44 Mag hunting load advice

[HOGAN]

I loaded 240 grain XTP and coated 240 grain SWC with 11.1 grains CFE-P and am getting 1150-1200 fps from my 629 Classic 6.5 inch. Accuracy is pretty good in that was getting 2 inch groups at 50 yards off a bag rest. I would like to use this load for deer hunting out to 50ish yards. First question, is it enough for whitetail? Secondly, what are your thoughts on SWC vs XTP at these velocities?


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[The Kid]

Absolutely plenty for deer. I load most of my 44 magnum ammo with 240-260 grain bullets at about 1175fps, almost universally with a SWC. I have killed bears, pigs, varmints and who knows what with that load with no issues. Put it where it needs to go and sharpen your knife.

 

[The Norseman]

Enough Power

My experience with my reloaded 240gr bullets.

240gr Lead SWC, 850-1000fps, pencils right
through soft tissue animals; raccoon, hogs, deer.
(because of penetration my bear load)

240gr XTP Hornady, 900-1000fps, mushroom
expansion, causes blood trail.
(backup to the SWC in the cylinder)

30-50 yards with a supported position is where
I'm comfortable with.

The Best to you and your Endeavors

 

[HOGAN]

Thanks for the responses. I will load up more and get to practicing before the Ohio gun season.

 

[shawn mccarver]

A 44 Special loaded with a 250 grain hard cast Keith style bullet to run 900 to 1,000 foot-seconds is adequate for deer.

For larger animals, Elmer Keith's load of 250 grain hard cast Keith style bullet at 1,200 fps will drop anything on the North American continent if hit in the correct location. Try Lost River Ammunition up in Idaho.

 

[Forrest r]

I suggest you try to find access to newspapers. I get bundles of them at a local recycling drop off center. I tape the newspapers together in 12" thick bundles & put them in a 48-quart cooler. Then fill the cooler with water and let it sit overnight.

I take the cooler filled with wetpack to the range and place a 12" bundle of the wetpack at the yardage I want to test different bullets/loads/velocities at. Then I simply put a target on that bundle of wetpack and test away.

They say 12" of wetpack is equal to 24" of ballistics' gel. Don't know about all that. But it clearly showed me how my loads/bullets performed.

Several years ago I decided to try to make a jacketed swaged hp for the 44mag for deer hunting. The bullet was to be used in a 6" bbl'd 629 along with plinking loads in 2 different contender bbls. This is the jacketed hp I came up with. Note the 2 different crimp grooves. The top groove is for the oal/cylinder length of the 629. The bottom crimp groove is used for the conternders. Putting the bullet out into the more than generous throats in the chambers.

It took several attempts to get the alloy for the core correct for the intended velocity/max range I wanted to use that bullet for hunting deer at. 1100fps was the velocity for the load I developed to hunt with at the "max" distance I would use it at (+/- 70yds).

So I did testing @ 25yds (less walking) to develop/design the bullet. After several attempts I got the alloy for the core right.

Those recovered bullets pictured above were either in the last inch of the 12" inches of wetpack or laying on the ground behind that 12" bundle.

 

[alwslate]

I took several Deer back when I was able to hunt them with the standard full charge load of 24grs W296 and a magnum primer and a 250 gr Lyman 429421 cast bullet or a Hornady 240 gr JHP. Velocity with the cast bullet was 1416 fps and 1383 fps for the JHP from my 7.5" three screw Ruger Super Blackhawk. Might have been a bit more than needed but both loads worked just fine

 

[HOGAN]

Thanks again for the info and insights. I figure my range limit of 50ish yards should be sufficient. Where I hunt I don't think I have ever taken a shot past 40 yards. In fact to two best bucks I have killed (137 and 155 inches) were just about 40 yards. Both with a crossbow.


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[Bald1]

OP those ballistics sound pretty similar to Winchester White Box 240 PSP. I've taken several deer and a hog with them. You'll get complete pass throughs with the SWC at those ranges.

