What bullets are you using in your .44 for deer? I'm just getting back into reloading the .44 in a 1894 (1971 model. Years ago when loading for a Ruger auto, I always used a hornady 240 gr. xtp with good results.I'm planning on using this same bullet & hodgon lil-gun powder.

I use Hornady's 240 gr. XTP bullets in my Ruger 77/44 with excellent results. You might also try using H-110 powder or WW-296 for powder choices.

I also use the hornady 240 grain in my 44 lever for deer. It really doesn't like heavier or lighter bullets.

In flesh results have always been one shot kills out to 121 yards on whitetails. I've alos found the bulk Remineton bullets good.

At the risk of sounding redundant, the 240gr XTP bullets have performed very well from my 14" Contender in 44RM. I use H110/W296 for hunting loads and Power Pistol for plinking, but use the XTP bullets for both. They are surprisingly affordable, for jacketed.

I have an 1894P, a 336-44, and a Rossi 92 and I use my Ranch Dog 240, 285, or 300-grain bullets. Marshall sells similar bullets.

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I like the Ranchdog 265 gr cast and the Hornady 265 gr JFP, both ahead of 23 gr of W296. Both loads exit a 20 inch barrel at around 1700 fps, both real deer killers.

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My Marlin 1894 puts Marshall's 250 gr LFNGCs in 2 inch groups at 50 yds with iron sights. I have not shot deer with this bullet but the 290 gr LFNGC knocks em in the dirt. I suspect the 250 will do the same.

Anyone use the Hornady 225 g. FTX for deer? Hornady says the round was intended to be used in carbine rifles for medium game (deer).

Out of that rifle you can't go wrong with store bought white box 240 gr JSP. We made a lot of meat with that load.

Anything that mimics it will be a hammer on deer. Never lost a deer, never recovered a bullet. It's a perfect combo IMO.

Grizz

My old 1894 Marlin .44mag really likes H110 and either Hornady or Speer 240 grain JHP. I've only killed one deer with this load but he dropped like a stone DRT.

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I have two criteria for shooting deer with large bore diameter bullets. First is accuracy acceptable for hunting and second is using a bullet with a wide meplate. Expansion with big bore bullets is not a requirement per se. The meplate will cause a LOT of damage on its own, and as long as the bullet hits where you are aiming you are going to get the animal. I have never recovered a bullet out of an animal I've shot with either the 44mag handgun or rifle and I've shot a lot of them. Very few have ever taken more than a couple of steps or dropped on the spot.

I do not have a lot of experience with the .44 mag and big game, but have killed a very large hog using the (then) 270gr Gold Dot bullet (now called Deep Curl, I believe) in a Marlin 1894. The bullet opened to a near perfect mushroom, fired at about 1650 FPS and into a very tough boar's neck & shoulder at 45 yards. I had planned on using those same loads in Indiana in '10 on a deer hunt, but ended up using Win white box 240gr JFN instead. One shot kill on a large Indiana 11 pnt that dressed over 200 pounds with H&R single shot. Complete penetration at 70-75 yards. Hog bullets (270gr) below.

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I think the 240 grain bullets as stated. I wish I could have gotten mine to shoot cast bullets, but the cartridges were to long to feed. So I sold my Marlin 44. If you are happy with jacketed bullets, it is a great gun.

I've been popping pigs, deer, goats with my Marlin for over 30 years and my bullet of choice has been 240 grain JSP either Speer or Sierra. I prefer a soft point over a hollow point at rifle velocities. My favorite powder is H110 for 44 mag. Lil'Gun I prefer for 357 loads.

I totally agree. Out of my 1894P I've taken a number of whitetails with your standard Winchester White Box Value Pack 240 JSP. It's has never failed me - knock on wood. You gotta do your part and the cartridge will do its part.

Very clean little lever there GP. They have been known to take a critter or two.

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I've got 2 levers in .44 mag ...... a Winchester Trapper and a Marlin 1894. Over the years I've tried a little of everything in them. From MagTech 240 gr SJSP to Hornady 225 gr FTX to Winchester SilverTip 210 HP's. The deer drop like a sack of potatoes off the back of a truck every time, no matter what bullet.

The last couple years with my Marlin 1894SS in .44 mag ......

(sorry, the pics came out larger than I had intended)

Merry Christmas!

I have been loading the 44Mag for carbines for a while now. Indiana has those goofy rifle cartridge rules and I wanted to take advantage of them while using a standard cartridge, well, at least in the beginning!

I have shot a bunch of bullets out of several different rifle types with varied results.
When starting out, I wanted the lever gun to shoot less than 1 1/2" @ 100 yards. I was able to achieve that with either the Remington JSP or the Hornady XTP, both in 240gr. I was able to achieve right at 1800fps from my Marlin 1894 CS (?). I cast and wanted to get a lead bullet to give the same performance as the XTP and after many frustrating hours, What I learned was this: The Marlin has an oversize bore, and, when I loaded the lead bullets through my Square Deal B, the carbide crimping die was resizing the case/bullet combination causing the bullet to be too small and accuracy was seriously lacking. Here is a result of running them on my RL450B after purchasing a second standard crimping/seating die and removing the seating plug:


I never could get my M77/44 to shoot anywhere near this good but, it was still hunting accurate with groups up to 2" @ 100. That was with the XTP too.

Then, I thought I would get an Encore and give that platform a whirl. It was the most accurate with the XTP and I really liked it. I am going to make it into a 445SuperMag though and see how fast I can run that 240gr our of it!

Here is the group I shot with it. Kind of in a hurry though. I shot the first one at the left of the group and used it as my target and shot the subsequent group. By far the most accurate of all of the platforms I tried.


And here is the results of a friend using the Remington JSP out of his Marlin 1894, from a deer that he shot in the boiler room @ 140 yards. This was recovered on the offside, just under the skin.


I have pictures of the results of the lead bullet as used on a groundhog @ 75 yards and the carcass of the deer mentioned above.

Let me know if you want to see them..... They are kind of graphic.

Nicely done Skip. Did you post this stuff over on the MO by chance, it looks familiar.

And yes, Marlins do have a larger bore so we've all come to realize you gotta slug the things and then shop molds based-upon slug size along with watching those crimps when seating.

It can get a little frustrating when trying to roll up one load that works in both your Marlin and your revolver of choice - but I do love my Marlins.

Anyways, either I am having deja vous all over again or you posted something very similar on the Marlin Owners Forums.

Yes, very similar over there!