[Sunday Creek]

I have a chance of buying a new Model 94 Shadow in .444 for &#36300 or an almost new 94 in .356 for &#36400. They are close in price but I wonder which would best serve 200-300 yard deer, elk, caribou type of hunting. I have a 45-70 for heavy hitting brush work.

 

[dclark]

Sunday;

When you set a specification of "300 yards" you have effectively eliminated the .444.  You may be able to reach 250 effectively, but 300 yards is realistically beyond the reach of the short, stubby bullets of the .444, even the 300 grainers.  Even with the 356, you have reached the extent of its reach also.  You are working with flat nosed bullets that shed their energy fairly quickly.

If you reduce the range specification to 250 yards, either with do such easily.  Then it is a question of personal preference.  Both with do the job, with that limitation.  I would prefer the .444, because it looks more traditional in a lever-action rifle.  Then I would look at the Buffalo Bore bullets of 270 gr and 300 gr.

Hope this helps.

dclark

 

[Sunday Creek]

Thanks. I have a Guide Gun in .45-70 and killed an elk this fall at a legitimate 260 yards using a Garrett round. Is the .444 too smiliar to make any real difference, and yes, I have read all of Marshall's material on the triple 4s. Also, is there anyone out there who has owned a Black Shadow Winchester .444? They are very reasonably priced right now because they quit making them and I'm wondering if they are stout enough of action and frame.

 

[Reb]

Sunday,
I am working up a load for the .356 now.  I have pretty much settled on the 180 gr. Speer for a bullet.  With Accurate XMR 2015 it has loads listed in the Speer reloading manual that max out at 2654 FPS out of a 20 inch barrel.  This exceeds most .308 loads in the same bullet weight from a longer barrel!  Using the calculator here on beartooth indicates that this combination with a 3" high zero at 100 yards would only be down 4" at 250 yards.  At 300 yards it would be down about 11".  Out to 250 yards you can pretty much just hold dead on.  I think you would be very pleased with the 356.

Reb

 

[Starrbow]

Reb,
        If you ever want to try Hardcast give Leadheads
a try   http://www.proshootpro.com/  this Caliber is a hard one to find a good bullet for. Beartooth and leadheads are the only ones I know of that offer 200+ grains with Gas Checks ........Marko

(Edited by Starrbow at 3:59 pm on Feb. 2, 2002)


(Edited by Starrbow at 4<!--emo&:0--><img src="http://beartoothbullets.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'><!--endemo-->4 pm on Feb. 2, 2002)