44 Mag or 45-70 ???????

[tonygrz]

Hi,

This is my first post.  Accidently found this site and am super pleased with all the great people and info.  Glad to be on-board.

Question - I gave up hunting a few years ago and now punch paper or try to break those pesky clay birds.  But in the last few months, feral hogs have been getting closer and closer to my front gate.  I don't own a center fire rifle, just pistols and rimfires.  One of my pistols is a Ruger Blackhawk in 44 mag.  Since I already load for 44 mag I would like to stay with a 44 mag in a handi-rifle but is it sufficent for feral hogs??  Would a 45-70 be better??  Your ideas would be welcomed.

Thanks,

Tony Grz

[blackpowderbill]

A 44 mag rifle will be sufficient for hogs, but a 45-70 will  give you far more flexibility in way of performance. Additionally a 500 grain bullet at 1200 fps should penetrate a pig completely from any angle.

[rbergum95]

either should work fine for your needs. keep the ranges close and the .44 should handle them with ease. if the shots are a bit further the .45-70 will do a bit better. you can NEVER do wrong with a .45-70.

[tonygrz]

I'm leaning toward the 45-70 so I can buy more toys - reloading dies, bullets, scope, etc.  I don't like getting too close to feral hogs so my shots if any would be in the 50 to 125 yard range.  I was thinking of a good 4X scope.  Local dealer can get me a 45-70 for $245 plus tax.  They are a little bit cheaper on the auction sites but when you figure shipping and paying a dealer to handle the transaction, $245 doesn't sound  bad.  Thanks for the replies.

Tony Grz

[Slufoot]

Since I already load for 44 mag I would like to stay with a 44 mag in a handi-rifle but is it sufficent for feral hogs?? 

Hello tonygrz, Welcome to GBO and the woderfull world of Handi-Rifles.
Yes the 44 Magnum would be sufficient for feral hogs.

Would a 45-70 be better?? 

Yes, the 45-70 will always be better than a 44 Magnum as far as range and power are concerned. I've also read about some people having accuracy issues with some of the older 44 barrels, I think the newer ones are going to be OK.
The 45-70 Handi's are almost always referred to as a must have Handi and I have got to agree. The only Handi that I have is a 45-70 and it is amazingly accurate. It will out shoot my Marlin 1895G that cost twice as much. There are factory loads and of course handloads for the 45-70 that range from mild to wild.

I have owned a 44 Magnum of one make or another for 23 years and have taken several deer and quite a few groundhogs with them, but when something absolutely, positively has to die, I reach for a 45-70.

I'm leaning toward the 45-70 so I can buy more toys - reloading dies, bullets, scope, etc.  I don't like getting too close to feral hogs so my shots if any would be in the 50 to 125 yard range.  I was thinking of a good 4X scope.  Local dealer can get me a 45-70 for $245 plus tax.  They are a little bit cheaper on the auction sites but when you figure shipping and paying a dealer to handle the transaction, $245 doesn't sound  bad.  Thanks for the replies.

Tony Grz

I don't think you will regret this decision. It's always fun working with a new cartridge. I bought mine from Wal-Mart back in October and it was $237 and some change plus tax. Mine is the synthetic stock model.

Merry Christmas!
Slufoot

[Scibaer]

get the 45-70. you cant go wrong
welcome to GBO, and Handi's
Merry Christmas

[Graybeard]

Both are perfectly adequate for hogs at the distances you mention. For the .44 Magnum I'd stick with cast bullets in the 300-325 grain range and for the .45-70 I'd use cast bullets of 400-430 grains but more is OK with it as well. Sight in at 100 yards with that scope and you shouldn't have any reason to miss to the max range you mention other than "hog fever".

[henry1]

Definitely the .45/70! Then you can buy the .44Mag later.
Hank

[Illhunter]

I would get the 45/70

[Datil]

Welcome to GBO, Either or both, Since you reload for the 44 Mag, I'd go there first.
 Maybe then the 45-70, It is a Hoot to shoot! Every body needs a 45-70 MHO.
 Marv.

[quickdtoo]

Welcome aboard Tony! I follow with the recommendation for the 45-70, you'll not find a more consistently accurate H&R than the 45-70. But both are required for a true Handiholic, just pick on of em to start with. A 2007 production 44mag would be advised as older barrels were overbore, current 44mag barrels have very tight bore, all of those reported that had Marlin made barrels this year have been good shooters, mine has a groove diameter of .4285", older barrels had bores that required hot loads or .432" cast bullets to be reasonably accurate.

The 44mag would also be a good candidate for hand reaming to 445 Supermag if you want a tweener round hotter than the 44mag, but milder than the 45-70.

Tim