Is a 180gr. 44 mag adequate for whitetail?

buckeyeshooter1 said:
The 180's will work on a lung shot but fail if the shoulder joint is hit. Trust me--- I know! I shot a nice doe at 10 feet in the shoulder, by the time I got to her 3 fields away -- another hunter wasd tagging her and starting the cleaning process. You are much better of with a 240 or 265 grain xtp or 250 grain cast.
Click to expand...
Buckeye, what length barrel was this? I've heard of 180 gr. XTPs having serious fragmentation problems when overdriven. I'm wonering if that might be the case.

Wow! What a bunch of great post from a lot of experience. Thanks for all the cool info guys.
 
Personally, I'm a big fan of the Keith SWC. So much so , in fact, that I started casting them myself, to be able to shoot more of them.

I have on my reloading shelf XTPs of nearly every weight in .44, as well as a couple of types of Speer 200 grain JHPs, 240 JHPs and even some 300s, somewhere. This year, again, I'll simply be loading my ~260 grain LSWC to around 1100 fps. I know that at any range within my capabilities to place an accurate shot, that bullet will completely penetrate a deer, even on a "Texas heart shot" if necessary.
 
I've used the 180 on eastern whitetail up to the 150lb range on the hoof here in SW Virginia.I've had great results with the Federal 180 Hi-shock jhp and the Hornady 180 xtp in factory loading.I'm shooting from a 4" 629-1.I have no problem keeping either of these rounds inside a 1"group at 25 yards from a rest and under 2"s offhand.I have taken deer with these loadings out to 60 yards without any problems with broadside shots(through both lungs and heart).I have pretty much copied these loads with my handloads consisting of the Hornady 180XTP and the Sierra 180 jhc on top of a heavy dose of Unique and a Federal LPP.I've found I can reach max velocity and energy with the faster burning powder and accuracy instead of using my favorite slowburners H-110,W-296 and a magnum cap.I also found using H-110 and 296(same thing now) was leaving a lot of unburned powder in the 4" barrel.Out of a 6" or 8-3/8" I forsee no problems with the slowburners.All deer I have shot with the 180 broadside have been killed cleanly,upon examining the the entry and exit during fielddressing and internal organ damage it is very impressive.Just my .02 worth.
Equalizer
 
Its amazing how nearly everyones experience mirrors others.

My preference would be a 240 jhp, and the hornady xtp's shoot very well.

If I had to use a 180, I would want it to be a xtp due to the fact they are prone to a little slower expansion than conventional jhp's.

Once had an experience with a armadillo at about 6 feet with an old hornady (this was before xtp's children) 180 jhp in a 6 inch dan wesson with a max load of h110 pushing it, The bullet did not exit a foot ball sized armadillo, most everything in the armadillo exited but the bullet did not, can you say hand grenade. so even though the xtp is a much better bullet, 180 gr would not be my first choice.

But... if they were all I could get, I would practice til I could hit what I was aiming at , plan on lung shots and go hunting. Good luck: 308
 
My experience is limited to use of 150 gr HP in the .357M. I always take lung shots and have never lost a deer. All one shot kills. This weight HP will make an exit wound about the size of a quarter. Everything drops within 25 yards.

In my .$$ Spcls and .44 M, I've only used 240-250 Cast bullets. Equally deadly.
 
180gr. .44mag

Once a long time ago, I was home on leave and had a chance to do a little deer hunting. The only ammo i had brought with me was some federal 180grn. hollow points. They shot great. I was lucky enough to shoot a nice big doe at about 60 yards. She was standing quartering away, one shot. She got up faster than she went down. I hit her again in the lungs dbl. action, down for good this time.When i went to gut her i found the biggest mess i have ever seen inside a deer. The first bullet blew up with very litte penetration. The second went off in the lungs like a grenade! I never used this load on deer again but for grounghogs,wow are they great! This is was out of a Ruger redhawk 7.5in.
 
I started using Remingtons 240 gr SJHP back in the 1960's. I use IMR 4227 and magnum primers, never chrono'd the load. 100 yard groups are half the size of factory ammo. Only recovered slug I measured ran something like 7/8" on the larger dimension (oval shaped).

Somehow I've always ended up with quartering shots. Never needed more than one round and penetration has been quite good. The slug mentioned above entered the right side ribcage, passed through the liver, both lungs, the shoulder muscles on the left side and was recovered just under the skin. I've never tried anything else, I don't mess with success.

At the time, the Remington 240 SJHP was the most expensively developed bullet in the industry. Development costs were estimated at 1.25 million dollars.
 
