Anyone kill a deer with a 44 Mag rifle? - Page 2

Snyper · September 16, 2015, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Grandma gets a 220 lb bear with Ruger 44 mag rifle !

It would take 4 of him to match the one killed not far from here a few years ago, but the guy used a 12 GA with slugs on the big boy.

http://www.americanbear.org/Size.htm

Quote:

What is the record weight of an American black bear?
The world record weight for an American black bear is 880 pounds. This was the recorded weight of a 10.75 year-old male bear shot in North Carolina in November 1998.

I'd want some 300 grain XTP's in my Marlin 1894S for one that size.
Most any good 44 bullet will handle deer quite well

bamaranger · September 18, 2015, 01:01 AM

From a carbine, my experience is that the 180 XTP is too soft, and borders on frangible, especially at closer ranges. See my comments regards a buck shot broadside at under 10 yds in another post. That slug just fragmented. Another with the same load, slipped its jacket, and was found in two separate pieces, core and jacket. Two dead deer, two recovered ( well sort of) slugs. HOrnady describes the 180 XTP as expanding at lower velocities, and at the speed a carbine can generate, they are frangible. None of these hit major bones, all ribcage/lung shots.

The 200 XTP do not seem to consistently exit either, but I have recovered two of them, intact, with complete, near inside out expansion. Much better.

I have never seen a 240 recovered from a deer, either the 2-3 I have shot with that weight, or the 10 or so my dad killed with a Win 94 and 240's ( of mixed slug type)

mete · September 18, 2015, 02:03 AM

That's like the 444 which originally used handgun bullets but of course driven much faster.Bullets broke up easily.
Later the twist was increased for heavier rifle bullets.

Keg · September 18, 2015, 02:18 AM

I've had several Ruger 44 mag carbines....The last one was topped with a Redfield 2 3/4 power scope....It was a good 100 yrd gun....I shot Norma special carbine 44 mag ammo....Deer were no problem....

rlott · September 22, 2015, 05:25 PM

For the conditions you're describing I'd save myself the money on a new gun, the higher cost of ammo, and my shoulder the extra recoil, and stick with the 44.

I got the Ruger in the picture when I was 14 and I'm still using it at 53. If or when it breaks and I can still hunt I'll probably get a Henry or Marlin. I've always used a good quality 240 JHP loaded a little on the hot side because that's more or less what the Ruger was designed to shoot. Back in the 60's there wasn't a lot of 44mag ammo to choose from. I've got a 3-point carbine sling on mine which has proven very, very handy.

These days there are dozens or more of 44mag choices and a good lever gun lets you pick and choose from all of them. Plus you can use 44spc for practice and plinking and save a few bucks.

Toney · September 22, 2015, 05:40 PM

Yep, took a nice 8pt with a marlin 1894.

Bowhunter57 · September 23, 2015, 08:49 PM

Gentlemen,
Thank you, for the informative replies, photos and suggestions.

I've decided against the 45-70 purchase and will be hunting with my Henry .44 Mag., this season. This is my 3rd Henry rifle purchase and I've loved everyone of them and they've never let me down.

The rest of my "gun money" will go towards a Savage 11-VT, in .243, for coyote hunting and a Remington Versa Max for goose hunting.

Bowhunter57

bamaranger · September 25, 2015, 03:18 AM

Keg, that is some vintage .44 ammo!! Seems like I read somewhere that the Norma truncated .44 had a mild steel jacket, could that be?

Coincidentally, one of my old Ruger .44 carbines wears a 2-3/4x REdfield Widefield. Traded for the the scope, which was in need of repair. Gave the guy a Browning FISHING ROD! Sent the scope back to Denver, to the original Redfield people, and they fixed it up, free.

spaniel · September 25, 2015, 08:53 PM

I kill them with a Ruger Deerhunter every year. All ranges out to 140 yards. Perfect performance and plenty of gun. One of my favorites.

The 240 XTP is at the top of its performance envelope, jacket separations are common. However it always happens after the job is done of the far side, almost invariably with the core exiting and the jacket hanging up on the off side skin. I have no reason to change.

Keg · September 27, 2015, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Keg, that is some vintage .44 ammo!! Seems like I read somewhere that the Norma truncated .44 had a mild steel jacket, could that be?

Coincidentally, one of my old Ruger .44 carbines wears a 2-3/4x REdfield Widefield. Traded for the the scope, which was in need of repair. Gave the guy a Browning FISHING ROD! Sent the scope back to Denver, to the original Redfield people, and they fixed it up, free.

I can't tell ya much about the ammo..but it worked on deer & hogs....

That old Redfield 2 3/4 power scope was perfect on my Ruger 44.... Sounds like you got a bargain Bamaranger....

BWM · September 27, 2015, 06:32 PM

The 300 XTP is a good one on big hogs. It will drop a hog in it tracks. 100 Yd

bamaranger · September 27, 2015, 06:55 PM

Hey Keg, do you still have some of that Norma truncated, or just pics.

If you do, see if the jacket/slug will "pull" a magnet.

Keg · September 30, 2015, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Hey Keg, do you still have some of that Norma truncated, or just pics.

If you do, see if the jacket/slug will "pull" a magnet.

Naw...It's long gone....the 44 too..I've owned several..they all gone....

TomADC · September 30, 2015, 10:05 AM

Mom had one of the Ruger semi auto 44 mag rifles took a lot of deer with it in MI not sure what happened to the rifle after her and my stepdad passed.
Up till then she used a Marlin in 25-35.

garryc · September 30, 2015, 10:36 AM

Not a 44 mag rifle but a 45 colt rifle. Also I shot a big doe at 130 yards with a 44 mag 14" contender. That bullet hit the leading edge of her shoulder and came out behind her ribs and still had steam left. . Same kind of story with the 45 colt rifle, except not as far.

