.44 mag ammo
#72682
07/25/2010 10:59 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
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Al in OK
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I don't handload, so what suggestions can you give on good deer loads from the factory? I have Hornady XTP 240 grain pills. Any better?
Gun Control - A theory; A belief that a violent predator who ignores the laws prohibiting them from killing their fellow human beings will obey a law telling them they cannot own a gun.
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Re: .44 mag ammo
[Re: Al in OK]
#72686
07/26/2010 12:00 AM
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Joined: Apr 2005
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KRal
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I don't handload, so what suggestions can you give on good deer loads from the factory? I have Hornady XTP 240 grain pills. Any better? I don't think there's a deer around that won't fall to the 240 xtp. You shouldn't need to venture any further....notice I said "need" not "want"...
It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but only 3 for proper trigger squeeze.
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Re: .44 mag ammo
[Re: TCTex.]
#72721
07/26/2010 5:48 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 287
Al in OK
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When I was a kid, I had a Lee handloader for 12 ga. I have'nt done any loading in over 20 years, but I may get into it again some day when I don't have so many kids in the house. LOL. I know the XTP will do the job, if the gun likes them well enough, and should. Just got the gun and have'nt had enough time to really play with it yet. (hate being busy all the time) Just was looking for some factory options. I know a few loaders that may work up some loads for me if I'm not satisfied with these.
Gun Control - A theory; A belief that a violent predator who ignores the laws prohibiting them from killing their fellow human beings will obey a law telling them they cannot own a gun.
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Re: .44 mag ammo
[Re: Al in OK]
#72728
07/26/2010 7:47 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
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bisleyfan44
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Try the Black Hills load using the 240 gr XTP @~1250 fps or so. Very accurate in my 44s. A bit pricey @ $47/50 though.
I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a handgun today.
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Re: .44 mag ammo
[Re: bisleyfan44]
#72732
07/26/2010 10:47 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
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jamesfromjersey
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The 240gr XTP will work just fine and for a little more insurance on those odd angle shots the 300gr XTP should give that much more penetration....Good luck and good hunting.
Life member-NRA-SCI Member-HHI #2900-HHASA #067 Colt-Ruger-Freedom Arms-and S&W Collector Assoc.s "I have more guns then I need but not as many as I want" "Handgun hunters HAVE to be good"
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Re: .44 mag ammo
[Re: jamesfromjersey]
#72739
07/27/2010 12:49 AM
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Whitworth
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The 240gr XTP will work just fine and for a little more insurance on those odd angle shots the 300gr XTP should give that much more penetration....Good luck and good hunting. What he said!
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Re: .44 mag ammo
[Re: Whitworth]
#72770
07/28/2010 10:37 AM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 287
Al in OK
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How much more kick can I expect out of the 300g? the 240 is not unbearable at all but 60 grains can make a big difference. and how bad is the fouling in the hard cast?
Gun Control - A theory; A belief that a violent predator who ignores the laws prohibiting them from killing their fellow human beings will obey a law telling them they cannot own a gun.
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Re: .44 mag ammo
[Re: Al in OK]
#72772
07/28/2010 10:54 AM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,331
TCTex.
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Deep thought, it is definitively manageable, but you know it is there...
I can't believe no one caught my poor math above... The second 100 would cost 21 and the third 100 would cost 42...
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb deciding what to have for dinner. Liberty is a well armed lamb Benjamin Franklin
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Re: .44 mag ammo
[Re: Al in OK]
#72776
07/28/2010 11:30 AM
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Whitworth
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How much more kick can I expect out of the 300g? the 240 is not unbearable at all but 60 grains can make a big difference. and how bad is the fouling in the hard cast? The 300 XTPs in the loaded Hornady ammo is really pretty mild, in my opinion. It is not abusive in the least (maybe my sense of what is abusive and what isn't is a bit skewed). As far as hardcasts fouling, I shoot nearly all hardcast save for a few exceptions, and don't get any lead fouling.
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Re: .44 mag ammo
[Re: Whitworth]
#72800
07/29/2010 1:34 AM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,434
H2OBUG
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The 300 XTP is not bad at all--I can not tell a huge chage from the 240.
To me there is a bigger jump from the 180 to 240 than from the 240 to 300
If it jams force it! If it breaks it needed replacing anyway.
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Re: .44 mag ammo
[Re: H2OBUG]
#72807
07/29/2010 2:12 AM
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Joined: Feb 2008
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H2OBUG
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Using a 3.0 lb gun weight and assuming the 240 @ 1400 and the 300 @ 1100 on the Barsness's index the 300 has 17.4 and the 240 has 18.6 ft-lbs
If it jams force it! If it breaks it needed replacing anyway.
