Ive shot big bores most my life
Got my first 44 when I was 20.
Now 34 years later my right hand is really bothering me.
Not just from shooting, had an injury 18 years ago chasing a shoplifter (hit ice and slammed into a car at full run)
Probably funny to see, but not at the time.
Now after a shooting session it aches for days.
This last time it may be weeks.

Im wondering if I can download some 44's to shoot at whitetail.
Whats the lowest FPS you would go on a 250 hard cast?
I shoot no more than 50-70 yds. Preferably 45
Im also looking at getting a grip made with more heft to help distribute the recoil.
Id hate to sell this gun, but dang it hurts and I am also a traditional bowhunter and need that hand working at full capacity.


If this is in the wrong forum please move and I apologize.

A 250 at between 800 and 1000 will do fine at the distance's you are talking .You are a traditional bowhunter so getting close and picking your shot is second nature to you. For practice and general shooting go with lighter bullets maybe 180's,not as hard on your hands.By limiting your shot distance's you are just putting the hunt back in hunting .Good luck to you!If you don't already use them Pachmayr decelarators grips help too.

Hey Festus, I feel your pain every time I touch off a box of 416 Rigby's in my 15" Encore. It now wears a JP Howitzer Brake on it, but the recoil is still substantial. I am now in the process of working up some reduced loads for practice cuz my new 12" SSK 416 Rigby will be here soon. It's gonna be my new 'woods walker' for Black Bear, Elk and rogue Tanks! I respect Ernie for all his long range shooting talent, but there ain't nothing like up close and personal!

I'm told the concussion from the JP Howitzer Brake is a bit fierce. What's your opinion of it. I'm thinking of putting one on my Contender .45-70. Its managable, but, arthritis is settling in the fingers and after 5 or 6 rounds my whole hand sings.

jeff

Yep Skeeter type loads will do.

I load my SBH to the 1000 fps range with Universal and a 240 - 250 gr bullet. What junebug says is gospel. 2nd thing. If you where to stand at the kitchen sink and wash dishes by hand in hot water that will help reduce pain. I have been one handed for 66 years, had a broke knuckle or two and arthritis to beat hell. The hot soapy water helps a lot. Good luck , Jerry

I use some large frame .44 Specials to deer and hog hunt. The 255gr CPB over 8.6grs of clays runs a little over 1000fps and kills them both just fine with out beating you up.

This hog fell to one of those loads

Fetus,...read Marshall Stanton's article,....."Handgun Hunting Loads-A Critical View",...that's the beauty of the cast bullet, doesn't have to be driven as fast as jacketed bullets for performance-this article should make ya feel better,...a lot of us are getting older and realize we don't need max loads,....John Taffin has been saying this for a while now-john

So you might also try soaking your hand in hot water and epsom salts after your range session. There is also a cream called Myoflex that helps.

I switched from my ruger redhawk to a gp100 this deer season. The Barnes 140 gr all copper bullet dropped a doe in her tracks at 28 yards on opening day. I had wanted to kill a deer with a 357 for some time but always took my redhawk.

The cost of ammo was one reason I switched. I thought that if I practiced more with the 357 I would be better off using it than my 44 that I did not shoot much even tho I had already killed 6 deer with it.

I did shoot the 357 more often and more accuractely. still plan to hunt with the 44. May but a red dot on it for longer shoots.

x2, Houge tamer grips will help you big time.

As my grampa got older he went to 41mag for deer, he always shot handguns, was ww2, construction whole life so im sure his hands were pretty beat up. He said the 41 was nice n easy to shoot

Jeff, the JP's not too bad as long as you're not sitting beside it!

I fully agree with the other posts here. My 44 and 45 Cold loads are all mid-range with cast bullets. I only use the big Rigby and 375HH for Elk....however, I am in the process of developing some reduced loads that has recoil figures below that of my 375JDJ. My 375 HH currently has a big Fish-gill brake and it recoils with bull bore 300gr like my 14" 44 Mag with maximum loads....not to terrible.

I've found 240-250 grain WFNGC at 1050 fps to be very effective on deer at the ranges you mentioned. You can even take shoulder shots. In fact, I recommend it.
Another very effective lighter load is the 200 grain XTP at 1200 fps for behind the shoulder shots.

You can load each of them 100 fps slower for most of your practice. Consider stopping shooting or switching to a 22 if your wrist starts to hurt at the range. Shoot less with each trip but go more often.