Author Topic: pistol caliber barrel for deer? .500 or .44 mag?  (Read 912 times)

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Offline buckslayer

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pistol caliber barrel for deer? .500 or .44 mag?
« on: January 19, 2008, 11:31:40 AM »
i hunt in REALLY thick areas with a 70 yard shot almost unheard of.  20-50 yards being the norm.  i want to try a pistol caliber handi and i thick this is the perfect oppertunity.  i want either the 500 or the 44.  what would be the best and offer reasonable acurracy?  also this may sound weird, but will either of these be noticably louder than 20 ga. buckshot? i hunt leagally far enough away from neighbors, and they dont like hunters but i have had no complaints with the noise of the 20 ga. but dont want to push it.  are either of these in rifle lenght barrels be noticably louder? thanks for any info!
I've got to many but never enough!!!! :eek:

Offline quickdtoo

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Re: pistol caliber barrel for deer? .500 or .44 mag?
« Reply #1 on: January 19, 2008, 12:27:00 PM »
If you're handloading, either one will work for your purposes, if not, there are no light 500 factory loads, they pack a wallop on both ends and use considerably more powder than the 44, so are gonna be louder as well as hurt, you'd be wise to get a 2007 made 44mag or accessory barrel if you don't handload. ;) Pre 2007 44mags aren't very accurate due to their oversize bores unless you handload .432" cast bullets in them.

Tim
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Offline preventec47

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Re: pistol caliber barrel for deer? .500 or .44 mag?
« Reply #2 on: January 19, 2008, 01:15:24 PM »
At those close ranges I guess you dont need anything better than shotgun slug accuracy
so I guess it wont matter that your 44 mag bullets are tumbling due to their goofy
1 in 38 inch twist.  Why not just shoot slugs ?  The ammo is cheaper and I'd guess
they pack even more of a wallop.  I have no idea about the noise.  That is the one
thing that really amazes me as every other aspect of shooting and guns is documented
and analyzed to the millionth degree.  No one can ever tell us which guns and which
bullets are how loud.

Offline MSP Ret

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Re: pistol caliber barrel for deer? .500 or .44 mag?
« Reply #3 on: January 19, 2008, 01:32:03 PM »
Between the two choices go for the .44 Mag, no contest for many reasons. If the choices were
expanded a smoothbore Tracker I in 12 or 20 gauge would be a great choice also....<><....:)
"Giving up your gun to someone else on demand is called surrender. It means that you have given up your ability to protect yourself to a power that is greater than you." - David Yeagley

Offline quickdtoo

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Re: pistol caliber barrel for deer? .500 or .44 mag?
« Reply #4 on: January 19, 2008, 01:33:07 PM »
Even tho current production Marlin made 44mags still have the 1:38" twist, they're very accurate, everyone that's bought one made this year has been very happy with them.  ;)

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,133534.msg1098505164.html#msg1098505164
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline MSP Ret

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Re: pistol caliber barrel for deer? .500 or .44 mag?
« Reply #5 on: January 19, 2008, 01:36:28 PM »
The only problem with the new and more accurate .44 Mag Handis is they are extractor only, no ejector, not the best for woods hunting. The .500's may be extractor also, however Tracker I's have ejectors, something else to consider, especially since you say the noise of a 20 gauge is OK....<><....:)
"Giving up your gun to someone else on demand is called surrender. It means that you have given up your ability to protect yourself to a power that is greater than you." - David Yeagley

Offline bja105

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Re: pistol caliber barrel for deer? .500 or .44 mag?
« Reply #6 on: January 19, 2008, 03:16:10 PM »
I would guess that the 20 Gage would be quieter than the 44 or 500.  Looking on Hodgdon's data site, peak pressures for the 20 Gage were under 12,000 PSI, 44 Mag was 40,000 PSI, the 500 was 50,000 PSI.
The loads I saw for the 20 Gage used faster powders in smaller amounts than either of the pistol cartridges.  Also, the 20 gage has a greater diameter than the pistol rounds, giving the barrel a greater volume.

All would most likely mean lower pressure when the projectile leaves the barrel of the shotgun than the rifles.  The shotgun will be quieter than the others with standard loads.

Offline Daniel Laws

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Re: pistol caliber barrel for deer? .500 or .44 mag?
« Reply #7 on: January 20, 2008, 06:14:53 AM »
Trust me on this one-The 500 is LOUD with full house loads.  It will drop a deer in a hurry though.  It looks like you've dropped a house on them.  I can't speak on the 44 (yet) but I'm working on getting one of those.  Good luck with whatever you decide to get.

