Hunting Effectiveness of: .44 Magnum, 240 grain, semi-jacketed soft points?

[Southern Shooter]

A .44 Magnum, 240 grain, semi-jacketed soft point moving at 1200-1300 FPS...

QUESTIONS: What are its capabilities in taking down game? What are the limits in terms of types and size of animals?

Is it really a good all-around woods gun for the continental U.S.A.??

Thanks

[mikejonestkd]

The .44 mag is plenty for deer, black bear and any similar sized animal in the lower 48 states. In the hands of an accomplished hunter it could drop just about anything on the planet.

[crghss]

Your biggest limitation is distance. How accurately can you fire the weapon. For most people this under 50 yds, probably less then that. But if you get a longer barrel revolver, 7.5 inches are longer, with a scope then this obviously will increase your range.

What type of hunting will you do? From a stand then you may have a railing to rest on which may increase range a bunch.


I know people have taken black bears in PA with a .357 mag.

Is it really a good all-around woods gun for the continental U.S.A.??

Absolutely!!!

[Southern Shooter]

I have a 1972 production Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 Magnum with a 7 1/2" barrel.

I truly do not have any specific hunting plans with the caliber and gun. I do want to be educated about what it can do with generic 240 grain ammunition up to 300+ grain hard cast ammunition.

[Old Grump]

For the last 10 years my 44 mag deer hunting loads have been Remington 240 gr SJSP. My hand loads for everything else are Kieth style LSWC. I practice at 100 yards and could if I needed to take a deer at that distance but really prefer 60 yards and under. Power and effectiveness has never been a problem.

Groups at 100 yards with my Ruger Super Blackhawk are the same as my BP 50 cal with round ball and my 20 gauge with slugs, 4" groups consistently. Not target accuracy but good enough for hunting. Have never shot a bear with it but I have no doubt it would do the job.

As long as you can shoot that load and hit your mark at hunting distances you are good to go for anything you are likely to find in the lower 48 and most everything north of the border.

[22-rimfire]

I echo the prior comments and the 240 JSP would be my choice. The JSP are my choice with the 41 mag which I prefer. The main limitation is YOU and your ability to shoot at the ranges you hope to encounter game. My rule is small paper plate accuracy at whatever distance I practice as far as hunting, but I do get flyers beyond 60 yds. I keep trying to improve on that.

I would tend to use hard cast bullets if I were hunting bear, any flavor. But in the woods hiking, I would probably have the JSP's loaded in my revolver unless I was in Alaska or large bear territory.

[Southern Shooter]

22-rimfire, you bring up a topic that is in the back of my mind.

"I would tend to use hard cast bullets if I were hunting bear, any flavor. But in the woods hiking, I would probably have the JSP's loaded in my revolver unless I was in Alaska or large bear territory."

In the revolver that I have with the 7 1/2" barrel, would hard-cast rounds in the 240 grain to 300 grain range make the .44 Magnum a viable short-range, "defensive" tool in north/northwestern bear country? Or, would I just be spitting into the wind?

Thanks...

[waterfowler]

Yes I would say so. What kind of game are you talking about?