44 deer loads
#92991
10/05/2011 7:01 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 224
GG
OP
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OP
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I am going on a handgun hunt in Ill. this year. What ammo do you guys use for these larger deer? (Large for me as I mainly hunt in Florida). I have been using Hornady ammo but they don't seem very hot. I was also recently looking up Buffalo Bore's deer grenade but they are pricey. Also what is a good range to have my scope sighted in for?
Last edited by GG; 10/05/2011 7:04 PM.
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Re: 44 deer loads
[Re: GG]
#92992
10/05/2011 7:10 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,608
s4s4u
Shootist
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Shootist
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Posts: 9,608 |
Google "Reed's Ammo", they have many heavy loads at affordable prices. With a stout load you should be able to zero @ 100 and be within a couple of inches above line of sight at midway and a few inches below at 125 which is about as far I'd wanna stretch the 44 on deer.
Rod, too.
Short cuts often lead to long recoveries.
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Re: 44 deer loads
[Re: s4s4u]
#92993
10/05/2011 7:22 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,836
Whitworth
Shootist
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Shootist
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Posts: 9,836 |
Another source for good and reasonably priced ammo is Double Tap (www.doubletapammo.com). They have a whole bunch of different loads for the .44 that have served me well over the years.
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Re: 44 deer loads
[Re: Whitworth]
#92995
10/05/2011 7:26 PM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,963
KRal
Shootist
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Shootist
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I think the hornady w/300xtp's should do just fine; Lynn Thompson, of Cold Steel, took many Austrian water buffalo with that round.
It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but only 3 for proper trigger squeeze.
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Re: 44 deer loads
[Re: KRal]
#93019
10/06/2011 12:34 AM
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 172
claytonfaulkner
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member
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Do you have an email for doubletap? I sent them a message through there website a few weeks ago and never got a reply.
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Re: 44 deer loads
[Re: claytonfaulkner]
#93022
10/06/2011 12:54 AM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,836
Whitworth
Shootist
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Shootist
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It's easiest to call them toll free at (866) 357-1066.
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Re: 44 deer loads
[Re: Whitworth]
#93024
10/06/2011 1:30 AM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,048
wvhitman
old hand
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old hand
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You don't need monster bullets for whitetails. Remington 240 gr. HPs are soft, expand well, and are accurate. I've taken a bunch of deer with this bullet. All one shot out to 100 yards.
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Re: 44 deer loads
[Re: wvhitman]
#93025
10/06/2011 1:38 AM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,434
H2OBUG
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Feb 2008
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If you want a factory load I would look at a 240 XTP Hornady-- may also want to look at a premium Federal load
If it jams force it! If it breaks it needed replacing anyway.
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Re: 44 deer loads
[Re: H2OBUG]
#93026
10/06/2011 2:25 AM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,861
Franchise
Distinguished Expert
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Distinguished Expert
Joined: Dec 2008
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240 gr. PMC Starfire bullets are perrfect for WT deer.
The Eyes are Useless, When The Mind Is Blind
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Re: 44 deer loads
[Re: Franchise]
#93027
10/06/2011 2:49 AM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 241
Grendel
enthusiast
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enthusiast
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I like the 300gr XTP over 23grs of H110 in my SBBH., but thats just me.
"Aim small, miss small"
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Re: 44 deer loads
[Re: Grendel]
#93028
10/06/2011 3:02 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,608
s4s4u
Shootist
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Shootist
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I like the 300gr XTP over 23grs of H110 in my SBBH., but thats just me. Bioux-yeah! What does that clock over your chrony?
Rod, too.
Short cuts often lead to long recoveries.
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Re: 44 deer loads
[Re: Grendel]
#93029
10/06/2011 3:06 AM
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 738
98Redline
old hand
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old hand
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I like heavier bullets as well. They tend to hold their energy downrange better than the lighter bullets. That being said, just about any bullet in the 240 to 300 gr range is going to work just fine.
I would sight in at 100 yards. With either of these bullets this should give you a point blank range of about 120 yards (~ +2.3 @ 60 and -2.6 @ 120) which is farther than I would consider shooting at game. If I had a very steady rest and a calm animal I might consider 100, but I don't think I could make it happen reliably at 120.
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Re: 44 deer loads
[Re: Grendel]
#93039
10/06/2011 2:45 PM
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 113
esoxman50
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member
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The 300gr XTP over 23gr of H110 is the load I have used for many years in a Contender. I love it; the deer, not so much.
Joe W
Last edited by esoxman50; 10/06/2011 2:46 PM. Reason: bad spelling
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Re: 44 deer loads
[Re: esoxman50]
#93043
10/06/2011 3:31 PM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 222
wizzard
enthusiast
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enthusiast
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Lots of good advice here, and they all will do the job. I would suggest picking a few and heading out to the range to see what your gun likes. just my 2 cents...