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Re: .44 mag ammo
[Re: H2OBUG]
#72820
07/29/2010 2:01 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 287
Al in OK
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That's all good info guys. Thanks. I'm looking foward to bustin' some deer this year with it. All things considered, I think the 240s will be plenty for whitetail, but I look toward the hardcast 300s for hog. Thanks again, fellas- Al
Gun Control - A theory; A belief that a violent predator who ignores the laws prohibiting them from killing their fellow human beings will obey a law telling them they cannot own a gun.
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Re: .44 mag ammo
[Re: Al in OK]
#72843
07/30/2010 12:26 AM
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Darrell H
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The 240's work on hogs too.
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Re: .44 mag ammo
[Re: Darrell H]
#72865
07/30/2010 5:16 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 287
Al in OK
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Nice, goin'. You guys never cease to making me more excited about handgun hunting. I was getting really disenchanted with hunting. It was getting too easy, and the challenge wasn't there anymore. My rifles will suffer this year for sure. - Al
Gun Control - A theory; A belief that a violent predator who ignores the laws prohibiting them from killing their fellow human beings will obey a law telling them they cannot own a gun.
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Re: .44 mag ammo
[Re: Al in OK]
#72928
08/01/2010 3:53 PM
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Joined: Jun 2008
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wheeler45
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Does anyone have any experience with 180 grain loads for whitetail deer?
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Phil. 4:13
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Re: .44 mag ammo
[Re: wheeler45]
#72930
08/01/2010 5:24 PM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,963
KRal
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Does anyone have any experience with 180 grain loads for whitetail deer? I've killed a few southern whitetails with the Remington UMC 180gr factory loads. Can't complain, all were complete pass thru's with ranges varying from 20-80 yards.
It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but only 3 for proper trigger squeeze.
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Re: .44 mag ammo
[Re: KRal]
#72931
08/01/2010 6:01 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 287
Al in OK
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wheeler45, the 240 gr. seems excessive to me, but I've never hunted with a handgun before. 200gr. was the largest pill I ever tried to give game. I have killed deer with a .223 at 200 yds., so I'm sure it will do the job. Bullet placement is the important part, so practice, practice, practice. I'm finding out that 50 yard shots with a 44 are not as easy as shooting a rifle, so I'm thinking big for bone penetration in case my shot is off. As I get to be a better shot, I may go with a lighter bullet. This year I think the 240.
Gun Control - A theory; A belief that a violent predator who ignores the laws prohibiting them from killing their fellow human beings will obey a law telling them they cannot own a gun.
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Re: .44 mag ammo
[Re: Al in OK]
#72983
08/02/2010 7:11 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
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430man
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The 240 XTP opens too fast and though it kills OK, you can have trouble finding deer because of almost no blood trails. You really want two holes. I shot three deer with the 240 and if I had not seen them fall, I might not have found them because even back tracking showed no blood trail. I shot all three behind the shoulder and never hit a bone. I found all three bullets on the off side. I had to wonder about quartering shots or big bone hits so I went to a heavy WLN or WFN hard cast and will never go back to jacketed. If I had to use jacketed I would use a 300 gr. Here are my three bullets.
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Re: .44 mag ammo
[Re: Al in OK]
#73005
08/03/2010 9:53 AM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,097
jwp475
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wheeler45, the 240 gr. seems excessive to me, but I've never hunted with a handgun before. 200gr. was the largest pill I ever tried to give game. I have killed deer with a .223 at 200 yds., so I'm sure it will do the job. Bullet placement is the important part, so practice, practice, practice. I'm finding out that 50 yard shots with a 44 are not as easy as shooting a rifle, so I'm thinking big for bone penetration in case my shot is off. As I get to be a better shot, I may go with a lighter bullet. This year I think the 240. If you want to use a 200 grain bullet get a 41 mag
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Re: .44 mag ammo
[Re: jwp475]
#73013
08/03/2010 12:50 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 694
430man
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wheeler45, the 240 gr. seems excessive to me, but I've never hunted with a handgun before. 200gr. was the largest pill I ever tried to give game. I have killed deer with a .223 at 200 yds., so I'm sure it will do the job. Bullet placement is the important part, so practice, practice, practice. I'm finding out that 50 yard shots with a 44 are not as easy as shooting a rifle, so I'm thinking big for bone penetration in case my shot is off. As I get to be a better shot, I may go with a lighter bullet. This year I think the 240. This is called wisdom, listen to JWP! If you want to use a 200 grain bullet get a 41 mag
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Re: .44 mag ammo
[Re: 430man]
#73014
08/03/2010 1:05 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Whitworth
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I have to agree. 200 grains is really light for caliber.