Offline canoe13

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Re: pistol caliber barrel for deer? .500 or .44 mag?
« Reply #8 on: February 06, 2008, 01:41:38 PM »
I would go with the 44 mag. It would be alot  easier on the ears , shoulder and the wallet than using buckshot or deer slugs

Offline MSP Ret

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Re: pistol caliber barrel for deer? .500 or .44 mag?
« Reply #9 on: February 06, 2008, 02:21:00 PM »
Have you considered the venerable and beloved .357 Mag?  if not I think you should. Many. if not most H&R/NEF .357 Mag barrels can chamber and shoot .360 Dan Wesson's as yhey come from the factory. You could always do what many here have done a ream one out to .357 Max. A pistol caliber almost equal to a .35 Remington, a FINE deer caliber. With the proper loading even a .357 Mag is a fine deer caliber out to the distances you are speaking of, and not near as loud at the .500, nor even as loud as the .44 Mag. I would think the .357 would be a fine choice for you, and the barrel is extremly versatile as well, shooting everything from mid-range .38 Special wadcutters to full power loads in the magnum and .357 Maximum range....<><....:)
"Giving up your gun to someone else on demand is called surrender. It means that you have given up your ability to protect yourself to a power that is greater than you." - David Yeagley

Offline knight0334

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Re: pistol caliber barrel for deer? .500 or .44 mag?
« Reply #10 on: February 06, 2008, 03:27:24 PM »
If you do happen to go with a 500 S&W Magnum, there are 500 S&W Special cartridges that could be shot thru it too.   Sorta like shooting 38spl's in a 357mag.    The 500 Special's are about at 44mag power levels in pistol length barrels.   I imagine sound levels would be quite lower than full house magnums.
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Offline MtJerry

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Re: pistol caliber barrel for deer? .500 or .44 mag?
« Reply #11 on: February 07, 2008, 03:24:25 AM »
From the two you have selected, the 44 mag would be the best choice in my opinion.  However, in my opinion a .357 would be an even better choice.
:D

Offline bighemidaddy

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Re: pistol caliber barrel for deer? .500 or .44 mag?
« Reply #12 on: February 07, 2008, 04:26:45 AM »
how about the 45colt if you reload you can load for just about anything

bighemidaddy ;)

Offline LaOtto222

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Re: pistol caliber barrel for deer? .500 or .44 mag?
« Reply #13 on: February 07, 2008, 06:27:07 AM »
Of the two choices you have given us, choose the 44 Mag. Like Tim said, make sure it is of 2007 manufacture. As far as the ejector/extractor is concerned, do not concern yourself. In the kind of cover you are talking; you are only going to get one shot anyway, no matter which type you are shooting. The 44 mag has plenty of power at the ranges you are talking. It is cheaper to buy or to reload ammo for than the 500 S&W. It is quieter than the 500, but not sure if it is quieter than a 20 gauge. There are other choices, as pointed out by others, but the 44 Mag is the better choice of the two you gave us.
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Offline MSP Ret

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Re: pistol caliber barrel for deer? .500 or .44 mag?
« Reply #14 on: February 07, 2008, 09:24:04 AM »
I know I am the one that threw out the .357 as an option but I do stand by my first response and agree with others here, if a choice had to be made from the 2 offerings the .44 Mag is the better of the 2....<><....:)
"Giving up your gun to someone else on demand is called surrender. It means that you have given up your ability to protect yourself to a power that is greater than you." - David Yeagley

Offline Badnews Bob

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Re: pistol caliber barrel for deer? .500 or .44 mag?
« Reply #15 on: February 07, 2008, 01:08:06 PM »
Of the two mentioned I'd choose the .44, But as others have said the .357 works very well and is a whole lot cheaper to shoot. Get some inexpensive Lee loading equipment, and a 158 to 180 grain mold then roll your own. Its alot quieter than the big bores also.
Badnews Bob
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Offline ib_crawlin

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Re: pistol caliber barrel for deer? .500 or .44 mag?
« Reply #16 on: February 07, 2008, 04:39:08 PM »
I own both the 44 and 500 handi rifle. If I were hunting deer in really thick brush at short ranges I'd go with the 500. All you need is a handfull of reduced power rounds. (A 440 grn. cast lead bullet backed by 14- 15 grns. of titegroup powder for an example). That one ounce 500 caliber slug is going to rip through the heavy foilage better than any smaller, lighter bullet in my opinion. ( pistol caliber remember...). AS for noise, the reduced power 500 is just as  quiet as a regular 44 magnum if not quieter....
If you plan on shooting a lot, plinking, target shooting etc. the 44 handi rifle is wwwaaayyy cheeper to feed!!!
Just my 2 cents, take it or leave it.
 From south cental Montana,

Ron