(I posted this in the Hunting forum...am new...think it should've gone here)...
I was hunting across from my house 2 years ago with my S&W 8-3/8" barrel 629. I was using Georgia Arms 240 grain JHP .44 Special rounds...had gotten an opened box of that ammo pretty cheap and wanted to try it. I saw 2 does at what I thought was 65 yards; I put the front sight on her shoulder and pulled the trigger. She went down and didn't get up. Being a bit excited, I went out to her, stepping off my short-legged version of yards as I went. When I got to 100, I quit and wondered how my estimation could be so far off. I didn't believe the yardage, so after dragging the deer home, went back with a tape measure...it was exactly 104 yards from where she went down to my blind. The point is that the .44 Spl load was every bit as potent as a Magnum; put her down with one shot! Didn't recover the bullet, as it had gone all the way through her. I still can't believe I made that shot. I've always liked the .44 Spl...now I have one more reason to like it. If I had know she was so far out I would've waited until she was closer, but she turned away so I shot, at what I thought was a decent mid-range distance. Wow! Anyone else out there have a similar .44 Spl experience?

My third longest handgun deer kill was a doe at a lasered 112 yards. .44 Special. I have killed tons of deer with the special, No problem.

Hogs too......

What bullet does the GA Arms ammo use?
Any idea as to the velocity you're getting?
Where did you hit the deer and what organs /bones were struck?

I am very intrigued.

I run a reduced load out of my .44 Mag Mountain Gun that simulates the .44 Special.


8.5gr load of Trail Boss
918 fps
Penetrated: 3 Gallons water @ 7 yards
Expanded: .831"
Length: .473"
Weight Retention: 100%
Accuracy: 1.6" @ 25yrd

Interesting topic. My current loads in the SBH are in the "hot" Special / "mild" Magnum zone. It's just so enjoyable to shoot with loads in that range!

I agree

Think about all the years before the 44 mag and what handgunners used...............

Zee, is that a Lee Bullet or commercial cast?

Ordered them from Matt's Bullets.

I might steal that load for those Matt's HPs. So far they have left me scratching my head trying to figure them out.

What load have you tried? I just put them through two pig hams toady in some media testing and they didn't expand as much as in water. So, I think I can actually push them faster.

Tried Unique, Universal, Longshot so far, haven't got decent groups from any of my Specials. Almost burnt through 500 of them. Was hoping to use them in place of xtps in the specials.

What velocity are you getting?

Don't have a chronograph yet.

Well, I noticed the faster I pushed them, the better the accuracy got.

Thanks, I'll try to up the load a little. I am waiting for a back ordered chronograph. Then I can determine where some of my loads are.