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The good old 44mag!!!!!!

10K views 73 replies 25 participants last post by  New-2-Levers 
#1 ·
I remember when the 44mag was the BigBore of the shooting world!. Then came the 454,the 50ae the 50 this the 50 that. Then marlin made this rifle called the guide gun & all help broke loose 45/70,444'man oh man....... My question , does anyone use a 44mag lever for protection or hunting anymore!!!?..
 
#2 · (Edited)
I use a 44 mag revolver for deer hunting. This year I bought a Marlin 1894 cowboy 44 mag carbine and fell in love. This is the handiest rifle I have ever owned. Now when I go for a walk in the woods I carry two 44s, a rev and a Marlin carbine. I keep one of the 44 mag revolvers loaded with 44 specials in a lock box by the back door in case of emergency. I also hunt with a 444 Marlin also. Needless to say, I like big bores.
 
#4 ·
I spent a lot of years behind one or another 44 mags and also used the 41 mag for deer and black bear hunting. Both were very effective big game handguns.

Only rifle in a pistol caliber I ever used was a Ruger 44 auto when they first came out. That was a great hundred yard deer rifle. Always figured that if I needed more power than that I'd just get out the big game rifles. Really didn't care for the recoil of a handgun bigger than the 44 mag, but that's just me. Some guys like the kick and roar and that's OK too.
 
#7 ·
I am a big 44 Special, 44 Mag, and 444 nut....anything in 44 cal is good enough for anything as far as Im concerned. The nice thing about the 44 Mag, is that you can load it up or down...it is a very versatile cartridge...plenty of bullets available...plenty of load data available. I use an N Frame Smith (2 1/2" snubbie) as a carry gun, and I have a Ruger SA in 44 mag that has been my hunting favorite...choose the gun for your purpose, and enjoy!
 
#12 ·
I shoot a SBH and a Taurus Tracker in 44 mag. About the largest bullet I can stand to shoot is 265 gr. Anything bigger and recoil becomes to excessive, especially in the light weight Tracker. The 250 SWC will kill anything I will be shooting at. I keep most of my handgun hunting loads between 1100 and 1200 fps as this is ample for hunting and a lot more pleasant to shoot than the full house loads. The 265 gr Hornady shoots well out of my Marlin 94 and I use this for my hunting bullet.
 
#13 ·
Thanks for the comeback Chief RID!!! Like Jodum, I shoot the 250 grain Keith at 1250 and within handgun distances it has always shown to be a proven performer. I just thought that the 290 would offer a bit more penetration at that velocity, or, even at a bit less. I have shot 300's out of my Ruger Blackhawk a few times ( 10 rounds total) and the recoil wasnt that abusive, but, I couldnt shoot those all day at the range, for sure! It would be nice to have a heavy bullet load for the 44 Mag Blackhawk, but, I would probably just continue to use the 250 for most of what I do. The 290 looked like it may be worth a try.
 
#14 ·
I've got a Ruger 99/44 Deerfield that is very accurate, for a short semi auto .44 Mag rifle, it prints 1.5" at 100 yards and I'm very happy with that kind of trajectory. I've tried to use it a few times, but the deer have been out of range or haven't seen any that day. It would make an excellent hog gun though. I've got a Marlin 444, flattop Ruger BH .44, 44 SBH, and .44 Taurus Tracker.
 
#15 ·
The 44 mag is indeed still a great round. I use the 250 cast FN in both a Ruger Blackhawk and in Henry and Marlin leverguns. The Henry Big Boy is the smoothest action out of the box I ever bought, was accurate, and looks good as well. Would love to get one in 45LC.
 
#16 ·
I originally bought my 1894 as a house and yard gun. Decided that the muzzleloaders weren't really right for that job. It's been a rapid descent into levergun fever. Don't even shoot BP anymore. Back on topic---the 44 mag 1894 is ideal for home defense, as a yard gun or most anything else. I have one propped in the corner right now loaded with 265gr cast over trail boss powder. does all I'll need to do around here.. I never really understood why anyone would buy one of those pistol caliber carbines. cost like a real rifle with shorter range. didn't understand until I bought one....now I will never part with it and want more. I should have bought one 30 years ago. everyone should have at least one of them. (just try to keep it at one). As a side note... This has become my favorite deer gun as well. so far two bucks, one hog, a dozen bunnies, and a very unlucky squirrel. use Marshall's fine bullets and you'll see what I mean.
 
#18 ·


This California coastal blacktail never knew what hit him. This buck was taken with 44 MAG carbine and Hornady's 200 grain XTP bullet. Distance was approx 85 yards or so.

44 MAG is not a long range rifle round at all. But the hunter who enjoys stalking close for a sure shot or the hunter who prefers ground blinds or tree stands will find this powerhouse quite lethal indeed. In my opinion, 44 MAG does its very best work out to 100 yards or so.

