best 44 mag load

[carrycomp]

O.k. last question: which of these are better for hunting deer
winchester 250 gr. platimum hollow points, or Speer 240 gr. gold dot , hollow points

 

[jimmyj]

Either one will do the job if you do your part.
I prefer the 240gr Gold Dot.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Like said above, either will do the job if you do your part. I'm not sure if the Gold dot will penetrate deep enough since it's primarily a SD bullet but then again, so are the Winchester bullets. Nosler makes a really good handgun hunting bullet. The new Hornady FTX bullet is also a very good choice for both handguns and Carbines. If you're going to stick with Speer you might want to consider their new DeepCurl hunting bullet over the Gold Dot.

Just a few thoughts...

 

[flop-shank]

I'm thinking that the 240 gr. Gold Dot was developed as a hunting bullet. It is far too heavy to be optimal (but will still work just fine) against two leggers.

Use whichever load is most accurate. The gun knows what it likes. Availability and price are worth considering too. Plain old school Remington 240 gr. SJHPs, or Hornady 240 gr. XTPs should also work great. You're dealing with so much metal and power that it's a ballistics engineer's dream when talking 240 grainish .44 magnums. It's a pretty hard cartridge to screw up.

 

[carrycomp]

best 44mag hunting cartridge

Thanks again , you guys are great!

 

[flop-shank]

You're most welcome!

There is a test of the .44 magnum 240 gr. Gold Dot at www.brassfetcher.com .

Looks like a good load to me.

 

[Mule88]

I would prefer the 240 gn for whitetails

 

[aterry33]

I often wonder about what is a good compromise load if you are out in the woods and could potentially run into boar, black bear, etc., but also human aggressors. I usually carry 240 GR lead semi wadcutter hardcast in this case.

 

[Damn Yankee]

Deer are thin skinned animals and you only need a 180 Horandy HTP to put them down. Last one I shot this is the handload I used and the bullet was perfectly mushroomed.

 

[flop-shank]

Deer are thin skinned animals and you only need a 180 Horandy XTP to put them down. Last one I shot this is the handload I used and the bullet was perfectly mushroomed.

That is a very deep penetrating bullet. I tested it in the Perma-Gel Test Results thread.

I like the idea of a 180 because it should shoot flatter. I like the idea of a 240 because it should never lack penetration even if it hits a shoulder or hip, I would think (maybe the 180s do fine, I just don't know, but would love hearing from those who've seen such shots).

While some people get all gaa gaa over SWCs for self defense, I don't, but for hunting they seem like they would be hard to beat. Two holes can only mean more blood to follow and penetration should never be an issue.