I know that the 44 mag. is plenty enough for deer. Just curious to know if the 44 special would be also. Aslo, if choosing the 44 special, which bullet weight would be best all around weight?

Thanks for any input you guys can give me.

Elmer Keith used the ole .44 for just about everything. Most of my .44 mag reloading, however, has been with 240 grain and heavier JHP's because in addition to my revolvers and lever actions, I have a Desert Eagle and a Ruger Deerfield carbine, which have to use jacketed bullets. The only light .44 mag loads I've done have been "plinking" loads with 210 grain lead bullets for my Ruger Bisley Vaquero's.

I've thought about working up something lighter than normal .44 mag for my S&W M29 Mountain Gun, but haven't had time to do it yet. I'd like to hear what you guys use too.

I use 240 grain JSP in 44 mag. but am looking for more info for the 44 spl.

I quit using jacketed bullet in the 44 Revolvers years ago. I like a hardcast lead bullet at between 1200 and 1350 fps. Kills all out of proportion to its size and velocity.

There have been a bunch of improvements in jacketed revolver bullets in the last ten years, but at revolver velocities cast has always worked better for me.

I use a 255 grain gas check Kieth style in both the 5.5 inch Redhawk and the 7.5 inch Super Redhawk. Death on deer and bear out to a hundred yards ( my limit now) Quite a few years ago I killed a nice black bear at just over 200 yards with that same load.

If your interested in trying lead look at some of the bullets available from Marshall here on Beartooth.

[CAUTION: The following post includes loading data for use in firearms that are in good working condition. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. The author claims no responsibility for any damage or injury caused.]

These are the only two loads I have played with as far as 44 Special goes...


240 LSWC 6.0 gr SR-7625 850 fps avg

240 LSWC 5.5 gr W-231 900 fps avg

Mind you now, these are all out of a 14" TC barrel...So velocity will be a little higher than what you can get out of a standard revolver...you can also run the pressures up a little higher too in a contender...but these are all well below 20 K according to three diffrent sources I have checked.

ALSO...remember that you need to carry a good brush with you if you plan on shooting both Spl and Mag cases...if you shoot the special first, then it will leave a resiude and you should clean out the cylinder before using mag cases. I do the same thing with my TC barrel.

Have some fun!
D

I wasn't asking about a revolver. Thats why I posted in the levergun section. Asking about 44 spec. in a levergun.

Unless you have a bunch of 44 special brass laying around I don't see any advantage of shooting specials in a magnum gun. If you want reduced loads you can load them in magnum brass.

If your talking about factory loaded 44 special ammo it is going to be pretty puny but I don't doubt it will kill a deer.

7.0 - 7.5 grains of Unique and a 240-250 grain Keith style bullet is a mild load in the magnum but a little over some of the published data for the special.

gmdr.com has some good data for cast bullet loads in your rifle.

I have a supply of 240's, both LSWC's and JHP's, to test in this 16" M92 in .44 Special. Unique, 231, and 296 are on hand to be used. The Unique & 231 are already being used for my 4" Smith .44 Special, and I'll try them in the EMF Hartford. I want to see what the 296 does with this longer barrel.

Maybe I'm wrong, but this should be close to 44-40 ballistics, or maybe give more velocity. The 44-40 has collected a lot of deer over the years, this .44 Special should do the same.

I might try some 180 & 200 gr bullets later.

Nate (www.stevesgunz.com) made this for me. The top pic (clickable thumbnail) isn't the best, but is what I have right now.

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/7772/m92m24up0at.th.jpg (http://img19.imageshack.us/my.php?image=m92m24up0at.jpg)

http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/6017/m92cch1bu.jpg

Nate (www.stevesgunz.com) made this for me. The top pic (clickable thumbnail) isn't the best, but is what I have right now. Hey, Poohgyrr, is that an Armi San Marco '92? Looks just like the one I got from Dixie Gunworks. :)

I read an article recently, in which Brian Pearce was testing a Winchester '73 clone in .44 spcl. This is a weak action that can't handle the .44 magnum, but he was able to push 250 grain bullets to something like 1400 to 1500 fps. This is better than .44 magnum factory loads from a revolver, so I'd say it would work very well for deer!

Hey, Poohgyrr, is that an Armi San Marco '92? Looks just like the one I got from Dixie Gunworks. :)

I'm still new to 92's, this is an EMF brand, by Rossi. Handles NICE


And Cowboy posted what I was thinking......

:D

With the hotter loads, youwill be able to get 44 mag pistol load velocity out of your rifle length barrel. Should work fine for deer. I think the Mod 73 Winchester copies in 44 spl would be ideal for that gun. Easy to load to original 44/40 specs with no case lube to fuss with.