The .44 Magnum was designed to shoot 240 gr. loads. I don't think it shoots the "heavy stuff" all that well, especially out of the 4" - 4 5/8" barrels, just not enough length to completely burn all the powder. By heavy I mean the 300 grain bullets and above that have recently become popular, especially for bear. I think I'll try the 255 gr. semi-wadcutter hard cast load from Double Tap. I have been looking for a hard cast load in the 240 grain range and this is as close as I can find. I just don't want to beat my gun, or myself up shooting these new 300gr. and bigger rounds. I'm not looking for grizzly bear defense, just a good hard cast for deer. and "just to have". Any thoughts??

Corbon makes some excellent choices in 260gr for the .44 mag. I personally prefer the Bonded Core Soft Point, which performs extremely well on deer (and bear) from my 6" M29-3. They do have a hard cast version if that is what you are sold on...

Not sure how big the deer grow in your area but I took 3 at around 150 pounds with my 4" 44 Special using a hard 250 gr Keith SWC over 7.5 grains of Unique during my handgun hunting days. All three were penetrated completely and 1 , a quartering shot, had front left and rear right upper leg bones shattered by the bullet as it went through. This load is probably only doing 975 to 1025 fps from the 4 inch barrel but was fully effective. You can load the 44 Magnum much faster but as I see it the only three things you could hurt worse with the faster load are 1. your wrists 2. your gun and 3. the trees on the other side of the deer.
Chip King

Hi Chip, I always thought the .44 Special would work just fine for deer, but others seem to want to disagree. With the right load/bullet and bullet placement everything should work well. Seems like you have found the perfect load/bullet combo. I am nowhere near recoil sensitive but just don't see the need to needlessly beat my gun, and myself up. I don't handload so a good factory load would have to be in order for me. I shooting either a 4" S&W Model 29 or a 4 5/5" Super Blackhawk, both great shooters. What 4" .44 did you use?
I hunt in northeast Kansas.
Chip King[/QUOTE]

I'm planning on using Speer 270gr jacketed soft point for deer this season. It's much less abusive on you and your gun than full power 300gr loads. Yet it's a little heftier then 240gr. Honestly I think any load in .44mag will get the job done on a whitetail. I shoot a 629 5", should prove to be a great deer gun.

I have a 6.5" 629-3 Classic and use 240 grain and 300 grain jacketed bullets in it for hunting. Since the heavier bullet uses less W-296 and launch at a lower velocity I cannot tell much difference in the recoil between the two. Intuitively, I believe the lower velocity bigger bullet load would be better for a shorter barreled revolver. Less powder in the case and a longer transit time in the barrel. That said, a 240 grain quality JHP over 23.5 grains of 296 is my standard load, short of carrying a .308 carbine.

My deer hunting load was a 240 grain cast bullet with 20.5 grains of 2400. It was effective in every case. For range use I back off the powder charge to 17.5 or 18 grains, a bit more comfortable to shoot. My main revolver for hunting was a 29-2 with an 8 3/8 barrel, but I'm beginning to enjoy shooting some 29's and 629's with shorter barrels.

Kid44 2 of the deer were taken using my 24-3 4" and the last with my 624 4" . All were taken inside of 50 yards and none went further than about 60 to 80 yards. I actually went to the Special and cast bullets after some rather bad performance from my Ruger Super Blackhawk and the Hornady 240 JHP loads of the 80s. In my 6 1/2 inch Blackhawk these early bullets blew up like varmint bullets on deer causing the loss of a couple and a huge mess with poor penetration on some others.
Got lazy and started carrying the Model 24 and never looked back.
Chip King

When you get to bear & elk the 300 grain bullets shine. Long straight penetration & the recoil is much preferable to 180 grain hotrods. Very good for the longer range shooting also. The LBT type bullets are the way to go.

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JOSHUA 1:9

Go you. Big and slow will do the job. Anything that makes a hole almost a half in in diameter doesn't need to expand. Just needs to get there.
Deer even big ones aren't that hard to kill. It can be done with a .22 LR. Just need to hit the vital organ. I quit trying to destroy my shoulder and wrist about 20 years ago. Ever since I have not lost a single deer and saved a lot of meat. Joints are still in good shape too. Guns don't rattle either. Your 240/7 gr Unigue is a good load.

Yep +1 on the LBT. My "heavy" is the 260 WFNGC over 18 gr. of 2400.
Most accurate bullet I have ever fired, moderate load, and deadly.
One can never be exactly sure what will happen with a jacketed hollow
point given the wide range of possible velocities at the target.
With the LBT you will get the same performance every time.
Veral Smith is a genius and worthy successor to Elmer.
As it happens Veral burned both his hands badly this June and is still recovering.
Some good thoughts and prayers his way might be appropriate.

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Nemo