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Best All Round 240gr Factory 44 Mag Ammo
- Thread starter NE450No2
- Start date
Basic_problem
Member
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2010
- Messages
- 18
- Reaction score
- 1
Don’t know about the bears in KY but here in Grizzly country its FMJ-RN for maximum penetration or you take your chances with what ever you tick the bear off with that isn’t FMJ. Definitely don’t go into the woods with JHP’s in Grizzly country.
Gents, thanks again for all the information.
A little update.
We have had a chance to do a little shooting and I just about have him convinced to modify his "first" plan a bit.
He is becomming a believer that ONE load for a 44 is not the total answer.
He does want all of his ammo selections to be in Magnum brass, for future reloading.
He is on board in picking an Urban Defensive load that is more controlable than full power 240's.
The Speer 200gr Short Barrel Load is currently the top contender.
Also we have discussed the fact that his practice loads with 7.5 to 9.2gr of Unique and a 240gr SWC, can work just fine for 2 legged varmints if necessary. Even at 7.5gr of Unique they are certainly the equal of 45 ACP 230gr ball.
For Bear protection Federal Cast Core 300gr loads will do fine as a Factory load.
Also 240gr reloads with [real] Keith SWC,s over 2400 will work for that as well, and can be used for most big game hunting.
He was worried about the shelf life of reloads, but the other day we shot some of my Heavy 2400 reloads that I had loaded in 1976 and in 1983 with no problems. [I discovered some I had "lost" over the years. They had always been stored in the house].
He still wants to stock pile some 240gr Factory loads.
Ands while he has always had a few 44 Mag shotshells,[I had given him some in the past] I have convinced him to get a good stash of them as well.
After the comments on the Winchester loads they have slipped out of contention.
We are now looking at the Remington 240gr SP, the Federal 240 HP, or SP, and the Hornady 240gr XTP.
When it cools off a little we are going to shoot some of them, and see where they impact compared to the Keith SWC 2400 load.
Additional comments are welcome.
A little update.
We have had a chance to do a little shooting and I just about have him convinced to modify his "first" plan a bit.
He is becomming a believer that ONE load for a 44 is not the total answer.
He does want all of his ammo selections to be in Magnum brass, for future reloading.
He is on board in picking an Urban Defensive load that is more controlable than full power 240's.
The Speer 200gr Short Barrel Load is currently the top contender.
Also we have discussed the fact that his practice loads with 7.5 to 9.2gr of Unique and a 240gr SWC, can work just fine for 2 legged varmints if necessary. Even at 7.5gr of Unique they are certainly the equal of 45 ACP 230gr ball.
For Bear protection Federal Cast Core 300gr loads will do fine as a Factory load.
Also 240gr reloads with [real] Keith SWC,s over 2400 will work for that as well, and can be used for most big game hunting.
He was worried about the shelf life of reloads, but the other day we shot some of my Heavy 2400 reloads that I had loaded in 1976 and in 1983 with no problems. [I discovered some I had "lost" over the years. They had always been stored in the house].
He still wants to stock pile some 240gr Factory loads.
Ands while he has always had a few 44 Mag shotshells,[I had given him some in the past] I have convinced him to get a good stash of them as well.
After the comments on the Winchester loads they have slipped out of contention.
We are now looking at the Remington 240gr SP, the Federal 240 HP, or SP, and the Hornady 240gr XTP.
When it cools off a little we are going to shoot some of them, and see where they impact compared to the Keith SWC 2400 load.
Additional comments are welcome.
Here is another intresting "little" development.
We both shot a S&W 325 Night Guard while doing the 44 Mag testing...
[I tried years ago to get him into 1911's, no go, so I do not even try now...]
We both really like the idea of a short, handy revolver, that shoots the same calibre as our 44's... Takes the same Speed Loaders, etc.
Even though these N frame Snubbies are a lot bigger than a 38 Bodyguard, they fit in places that even a Mountain Gun can't go...
And, if on a trip, your primary 44 Mag goes belly up, all your 44 ammo will fit your "little gun" and you loose only a few FPS.
For strictly a Urban Carry gun, with light 44 loads the 44 Mag Night Guard has a lot to recommend it. We both find the 45 ACP NG very controlable, even with the smooth small wood grips I have on it.
We have both shot a 44 Mag 329, and feel the Scandium Frame 44's would be just to light, [and from some reports too fragile] for us.
So we are researching the choice of a 2 to 2.5" S&W 44 Mag.
We see no need for a 3" as it is just too close to a 4" Mountain Gun.
We both shot a S&W 325 Night Guard while doing the 44 Mag testing...
[I tried years ago to get him into 1911's, no go, so I do not even try now...]
We both really like the idea of a short, handy revolver, that shoots the same calibre as our 44's... Takes the same Speed Loaders, etc.
Even though these N frame Snubbies are a lot bigger than a 38 Bodyguard, they fit in places that even a Mountain Gun can't go...
And, if on a trip, your primary 44 Mag goes belly up, all your 44 ammo will fit your "little gun" and you loose only a few FPS.
For strictly a Urban Carry gun, with light 44 loads the 44 Mag Night Guard has a lot to recommend it. We both find the 45 ACP NG very controlable, even with the smooth small wood grips I have on it.