Anyone is allowed to disagree but let's be polite with each other.

Good hunting to you.
TR
 
#19 ·
TR; I can agree politely!!! I ave a 444 Marlin, that I load down for deer, but, I think my next levergun purchase will be a 44 Mag. I shoot 44 Special and Mag in my pistols, and the 44 levergun seems to me to be a nice "filler" between the pistols and the 444..........
 
#22 ·
Flat Top - My 1894 is currently sporting Skinner sights. It is the gun I carry when going to fill the feeder, and other walks in the woods. On by hip is the 4 5/8" SBH with Bisley grip. I carry it in a crossdraw holster which keeps it away from the butt of a rifle when carrying both. Both have rounds loaded with BTB's 256g WFNs over 13g of Bluedot. Out of the revolver it's going 1100 fps, and out of the carbine around 1350 fps. I figure it's going right on through whatever I might run into here in Texas. In the rifle the same 265 WFN over 24.4g of H-110 is clocked at 1820 fps. That's the one that I hunt with. Now that I have the 444P, the 1894 may not get too many of those rounds anymore.
 
#21 ·
Grizz; You always have "all" the answers!!!!! LOL!!! You do make a good point, and I just may try some reduced loads some day. I know that some on here have had good success doing so............I think I will start a thread and see what others have come up with. Just think, all that money I would spend on another rifle could be used for reloading supplies!!!
 
#23 ·
new-2-levers; We are just about on the same page in the way we think! I am working every day on a custom 44 Mag Blackhawk with a 4" barrel and a Birds Head grip frame, cocobolo wood grips, etc, and yesterday I contacted Alan at Chisholm Trail Leather to make me up one of his "Ranger" design holsters (same worn by Chuck Norris), but, I wanted mine in a cross draw configuration, which he has not done yet! He said that he is going to research/develope the idea, and in about a week, I am going to send him a photo of my Ruger, with measurements, etc..................Now, all I need is an 1894 to fill in the gap between the 44 revolver and the 444 Marlin, and I will be all set to go....Texas style!!!!! I load 44 caliber almost exclusively (44 special/Magnum, and 444), so the 1894 would be the sensible next step! I am trying to catch up!!!!
 
#24 ·
When I started reloading I was doing .357 and 9mm only. I stopped shooting for about 6 years because of moving, etc. I first bought an 1894 from a local pawn shop and loved the gun. I found Beartooth on the internet and ordered some bullets. I got some dies and fired up the Dillon 550B. Wow I loved those big bullets! I then bought the SBH and put the Bisley grip frame on it (never liked the standard grip). With help from Marshall and others on the board I worked on these loads.

In the process I started coveting a 444 since I had the bullets for it already. The "new-to-me" 444P arrives next week, with brass, bullets, and dies as part of the deal.

Find you a used 1894. It's real nice to lay it on the coffee table while you watch Lonesome Dove for the 14th time too! You won't regret it!
 
#25 · (Edited)
BTW - In Texas the Chisholm Trail in now known by another name - I-35. It was originally an old Indian trail tracing through present day Austin, Waco, and Fort Worth. You can still tour the old cattle yards in Fort Worth. There's a lot of cowboy history here in Texas. I swear that Langtry, Texas hasn't changed a lick since Judge Roy Bean used to be the law there.
 
#26 ·
new-to-levers; I was down in Fredericksburg Texas a couple of years ago on a motorcycle trip. I stayed on an operating cattle ranch...long horn steers and all. Anyway the "bunk house" that I stayed in was a newly modernized stone and masonry original from the 1800's!!! It was like going back in time! We were all over the Texas Hill Country when I was down there....did Luckenbach and the whole nine yards......It was in the spring, and it was one great trip!

I have always liked everything in 44 caliber. For a big bore it seems to be the ideal. It offers good power and trajectory in pistols and rifles, and its easy to find a wide array of bullets etc. The 444 Marlin is just another step up in the 44 cal family. I think you will really appreciate what it has to offer!!!

I have had my eye out for a Marlin 44 Mag....would like to get one in stainless. But, there is no hurry...I always have the 444!!!!
 
#27 ·
.It was like going back in time!.
There is a place south of Fredericksburg, and just west of Wimberly called Devil's Backbone. At sunset you can look out across 100 miles of open country. When I do I always think "This is what the Rangers and cattlemen looked out on over a hundred years ago." Truthfully there are a lot of great places like that in this great country of ours. I'd like to see a bunch of them before I go. Takin' a few hogs out from around Rock Island, Texas with a Marlin levergun wouldn't be bad either.
 
#29 ·
I'm just south of Houston. You have a place to stay if you come here. Then we'll drive over to see Ranch Dog and some of the boys over in those parts. I need to meet those guys anyway. When I retire I'm just gonna shoot Ranch Dog's guns; he has enough for all of us!
 
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