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Re: .44 mag ammo
[Re: Whitworth]
#73018
08/03/2010 2:30 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 287
Al in OK
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The more I chat here, the more I think a 300g hard cast would be more appropriate. Is this right? I don't have a problem with heavy loads if that's what I need. Coming from the rifle world into handgun hunting, I just made the statement according to my experiences, And I think all but for the handgun bullet weight I would stand behind it. This will be my first year with a handgun so that's why I'm here. jwp, 430, and Whit, thanks for the input. I need to know these things. There's a big difference between a long gun and a handgun, and some ways of thinking are almost opposite between the two. Having fun figuring it all out tho.
Gun Control - A theory; A belief that a violent predator who ignores the laws prohibiting them from killing their fellow human beings will obey a law telling them they cannot own a gun.
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Re: .44 mag ammo
[Re: Al in OK]
#73035
08/03/2010 8:19 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
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Russell
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For what it's worth, a good 240 - 255 gr cast or jacketed will kill anything you're likly to encounter in Oklahoma. Sierra, Speer, Nosler or Hornady make good jacketed. I 'roll my own' 240 cast or buy Cast Performance 255gr WFN.
It's not the gun, but the man behind it.
Sheriff Russell Cottle, Ret. USMC; 1967-1970; Vietnam-'68-'69
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Re: .44 mag ammo
[Re: Russell]
#73040
08/03/2010 9:56 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 287
Al in OK
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That's one thing Ive wondered also. Does cast have an advantage over jackets?
Gun Control - A theory; A belief that a violent predator who ignores the laws prohibiting them from killing their fellow human beings will obey a law telling them they cannot own a gun.
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Re: .44 mag ammo
[Re: Al in OK]
#73042
08/03/2010 11:53 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
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Russell
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That's the cause of more debates than Carter's got pills! It's been debated/ argued here on more than one occassion. I load both, used both, and have no quams about either one, I prefer cast.
It's not the gun, but the man behind it.
Sheriff Russell Cottle, Ret. USMC; 1967-1970; Vietnam-'68-'69
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Re: .44 mag ammo
[Re: Russell]
#73045
08/04/2010 12:02 AM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 287
Al in OK
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LOL. Figures. I think I'll have some worked up in a few varieties.
Gun Control - A theory; A belief that a violent predator who ignores the laws prohibiting them from killing their fellow human beings will obey a law telling them they cannot own a gun.
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Re: .44 mag ammo
[Re: Al in OK]
#73059
08/04/2010 9:27 AM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,097
jwp475
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Re: .44 mag ammo
[Re: jwp475]
#73068
08/04/2010 1:39 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,836
Whitworth
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Re: .44 mag ammo
[Re: Russell]
#73073
08/04/2010 3:21 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 679
guitarpicva
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That's the cause of more debates than Carter's got pills! It's been debated/ argued here on more than one occassion. I load both, used both, and have no quams about either one, I prefer cast. Hadn't heard that old saying in a long time! Mom would say, "...than Carter's got liver pills...". Thanks for the retro-laugh this morning.
guitarpicva |||||| [o] VA AC4IY ...How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; ... 1 Kings 18
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Re: .44 mag ammo
[Re: guitarpicva]
#73077
08/04/2010 5:24 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 694
430man
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The whole problem here is some expect one bullet to do it all just because it is a revolver. It is the same idea that the twist rate of a revolver can shoot any boolit at any velocity. You would NEVER think like that with a rifle. Shoot chucks with a 40 gr bullet from a 22-250--would you shoot deer with it? The 30-06 and .308 work best with 150 to 165 gr but the .300 will blow meat to mush with them. The wrong bullet in a magnum rifle can actually lose deer for you. Why is the revolver different? The velocity you shoot a bullet is so very important that it can't be sluffed off. Match velocity to bullet construction or match construction to velocity. I will never understand revolver hunters, they get so far out of the loop it is stupid. Some think the best deer killer is a bullet that will blow one water jug up or a pop can sky high. A bullet fully mushroomed is so great and just makes nice pictures. This thing is so complicated I really hate to post about it. Just because an animal is killed does not make bullet choice right because eventually it will fail. Most likely they have already failed but only animals killed are shown. I think like JWP in that a boolit MUST work all the time no matter what size game is shot.
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Re: .44 mag ammo
[Re: Whitworth]
#73080
08/04/2010 6:38 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 287
Al in OK
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Gun Control - A theory; A belief that a violent predator who ignores the laws prohibiting them from killing their fellow human beings will obey a law telling them they cannot own a gun.
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Re: .44 mag ammo
[Re: TCTex.]
#73702
08/22/2010 10:58 AM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 17
CAMski64
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stranger
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I have used the speer gold dot soft point in 270 grain factory. I found thes very accurate and the heavier bullets shoot more accurately in my Redhawk. I also handload for it.
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Re: .44 mag ammo
[Re: jwp475]
#73706
08/22/2010 12:59 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 7
northkid
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A wide meplat makes a large wound channel and does not take a back seat to jacketed
Great pictures. That is what I was going to ask. What cast bullets are you folks using? I see you can buy up to around 440gr ones.
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