Hello to all, im new to the site and have a few questions that I think are probably old hat to most of you,my gun is ordered and Ill pick it up next weekend.Ive got dies ,brass and some 200 gr xtps that I plan to work up a load with,Ive heard that cast bullets are not a good option for deer and speed goats,if we have any left by the end of winter.Also would any of you know if a 30 mm reddot will fit Rugers stock rings,TCMAN gave me a link to a SRH that appears they will.What do most of you prefer for bullets on the above animals,thanks.

i think 30mm rings are available for it. i'm just not sure where. i'd check ruger.

just about any 44mag bullet will kill deer. use what you prefer.

Welcome to the sight Dave. I can't help you with the rings but when I used my 629 classic for deer I used the Hornady 200 gr. XTP foctory ammo. The longest shot I made on a deer with it was just inside 100 yds. It fell over stone dead. You just gotta put the bullet at the right place.

Yes sir that will sure be the challenge,Ill find a good load for the 200xtp,thinkin on starting with 2400,H110 would probably be too slow with that bullet weight.I loaded for my sons 44 TC with the 265 gr bullet what a wrecking machine that was.For the deer I mean.

Ruger makes a 30mm ring set, but the distance between the rings is only 1-7/8" and some dots won't fit. Leupold also makes 30mm ring sets that fit the Ruger crescent cutouts and they offer an extension ring set which opens that gap up enough for the multi-dot sights.

In my SBHH I found that 300 Gr XTP bullets grouped the best the lighter bullets were all over the place while the heavy bullets had nice tight groups. Try some and see how they do for you

Thanks for the information guys,that is what I was hoping to find out.

Dave ,kinda curious as to why you would think H110 would be too slow for the 200X.T.P.?There are quite a few fellos on this site who use cast for speed goats and deer,a good WFN bullet or hollowpoint will do the job if put in the right place.Greg R. used a cast bullet on a female lope in his handgun video,cast or jacketed are both good choices-it all depends on you and shot placement.

Hi John I was thinking that the 200 gr bullet being kind of light for caliber might have more SD from not burning as well with a light bullet,did that make any sense?Meant standard deviation.

There's a good choice of jacketed bullets available. I'd stay away from the lightest and heaviest .The 225 Barnes works well .Any 240 will do well .The heaviest certainly for my old M29 would be the 270 Swift A-frame or 280 Speer.

Dave,

I will share my personal opinion. I prefer a bullet in the 44 heavier than 240 for hunting. I understand that many many deer, etc. have been killed with the 240. I also have used it. I have had 240 gr Speer GD fail to exit on a broadside hit @ 100 yds. I prefer jacketed bullets but I also prefer "two holes." Thus, I use 250 partitions (no longer available unless you have a supply on hand) or 270s. I also try to limit my shots with a revolver to about 125 yds. Just my personal preferences.

Good luck.

That must have been a pretty hot load for the 240 gr not to exit or am I tinking wrong.I would have no problem using 300 gr gc cast either but have been lead to believe that cast loads are not the ticket for thin skinned game.

Dave, the rings supplied by Ruger for the BHH are 1" rings. You can call Ruger and they will exchange for the 30mm rings (if your trade rings are not damage in any way).

A 240xtp should work very well for your order.

Dave,

As I mentioned, I prefer jacketed. However, there is nothing wrong with cast for deer. Two holes are expected with hard cast bullets. They may go a little way, but they will leave a trail.

With revolvers (all of them) you do not have "high velocity" on your side. Think in terms of the bullet striking @ 1000-1500 fps. A big bullet (diameter) is the ticket IMHO. I also want a blood trail and it often takes an exit for that to occur.

The Sika that I shot @ 100 yds with the 240 GD was knocked down. I hit him a little high but behind the shoulder. He kicked for a minute and jumped up and ran off. No blood anywhere. I will not do that one again. I choose that bullet because it grouped so well. Thus, the shot that was "off" was me, not the load or the revolver. I was planning to shoot him in the neck. However, he was moving his head and I changed my mind. I did not get the crosshairs low enough.

I have had a 300 XTP Mag from a 454 fail to exit when I took a quartering shot on a Axis. He did not go but 18" -- straight down --- but I would have like to have seen an exit.

I do not load my revolvers for speed, rather I load for accuracy. The 240 GD was doing about 1550 from the muzzle of a FA revolver. The 300 Gr XTP Mag is also near 1500 fps from a FA revolver.

Food for thought.

IMHO that bullet is a bit on the light side. I would go 240 grains at least, but that's just me.

I was thinking of the 200 gr bullet to get use to shooting the revolver and then step up to a hunting load,WTROPER you made me smile,considering shooting the Sika in the neck is some kind of confidence.

Dave,

I have hit several in the neck at about that distance --- but they must be still and I have to be on a pretty solid rest. That one would not quit moving.

Everyone is different when it comes to their "shooting habits." Many prefer to practice with lighter loads and hunt with the more powerful ones. I am different. I work up a load for a particular gun. That is all that I shoot in that gun. I like my hunting revolvers (41s, 44s, 454s) to shoot somewhat similar (in trajectory) so that I do not have to think too much when it is time to pull the trigger. I practice a lot and hunt very little. I am fortunate to have a little private shooting range with swinging metal targets (of various sizes and shapes) from 50-300 yds. One of them is a metal cutout of an elk (but about 2/3 size of a mature deer). It is at about 135 yds from the place where I normally shoot. Practicing putting the revolver rounds into a specific place on that metal target and shooting some of the 2 1/2" diamond shaped targets (@ 100 yds or so) will give you the confidence to take the shot when the time comes.

Evenso, none of us are perfect --- especially me. I can miss 'em as good as anyone.

Good shooting.

You and me both. I work up a load and then stick with it -- the only way to get completely familiar with a load is to shoot it, and shoot it often. JMHO.

Ive got a lot of prcticing to do and the 300 gr beartooths got me thinkin pretty hard,goofy thing is I can genneraly hit the fitals of a 3D target with an osage selfbow and cedar shaft at 50 yds but Ive been doing that for over 30 yrs.Taffin was speaking highly of that bullet with a gc for 44s.

My Bisley Hunter loves a 300gr Montana Bullet Works WFNGC bullet and a max charge of H110. It will shoot cloverleafs at 50 yards. I can't put up a photo with this phone, but you can checkout the bragging board in the "gun's n shoot'n" album.