p.s. or a 240gr. JHP at 1400 f.p.s.? What is your bullet of choice for hunting deer?
Thank you, Bowhunter57
Imagination is more important than knowledge. - Albert Einstein
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Re: 44 Mag. bullet choices for hunting?
[Re: Bowhunter57]
#139375
12/22/2013 1:53 PM
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Joined: Apr 2005
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KRal
Shootist
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I like the 240xtp for deer hunting. I push them with 24grs. of H110.
It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but only 3 for proper trigger squeeze.
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Re: 44 Mag. bullet choices for hunting?
[Re: KRal]
#139378
12/22/2013 3:18 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Whitworth
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In all honesty, a semi-wadcutter will typically have a small meplat. Meplat size determines wound channel size. Not a good example or a large enough sample to draw conclusions in my opinion. For thin-skinned game like deer, I too am apt to using hollow-points, however, I have never shot a deer with a hardcast bullet with a big meplat (around 80%) that wasn't made very aware of my intentions.
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Re: 44 Mag. bullet choices for hunting?
[Re: Bowhunter57]
#139384
12/22/2013 4:31 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,608
s4s4u
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Would you prefer a 180gr. JHP at 1700 f.p.s. or a 240gr. JHP at 1400 f.p.s.?
Leave the lightweights for the smaller calibers. The 44 shines with 240's and up.
Rod, too.
Short cuts often lead to long recoveries.
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Re: 44 Mag. bullet choices for hunting?
[Re: s4s4u]
#139389
12/22/2013 5:09 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,836
Whitworth
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Shootist
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Would you prefer a 180gr. JHP at 1700 f.p.s. or a 240gr. JHP at 1400 f.p.s.?
Leave the lightweights for the smaller calibers. The 44 shines with 240's and up. I agree completely.
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Re: 44 Mag. bullet choices for hunting?
[Re: Whitworth]
#139407
12/22/2013 11:36 PM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9
Bowhunter57
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Thank you, for the replies, gentlemen!
A hunting buddy of mine has three 44 Mags. and they all like the 240gr. JHP bullets, pushed by 2400 or H110. I'll have to purchase a box and get busy reloading.
As soon as I get some reloads sighted in, the coyotes in the area will be doing my "ballistics tests" for me.
Bowhunter57
Imagination is more important than knowledge. - Albert Einstein
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Re: 44 Mag. bullet choices for hunting?
[Re: Bowhunter57]
#139413
12/23/2013 12:19 AM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,048
wvhitman
old hand
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old hand
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Small to medium deer- Rem. 240 gr. HP-very soft and creates a lot of internal damage. Larger deer- Swift 240 gr. HP- very large cavity creating damage, but bullet is bonded so it won't shed the jacket. These have been consistent performers for me. SWCs work best if a lot of bone is hit so the fragments create more damage. The heavier the lead bullet, usually lesser damage in deer.
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Re: 44 Mag. bullet choices for hunting?
[Re: wvhitman]
#139414
12/23/2013 1:01 AM
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,596
racksmasher1
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veteran
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I use the 240 XTP in all 5 of my 44 mags,4 of those loads is with H-110,the last is with 2400.
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Re: 44 Mag. bullet choices for hunting?
[Re: racksmasher1]
#139419
12/23/2013 2:16 AM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,861
Franchise
Distinguished Expert
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Distinguished Expert
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I really like PMC starfires. They create a lot of tissue damage.
The Eyes are Useless, When The Mind Is Blind
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Re: 44 Mag. bullet choices for hunting?
[Re: Franchise]
#139436
12/23/2013 2:31 PM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 386
campbellkids
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I really like shooting 180's for general shooting and small game hunting. I like 300 xtp for big game. They are about the only 44 's on the shelf right now at the gun shops. My 10" sbh loves the 300's, and i loaded them down a tad, but still perform as designed.
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Re: 44 Mag. bullet choices for hunting?
[Re: campbellkids]
#139558
12/26/2013 5:34 AM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 526
sw282
addict
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l killed a half dozen deer w/44 mag over the years. All were broadside shots except 1. All killed w/180s except 1. The exception was butt shot w/240 home cast KT swc and 8gr Unique. Shot downward at an angle the bullet took out one lung and stopped in the heart... The 180s were factory Super Vels...After about a 25-30yr break from handgun hunting l am again in the woods with a 44 mag...l will be using 180 gr factory jhp ammo. All the 180gr kills were thru n thru. Big holes in. Huge holes out..l can no reason to use a heavier bullet on a South Carolina Whitetail
Last edited by sw282; 12/26/2013 5:36 AM.
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Re: 44 Mag. bullet choices for hunting?
[Re: Bowhunter57]
#139571
12/26/2013 3:58 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 259
7P's
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Thank you, for the replies, gentlemen! As soon as I get some reloads sighted in, the coyotes in the area will be doing my "ballistics tests" for me. :)Bowhunter57 Good luck with that. I've been out 3 times this month and on only one occasion did we see a couple coyotes and they never got within "black rifle" range. Hope you have better luck.
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Re: 44 Mag. bullet choices for hunting?
[Re: 7P's]
#139580
12/27/2013 12:25 AM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 50
rleprechaun
journeyman
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journeyman
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I have killed about 30 whitetail deer, a black bear and 2 Russian boar with Hornady 265gr. flat point at 1400fps. Never a failure, best .429 jacketed bullet.
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Re: 44 Mag. bullet choices for hunting?
[Re: rleprechaun]
#139607
12/27/2013 9:10 PM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,280
Sawfish
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Remington 240 gr. JHP makes a superior deer load.
Good Shooting Makes Good Hunting Patron Member NRA; Life Member RMEF, SCI, NSRPA, CRPA: Member, FTRF, HHI #7108, CBA
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Re: 44 Mag. bullet choices for hunting?
[Re: Sawfish]
#139754
01/01/2014 1:08 AM
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Jedagi
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Jedagi
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