Author Topic: 44 mag handi loads (Read 1218 times)

indydave · « **on:** October 05, 2008, 12:53:30 PM »

any one have good deer medicine recipes out of a 44 mag handi?

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 05, 2008, 01:15:09 PM »

I have tried a few 265 grain cast Beartooth (.4315) and a few Remington 240 semi jacketed Hollow points with a healthy dose of H110 and the Winchester 240 Solid Point in the White box. The two hand loads did not shoot very well out of my Handi. The Winchesters did, two overlapping and the third out just under an inch at 50 yards. They were getting 1800 fps too. They cost under $33/50 in my area Walmart and under $35/50 everywhere else. I bought just one box because I was not sure how they would shoot. I have since bought another box. Both Hand loads shot OK in my Marlin 1894 - under 1.5" at 50 yards, the Winchesters were miserable out of the older model Micro Groove barrel.

Here is a Picture of my last 3 shot group with the Winchesters

indydave · « **Reply #2 on:** October 05, 2008, 01:18:56 PM »

i wonder if the softpoint will open up @ 1800

indydave · « **Reply #3 on:** October 05, 2008, 01:30:13 PM »

i got some 240 grain speer i am thinking h110 or lilgun

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 05, 2008, 01:35:52 PM »

I have had good luck with the H110/W296 out of my 44 Mags. I go back a ways; long before Lil'Gun, so I have not tried it out in the 44, since the other works so well. I have tried it in my 357 Max and it seems to perform well there, although I am going to try some AA 1680 next.

MSM · « **Reply #5 on:** October 05, 2008, 05:34:45 PM »

I don't have any firsthand experience with a .44 carbine or rifle lately (except a Ruger '96 .44 five years ago, never could get that one to sing...), but a friend of mine has recently learned a lot from his Marlin '94 .44 magnum and the Beartooth forums. It seems that for reasons I find ridiculous gun manufactures make the .44 mag barrel dimensions to .433" or something while ammunition companies use the "correct" sized bullets of .429". It seems this is all within SAAMI specifications, so nothing is defective or hazardous, just inaccurate. It doesn't seem to matter who makes the gun either, it is apparently an industry practice. The solution seems to be a procedure called "fire lapping" the barrel and using hard cast bullets sized to the barrel. Beartooth will make the bullets to the dimensions of your barrel. You may have to slug the bore.
I don't know if this is the ansewer you were looking for, but my friend gets 1-1/2" 100 yard groups with 265 grain Beartooth bullets.
I plan on trying some out in my .45-70 in a few months.
Scott

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #6 on:** October 12, 2008, 01:47:00 PM »

Lyman 429421 cast of 1/2 WW and 1/2 lead weighing in at 260gr.

Best groups were with 21gr of 4227.

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #7 on:** October 12, 2008, 05:18:07 PM »

Hornady 240g XTP on top of 24 g of H110 has and will getter done. DP

Ranger J · « **Reply #8 on:** October 13, 2008, 03:51:49 AM »

Both my Handi and my 1894 Marlin will shoot ragged holes at 50 yards with 180 gr XTPs and a full load of H110. They also do equally well with a 'paper load of 180 gr Laser cast and a load of Trail Boss. The 180 gr XTP might be a little fragile for a deer load or not?? Has anyone had any experience with this weight on deer?

RJ

cwlongshot · « **Reply #9 on:** October 13, 2008, 10:48:18 AM »

Quote from: Ranger J on October 13, 2008, 03:51:49 AM

Both my Handi and my 1894 Marlin will shoot ragged holes at 50 yards with 180 gr XTPs and a full load of H110. They also do equally well with a 'paper load of 180 gr Laser cast and a load of Trail Boss. The 180 gr XTP might be a little fragile for a deer load or not?? Has anyone had any experience with this weight on deer?

RJ

It works like Thor's hammer..... My buddie LOVES THEM!!