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Re: 44 deer loads
[Re: wizzard]
#93044
10/06/2011 4:07 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,836
Whitworth
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Lots of good advice here, and they all will do the job. I would suggest picking a few and heading out to the range to see what your gun likes. just my 2 cents... Great advice!
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Re: 44 deer loads
[Re: Whitworth]
#93045
10/06/2011 4:36 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,331
TCTex.
Shootist
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great advice!!
I run 300 gr xtp out of my SRH because those are what it likes to be feed. "I" sight my in at 75 yards, a couple in low at 100 and an inch high at 50.
I run the 240gr Magtechs threw my sbh becasue that is what THEY like.
The 240s will get-er-done, but the 300s give a little more umph. I just like the little more umph... LOL
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 deer loads
[Re: Grendel]
#93132
10/08/2011 8:59 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 51
WM5L
journeyman
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journeyman
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Just a plain ole 240 grain cast wheel weight,semi wad cutter drops em like they fell from a tall tree. I have to guess I have killed 50 deer with that bullet loaded to max power level (for lead bullets in any load book). 6" Handgun to 50yds or Marlin 1894 carbine out to 100 yards. Deer are not hard to kill. You just need to hit them in the right spot. You can gut shoot a deer with a cannon and you gonna have to track him. A .222 in the head and he will drop right there.
Last edited by WM5L; 10/08/2011 9:00 PM.
MAN that is a big hole,what did you shoot him with?
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Re: 44 deer loads
[Re: WM5L]
#96099
11/25/2011 5:13 AM
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 186
jwarren
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member
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Just a plain ole 240 grain cast wheel weight,semi wad cutter drops em like they fell from a tall tree. I have to guess I have killed 50 deer with that bullet loaded to max power level (for lead bullets in any load book). 6" Handgun to 50yds or Marlin 1894 carbine out to 100 yards. Deer are not hard to kill. You just need to hit them in the right spot. You can gut shoot a deer with a cannon and you gonna have to track him. A .222 in the head and he will drop right there. This has been my experience also, loading them to about 1000-1100fps and they have done the job. I find no reason to push a bullet any faster for whitetails. And, they are cheap to practice with.
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Re: 44 deer loads
[Re: Grendel]
#96127
11/25/2011 9:39 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 9
mrfry
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 9 |
I like the 225gr FTX from Hornady, always a pass thru(heart/lung shots) But I can honestly say that all the bullets I have hit a deer with my 44mag have killed them fast. Dead is dead.
60% of the time it works every time....
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Re: 44 deer loads
[Re: Grendel]
#96133
11/25/2011 10:27 PM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 107
flingwinger
member
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member
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Posts: 107 |
Most 240 grain bullets work well but, I'd keep it under 100 yds. Good luck.
Semper Fi (K9XXY).
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Re: 44 deer loads
[Re: flingwinger]
#96138
11/25/2011 10:50 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 998
dc74
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 998 |
i have took all my deer i shot with 44 in 240 gr xtps and win partitions never tracked one if its hit right the will be in your site
Last edited by dc74; 11/25/2011 10:50 PM.
shoot it if its still coming shot it again!!!
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Re: 44 deer loads
[Re: dc74]
#96176
11/26/2011 8:40 PM
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 36
doulos
newbie
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newbie
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 36 |
For those using the 300 grain XTP in a contender----what crimp groove are you using?
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Re: 44 deer loads
[Re: doulos]
#96186
11/26/2011 9:29 PM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,434
H2OBUG
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,434 |
Second-- in the new model barrels the older barrels will not allow--not enough freebore
If it jams force it! If it breaks it needed replacing anyway.
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Re: 44 deer loads
[Re: esoxman50]
#96399
11/29/2011 2:29 PM
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 36
doulos
newbie
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newbie
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The 300gr XTP over 23gr of H110 is the load I have used for many years in a Contender. I love it; the deer, not so much.
Joe W Both you and grendel listed this load for the 300 grain XTP. But Hodgdon's website lists only 19 grains of H110 as max for this bullet. 23 grains seems like a 240 grain load. Or is this possible because of using the second crimp groove?
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Re: 44 deer loads
[Re: Grendel]
#96836
12/04/2011 6:02 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 31
hfischer
newbie
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newbie
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I used to use Winchester platinum tip. They were awsome on deer here in Michigan. I can't find them anymore, so have switched to Hornaday Reverlutions in 225gr. I figure these will be around a while. I have shot deer @ 12-85 yards and all deer have dropped within 30 yards.
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