The thing is, heavy cast 300 grain bullets pushed by H110. When I stepped away from jacketed and shot cast I never looked back.

The reason I don't shoot 44 mag is that most have a 1-38 twist barrel, not fast enough for heavies.

September 18, 2015, 01:01 AM	#27
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,303	180 XTP's From a carbine, my experience is that the 180 XTP is too soft, and borders on frangible, especially at closer ranges. See my comments regards a buck shot broadside at under 10 yds in another post. That slug just fragmented. Another with the same load, slipped its jacket, and was found in two separate pieces, core and jacket. Two dead deer, two recovered ( well sort of) slugs. HOrnady describes the 180 XTP as expanding at lower velocities, and at the speed a carbine can generate, they are frangible. None of these hit major bones, all ribcage/lung shots. The 200 XTP do not seem to consistently exit either, but I have recovered two of them, intact, with complete, near inside out expansion. Much better. I have never seen a 240 recovered from a deer, either the 2-3 I have shot with that weight, or the 10 or so my dad killed with a Win 94 and 240's ( of mixed slug type)

September 18, 2015, 02:03 AM	#28
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	That's like the 444 which originally used handgun bullets but of course driven much faster.Bullets broke up easily. Later the twist was increased for heavier rifle bullets. __________________ And Watson , bring your revolver !

September 22, 2015, 05:25 PM	#30
rlott Junior Member Join Date: September 30, 2012 Posts: 6	For the conditions you're describing I'd save myself the money on a new gun, the higher cost of ammo, and my shoulder the extra recoil, and stick with the 44. I got the Ruger in the picture when I was 14 and I'm still using it at 53. If or when it breaks and I can still hunt I'll probably get a Henry or Marlin. I've always used a good quality 240 JHP loaded a little on the hot side because that's more or less what the Ruger was designed to shoot. Back in the 60's there wasn't a lot of 44mag ammo to choose from. I've got a 3-point carbine sling on mine which has proven very, very handy. These days there are dozens or more of 44mag choices and a good lever gun lets you pick and choose from all of them. Plus you can use 44spc for practice and plinking and save a few bucks. Last edited by rlott; September 22, 2015 at 05:33 PM.

September 23, 2015, 08:49 PM	#32
Bowhunter57 Senior Member Join Date: July 23, 2002 Location: N.W. Ohio Posts: 301	Gentlemen, Thank you, for the informative replies, photos and suggestions. I've decided against the 45-70 purchase and will be hunting with my Henry .44 Mag., this season. This is my 3rd Henry rifle purchase and I've loved everyone of them and they've never let me down. The rest of my "gun money" will go towards a Savage 11-VT, in .243, for coyote hunting and a Remington Versa Max for goose hunting. Bowhunter57 __________________ If God didn't want us to eat animals, he wouldn't have made them out of meat.

September 25, 2015, 03:18 AM	#33
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,303	vintage Keg, that is some vintage .44 ammo!! Seems like I read somewhere that the Norma truncated .44 had a mild steel jacket, could that be? Coincidentally, one of my old Ruger .44 carbines wears a 2-3/4x REdfield Widefield. Traded for the the scope, which was in need of repair. Gave the guy a Browning FISHING ROD! Sent the scope back to Denver, to the original Redfield people, and they fixed it up, free.

September 22, 2015, 05:40 PM	#31
Toney Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2005 Location: Stillwater Oklahoma Posts: 790	Yep, took a nice 8pt with a marlin 1894.

September 25, 2015, 08:53 PM	#34
spaniel Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2008 Posts: 217	I kill them with a Ruger Deerhunter every year. All ranges out to 140 yards. Perfect performance and plenty of gun. One of my favorites. The 240 XTP is at the top of its performance envelope, jacket separations are common. However it always happens after the job is done of the far side, almost invariably with the core exiting and the jacket hanging up on the off side skin. I have no reason to change.

September 27, 2015, 06:32 PM	#36
BWM Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2013 Location: SW IN Posts: 438	The 300 XTP is a good one on big hogs. It will drop a hog in it tracks. 100 Yd __________________ Man that likes guns. Navy. USS Ponchatoula AO 148 USS Vesuvius AE 15

September 27, 2015, 06:55 PM	#37
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,303	norma truncated Hey Keg, do you still have some of that Norma truncated, or just pics. If you do, see if the jacket/slug will "pull" a magnet.

September 30, 2015, 10:05 AM	#39
TomADC Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: San Diego County Posts: 795	Mom had one of the Ruger semi auto 44 mag rifles took a lot of deer with it in MI not sure what happened to the rifle after her and my stepdad passed. Up till then she used a Marlin in 25-35. __________________ US Navy Retired,NRA Life Member,SASS member, Time magazine's Person of the Year 2006!

September 30, 2015, 10:36 AM	#40
garryc Senior Member Join Date: November 12, 2005 Posts: 2,536	Not a 44 mag rifle but a 45 colt rifle. Also I shot a big doe at 130 yards with a 44 mag 14" contender. That bullet hit the leading edge of her shoulder and came out behind her ribs and still had steam left. . Same kind of story with the 45 colt rifle, except not as far. The thing is, heavy cast 300 grain bullets pushed by H110. When I stepped away from jacketed and shot cast I never looked back. The reason I don't shoot 44 mag is that most have a 1-38 twist barrel, not fast enough for heavies.