We have both shot a 44 Mag 329, and feel the Scandium Frame 44's would be just to light, [and from some reports too fragile] for us.
So we are researching the choice of a 2 to 2.5" S&W 44 Mag.
We see no need for a 3" as it is just too close to a 4" Mountain Gun.
We are still doing some shooting and testing, and discussion.
We shot some of the 165 Core Bon, along with some 180 Cor Bon, some 180 Remington, and the 200gr Speer Short Barreled load out of 4" and 6 1/2" Mod 29's.
The 165 gr Corbon was controlable. Not quite as soft shooting as the Speer, however.
We shot some of the 165 Core Bon, along with some 180 Cor Bon, some 180 Remington, and the 200gr Speer Short Barreled load out of 4" and 6 1/2" Mod 29's.
The 165 gr Corbon was controlable. Not quite as soft shooting as the Speer, however.
Garrett Cartridges Inc.
I bought a couple of boxes and really like the ammo. I modified the loading lever in my Marlin 44 mag to accept the longer "nose". I don't do as much hunting anymore, too old, but this load does the trick on the hogs. You don't need to shoot very many cartridges for sighting in. I think it is the right stuff for the animals that might try to hurt you. ( or shoot into cars full of bad guys )
I think hollow points do not hold up too well on game. I even loaded the Hornady 265 grn bullets for my .44 mag. This is the one designed for the Marlin .444 and really is one tuff bullet.
I bought a couple of boxes and really like the ammo. I modified the loading lever in my Marlin 44 mag to accept the longer "nose". I don't do as much hunting anymore, too old, but this load does the trick on the hogs. You don't need to shoot very many cartridges for sighting in. I think it is the right stuff for the animals that might try to hurt you. ( or shoot into cars full of bad guys )
I think hollow points do not hold up too well on game. I even loaded the Hornady 265 grn bullets for my .44 mag. This is the one designed for the Marlin .444 and really is one tuff bullet.
Possibly this will be of some help to your friend.
http://www.elmerkeithshoot.org/GA/1969_01_Elmer_Keith_Favorite_Load.pdf
http://www.elmerkeithshoot.org/GA/1969_01_Elmer_Keith_Favorite_Load.pdf
Garrett ammo is Great Stuff. and Randy Garrett is a nice guy.
I have used his 44 Mag and his 45/70 ammo. His lead bullets are harder than another lead bullet I have seen. They are not brittle either, I have shot cape buff and elephants in the head with the 44 Mag loads.
No fragmentation, very little if any deformation.
I am a BIG Elmer Keithite. I make no apologies for it.
While I do like a HP factory load for city use, hopefully to reduce over penetration, truth is, I would feel just as safe with a 240 hard cast bullet over @8.5gr of Unique, and a hard cast bullet over @21 gr of 2400.
From Burglers to Bears, Cars to Cape Buff, Egretts to Elephants, Targets to Terrorists, those 2 loads would do it all. IMHO of course.
Anybody that has not read, and STUDIED, "SIXGUNS BY KEITH", should give it a hard read.
These guys are probably right - I doubt one gun geared one way will handle everything.....in fashion. No doubt if you take one of the most popular loads and keep the grains above 240 you could take a bear, black bear, if you shoot well under pressure. Now, I believe that a 240 gr. bullet will also work for personal defense, in fact I have a buffalo bore 240 in my .44 right now, and he has five friends. I wouldn't hesitate to blow a big hole in someone if my life was threatened with no way out. What I'm saying is why not use one load for everything? Yes it may be too heavy for killing a deer, on the other hand that depends....distance, wind, branches in the way, angle of shot and so on. I'd rather have too much than too little and wound the poor critter. On prairie dogs you blow them in half instead of just putting a hole in them, either way you want them dead right? I worked many years for the sheriff's dept locally and we did a lot of shooting of all kinds of weapons. Far and away the .44 was the caliber of choice, lots of penetration power with the right cartridge. But if you truly want just one load to do it all, choose the one that goes right to the most beastly thing on top of the list. Use it for everything else too, can't go wrong. It ain't pretty but it's damn effective.
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counter-clockwise
Active member
I love federal American eagles if I can find them. They are my choice for carry in my 6" 629-5. Ive seen them crono above their advertised fps too. I also like Remington, Winchester, etc... whatever I can find really. Ive been seeing federal champion, but I haven't tried it due to the difference ive seen in the .45 acp champions vs standard .45 plinking rounds ( small primers). Oh, almost forgot: I love Remingtons 275 grain hp "core loks", but i dont think they make them anymore... and I am on my last box. They have nice nickel plated brass, and the box advertises 1230ish fps and mid 900 ft lbs of energy if memory serves.
I normally do not carry my 629 in town as much as my 1911... but sometimes... ok, more than just sometimes...... go ahead, make my day
I normally do not carry my 629 in town as much as my 1911... but sometimes... ok, more than just sometimes...... go ahead, make my day
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BIGDOC
US Veteran
.44
I've been using the Hornaday Leverevoloutions 225gr. and they are awsome and very accurate, n-frame 3".
I've been using the Hornaday Leverevoloutions 225gr. and they are awsome and very accurate, n-frame 3".