Back in the 80's I hunted with 180gr Super Vel ammo. Over a couple years I managed to kill 4 whitetail deer with this load. That stuff was super deadly.All one shot kills. All went thru. My first kill was on a big doe at about 40 yards. I shot her thru both shoulders. Severing the big bone on one of them. I was curious about the speed of this ammo and was fortunate enough to have Dr Kirchner check it. 3 rounds averaged 1803 fps. I quit using the ammo after getting down to 3 bullets left from the original 40. I tried to dupe this load using the Sierra Manual and bullets but could only manage 1700fps with a lot more recoil and 32gr of ww296. I would hunt deer with 180s any day. Since those day in the 80s I started collecting Super Vel ammo. I have quite a few rounds of 44 but have yet to fire any of it.
I guess my old Model 29 8 3/8" is still up to it. I would have to get re-acquainted with a few rounds. I hope venison still tastes good
 
Last edited:
Found some 240 XTP's locally finally, worked up a load of 23gr. of H110 for about 1400 fps, shot some last nite. Little flash ans blast wasn't awful, grouped well so we're just waiting for Dec. now.
 
Nframe- Our deer season starts in one week-August 15
 
Friend had some problems with 180gr on deer.

I have a friend that is notorious for shooting just a little ahead of full daylight if the shot presents itself. Needless to say, he has wounded a few deer.

I'm not sure what happened on the day he took the 180gr 44mag loads to the field. I do know he shot them from a M629 Classic with a 6 1/2" barrel. The results weren't all that good, I do know that!

It seems that a good sized buck, lots of antler he said, came by and he let fly. He is a good shot when he shoots in full daylight. I know none of us would ever rush a shot just because it was a wee tad too early, would we? :)

At any rate, the round only entered just under the skin. It hit a rib and didn't penetrate into the "boiler room" so to speak.

I think that a heavier bullet would be in order for deer in our size group. The corn fed northern type. 140lb does to 250lb bucks.

Now if I was hunting in say Texas, where a BIG whitetail buck is 100lbs, it would be a different story. :D
 
SW282, I could be wrong, but my understanding is that 296/H110 start to push bullets slower once you get past a max load. Perhaps reducing your charge weight will give you a kick in velocity? I'm running a 165 gr. Sierra JHP over 31.5 gr. H110 from my 5" 629 and clocked a single round at 1656 feet per second. I suspect my gun is a little slow, so your 8 3/8" barrel should be launching them a little faster methinks. :confused:
 
f-s, I doubt I would get back into loading 180s after all these years. I tried 30gr of 296 but it was slower than 32. I just wonder what kind of powder and quantity Super Vel used. I am tempted to pull one of the rounds from my collection. What powder would have produced more velocity and less recoil? ww680?
 
You might want to try contacting Lee Jurras if you're really curious. IIRC, he's on forums somewhere, or you might be able to find his phone number. My guess is that he was using a powder not commercially available, or even blending powders (if that practice was in existence at the time). FWIW, I'm using a heavy roll crimp and CCI magnum primers.
 
Nframe-South Carolina LowCountry. The season begins August15 to Jan1. No weapons restrictions on pistols(no rimfires) and no bag limits. Longest in the nation
 
Last edited:
One deer I killed with a handgun was with a 7.5" Redhawk .44 Magnum using a handload of 30 grains of H110 and a 180 Sierra HP. Hit a six point buck in the chest...bullet turned the heart to jello, went through part of the right lung and broke two ribs near the end of the ribcage going out...and the 180 Sierra expands a lot more than the XTP does...

You should be fine...deer weren't armored last time I looked...

Bob
 
The last deer with a pistol was in 1990. I was moving a ladder stand before going to Potter County,Penn for Bear Season. Dragging the stand down the trail,out steps a doe of 60-70 pounds in my path. We both stopped and looked at each other. I slowly put down the stand and decided to do maybe a foolish thing and shoot her. I say 'maybe' because all I had with me was my Chief Special loaded with wadcutters. I aimed for her shoulder with the first round hitting her high and breaking her back. The next one was from 3ft in front of her left ear.
She ate good too. I dont know if I would try that again. It was a legal doe day and I had been shooting regular. 17 yrds was not too far at the time. Wadcutters will kill
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

T
Want XTP loads for short barreled .44 mag.
2
Replies
25
Views
9K
jdad
J
Smokepole60
An ACCURATE 180 44 mag bullet?
Replies
19
Views
5K
ultratec00
U
Ceapea
Which 44 mag round for bear?
2
Replies
24
Views
13K
Ceapea
Ceapea
Person
Question on Remington UMC .44 Mag 180gr JSP
Replies
15
Views
12K
Vanilla Gorilla
Vanilla Gorilla
Will Carry
44 Magnum: S&W, Ruger or Taurus?
2 3
Replies
47
Views
20K
DOEBOY1
D

Latest posts

Back
Top