Think I'm done with the 44 . . . - Page 2

Prof Young · December 22, 2017, 11:13 PM

Shortwave: I think what you describe is exactly what happened. That deer was one of a group of three that I've caught on a trail cam on a regular basis all fall. Well, she is there again and has what looks like a huge bruise, with a hole in it, on her right shoulder. I'll go back out with my crossbow and see if I can't finish the job.

In the mean time I put the 44 on commission at the LGS and it sold in two days. It was a fun gun, but I won't miss it.

Life is good.
Prof Young

shortwave · December 24, 2017, 10:39 PM

Nothing at all wrong with that Prof Young.
I don't pistol hunt so much anymore. Eyes aren't what they used to be and Arthur in the wrists/fingers. So my confidence in a one shot-one kill with a pistol just isn't there anymore. And that really bothers me. Not much other hunting I enjoyed more than pistol hunting.

Sometimes hard, honest facts about ourselves are the hardest to take.

I hope you get a chance to finish that doe.

Prof Young · December 24, 2017, 10:49 PM

Thanks Shortwave. I'll let you know.
I really enjoy all the kinds of hunting I do. Can still pistol hunt for treerats. That can be a lot of fun. And I guess if I wanted to work at it I could learn more about ammo, practice a lot and continue to hunt deer with a 44, but I feel good about the shotgun and muzzle loader and crossbow, so I'm just gonna hang with them. Sorry to hear about the arthur. We get old don't we.
Life is good.
Prof Young

shortwave · December 25, 2017, 10:04 PM

shootniron · December 26, 2017, 01:18 AM

Your experience is not typical of .44mag...and it is probably on you...you have shot placement issues.

250gr 429421 over 10grs of Unique with a decent shot = dead deer.

You need to be hunting with a rifle until you can consistently place your shots.

Prof Young · December 26, 2017, 11:04 PM

Shotiniron you cleary have not read the whole thread.

Life is good.
Prof Young

Longshot4 · January 3, 2018, 01:20 PM

I have not had a problem with my Ruger 10 1/2". I can understand a short barreled 44 may not give the full powder burn to give full velocity/energy. Also If your bullet fragments loosing weight to penetrate that won't help.

rodwhaincamo · January 3, 2018, 10:49 PM

As was pointed out the bullet choice may not have been optimal and we have no idea of shot placement. Lesser cartridges have proven themselves so it's certainly not that.

johnwilliamson062 · January 4, 2018, 12:39 AM

Quote:

None went more then about 20 yards.

Quote:

The longest distance I ever saw any handgun killed game animal go was an antelope I killed about 10 years ago with a single shot from my 4" S&W 44 mag. Perfect hit being the shoulder in the ribs and it ran flat out for about 75 yards.

Fish stories? Maybe the 20 yds was for white tails only.
The best shot I ever took, a through and through boiler room at ten yards that shredded a big portion of both lungs and pretty much the entire heart, resulted in a 75 yard run. After ten yards there was plenty of blood and the deer face planted, antlers caught, then flipped butt over head at full speed in the end, but it covered plenty of ground before BP dropped.

I am quite fond of the light single shot pistol caliber carbines.

December 22, 2017, 11:13 PM	#26
Prof Young Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2007 Location: Illinois - down state Posts: 2,404	I think Shortwave is right . . . Shortwave: I think what you describe is exactly what happened. That deer was one of a group of three that I've caught on a trail cam on a regular basis all fall. Well, she is there again and has what looks like a huge bruise, with a hole in it, on her right shoulder. I'll go back out with my crossbow and see if I can't finish the job. In the mean time I put the 44 on commission at the LGS and it sold in two days. It was a fun gun, but I won't miss it. Life is good. Prof Young

December 24, 2017, 10:39 PM	#27
shortwave Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2007 Location: SOUTHEAST, OHIO Posts: 5,970	Nothing at all wrong with that Prof Young. I don't pistol hunt so much anymore. Eyes aren't what they used to be and Arthur in the wrists/fingers. So my confidence in a one shot-one kill with a pistol just isn't there anymore. And that really bothers me. Not much other hunting I enjoyed more than pistol hunting. Sometimes hard, honest facts about ourselves are the hardest to take. I hope you get a chance to finish that doe. Last edited by shortwave; December 24, 2017 at 10:44 PM.

December 24, 2017, 10:49 PM	#28
Prof Young Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2007 Location: Illinois - down state Posts: 2,404	Thanks . . . Thanks Shortwave. I'll let you know. I really enjoy all the kinds of hunting I do. Can still pistol hunt for treerats. That can be a lot of fun. And I guess if I wanted to work at it I could learn more about ammo, practice a lot and continue to hunt deer with a 44, but I feel good about the shotgun and muzzle loader and crossbow, so I'm just gonna hang with them. Sorry to hear about the arthur. We get old don't we. Life is good. Prof Young

December 26, 2017, 11:04 PM	#31
Prof Young Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2007 Location: Illinois - down state Posts: 2,404	Read before respond. Shotiniron you cleary have not read the whole thread. Life is good. Prof Young

December 25, 2017, 10:04 PM	#29
shortwave Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2007 Location: SOUTHEAST, OHIO Posts: 5,970

December 26, 2017, 01:18 AM	#30
shootniron Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2011 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,599	Your experience is not typical of .44mag...and it is probably on you...you have shot placement issues. 250gr 429421 over 10grs of Unique with a decent shot = dead deer. You need to be hunting with a rifle until you can consistently place your shots.

January 3, 2018, 01:20 PM	#32
Longshot4 Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2014 Posts: 868	I have not had a problem with my Ruger 10 1/2". I can understand a short barreled 44 may not give the full powder burn to give full velocity/energy. Also If your bullet fragments loosing weight to penetrate that won't help.

January 3, 2018, 10:49 PM	#33
rodwhaincamo Senior Member Join Date: July 7, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 1,246	As was pointed out the bullet choice may not have been optimal and we have no idea of shot placement. Lesser cartridges have proven themselves so it's certainly not that.