 

[One Holer]

Wow, color me impressed. I know a lot of people cast their own bullets from molds but you're the first person that I've heard of that went through all the trouble to make jacketed bullets. I know several companies that got their start in garages making jacketed bullets back in the day (Hornady). Anyway, that's pretty innovative using .40 S&W cases. Cool!

 

[Arkfarmer]

Hey Feller, that's good work right there!! My hat is off to you! John

 

[WR Moore]

The loads plenty if you put it in the right place. Forget wet newspapers, line up milk jugs full of water. Expansion is what it is. I did a thread here somewhere on how to figure penetration if it matters to you.

 

[The Kid]

If you like to read Veral Smith's "Jacketed performance with cast bullets" is a short but informative book.

He was selling bullet molds so you will find some bias towards his designs. But the info on casting, loading, nose shape, and wounding mechanics is all spot on and very good information.

5" 629-4. RCBS 44-250 over 10gr Power Pistol.

 

[38SPL HV]

18.5 grs 2400 behind a cast 240 gr - 250 gr SWC in 44 Mag will plow through any Whitetail around if you do your part with shot placement.

 

[StrawHat]

For a few years I used the 44 Magnum with the Keith load of 2400 powder under the 245 grain SWC. It worked fine. I ended up trading that M29-2 away and getting a Model 25-5. A 255 grain bullet (rnfp or SWC) at 900-950 fps was a better load for my type of hunting. It seemed to drop the deer faster.

Your chosen load should be fine.

Kevin

 

[Alk8944]

Any 240 SWC .44 Magnum load over 1,000 FPS is totally adequate for Deer, Whitetail or Mule Deer.

 

[38SPL HV]

I loaded 240 grain XTP and coated 240 grain SWC with 11.1 grains CFE-P and am getting 1150-1200 fps from my 629 Classic 6.5 inch. Accuracy is pretty good in that was getting 2 inch groups at 50 yards off a bag rest. I would like to use this load for deer hunting out to 50ish yards. First question, is it enough for whitetail? Secondly, what are your thoughts on SWC vs XTP at these velocities?


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I would use the 240 gr SWC cast…but use a magnum powder 2400, N110, H110, Accurate 9, etc)…get it to 1,200 fps from your gun and you'll easily punch a hole right through any deer around and get a good blood trail to follow…

 

[venomballistics]

I've dropped the hammer on so many 44's, ammo was best measured by the cubic yard.
In my experience, the 200 grain XTP was the superior projectile of the line. In fact, I deem it a mandatory part of a full house 44 magnum load.
the 180 tends to be kinda superficial and fell away from consideration.
Moving on up the weight ladder, nearly everything is adequately addressed with cast lead. Yes, I tried to replace that 200 grain XTP with cast lead too, but i could never dethrone it.
a 215 - 220 grain flat point @ 1300+ is serious, yet manageable.
240 in the 1200+ range ... Very much a general purpose load.
While we can roam the wastelands and find 320+ grain bullets, 310 WFN seems the upper limit of practical application. even then, I prefer to call it around 275. Above that, it's government work (45-70)
44 magnum might have the Dirty Harry reputation, but it's true nature is one hell of a playground of versatility. Play with it

 

[ken158]

18.5 grs 2400 behind a cast 240 gr - 250 gr SWC in 44 Mag will ploy through any Whitetail around if you do your part with shot placement.

When the bullet exits the target, velocity and energy no longer matter…

 

[venomballistics]

When the bullet exits the target, velocity and energy no longer matter…

Correct.
At this point in the job, the only important thing is whether or not it exited.
Two holes are better than one where blood trails and related loss are factors.
I tended towards a lighter projectile as they are still capable of providing two holes, while shifting a bit more focus on energy deposit.
If my engagement ranges were longer, I'd probably mirror Keith. My situation being what It was, aligned my findings to 200 -220 being ideal.
If I had to reach out a bit, penetration with remaining energy at range might dictate a bit more weight

 

[HOGAN]

Thanks everyone for the help. I plan to load several different with both the SWC and 240 XTP's that i have already. I may pick up some 200 grain XTP's to try, I am intrigued by this.