Personally, I prefer a heavier bullet. My favorite is SPEERS 270GD SP with a full chg of H110. I haven't shot an myself with it, but have loaded it for friends for a couple years now and they LOVE how it performs. I am going to load some myself this week for the Sahakari I picked up, hopefully I'll hit on a load right out of the shoot. Otherwise the 250 Blk Talon's or Hornady lever evolutions will get the nod for this season...

CW

quickdtoo · « **Reply #10 on:** October 13, 2008, 11:01:47 AM »

Sahakari = Shikari for those wondering what CW is shooting!!

Tim

jy951 · « **Reply #11 on:** October 13, 2008, 12:17:53 PM »

I just picked up a handi in .44 mag last week. A couple things, i tried magtech 240 gr factory ammo with fair results. However, I noticed, if i tried inserting a bullet into the bore to check the fit, the magtech bullet and the hornady sst bullet were very loose. I believe if i pulled either bullet and dropped it in the bore, it would slide through with little effort. So I purchased some Hornady XTP .240 gr that are .430 diameter and checked those. They appear to be a tight fit for the bore and will not go through without considerable force. I read on midwayusa review on the 180gr XTP that a fellow shot a deer out of his carbine and the bullet fragmented on the deer. This guy stated the bullet was not designed for rifle velocities and the performance on deer was poor. I was considering the Winchester Silver Tip 210 gr for a lighter bullet.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #12 on:** October 13, 2008, 01:21:18 PM »

44mags made by NEF/H&R before 2007 had oversize bores that likely won't shoot jacketed bullets well, there's a ton of info on that if you use the search. Build year info can be found in the FAQs. Most have to shoot .432" cast bullets or hot 300gr jacketed bullets to get them to shoot well, current production Marlin made barrels since early 2007 have decent bores made for .429"-.430" jacketed bullets.

Tim

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 13, 2008, 02:05:20 PM »

The XTP are fine bullets, but they are made for handgun velocities, not rifle velocities. If you want a bullet that will hold up at rifle velocities on deer sized game; try the 265 Hornady or the Speer 270 Gold Dots. If they have too much recoil for you, then load them down a little. Another possibility is a gas checked hard cast bullet. You can get these from Beartooth bullets, among others in different weights starting at around 200 grains up to over 300 grains. You can get the cast bullets up to .432". They seemed to shoot fine in the older 44 mag barrels.

jy951 · « **Reply #14 on:** October 13, 2008, 02:54:52 PM »

i was under the impression that the 1:38 twist barrel would not stabalize a bullet over 240 gr or so. are people having good accuracy with the heavier bullets? my barrel is a recent purchase so i believe the bore is somewhere between .429 and .430 since the .429 bullets are loose and the .430's are tight.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #15 on:** October 13, 2008, 03:13:09 PM »

Quote from: quickdtoo on October 13, 2008, 11:01:47 AM

Sahakari = Shikari for those wondering what CW is shooting!!

Tim

Thanks Tim... sometimes my spell checker gets away from me, If I don't keep a short leade on it...

CW

jy951 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 13, 2008, 03:20:20 PM »

Quote from: LaOtto222 on October 13, 2008, 02:05:20 PM

The XTP are fine bullets, but they are made for handgun velocities, not rifle velocities. If you want a bullet that will hold up at rifle velocities on deer sized game; try the 265 Hornady or the Speer 270 Gold Dots. If they have too much recoil for you, then load them down a little. Another possibility is a gas checked hard cast bullet. You can get these from Beartooth bullets, among others in different weights starting at around 200 grains up to over 300 grains. You can get the cast bullets up to .432". They seemed to shoot fine in the older 44 mag barrels.

The XTP bullets in the heavier weights should be fine for rifle velocities. They are sold as muzzleloader sabot loads and I have shot several deer with them at muzzleloader velocities 1800 fps+ with no problems. Deer dead right there.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #17 on:** October 13, 2008, 04:30:59 PM »

Quote from: jy951 on October 13, 2008, 02:54:52 PM

i was under the impression that the 1:38 twist barrel would not stabalize a bullet over 240 gr or so. are people having good accuracy with the heavier bullets? my barrel is a recent purchase so i believe the bore is somewhere between .429 and .430 since the .429 bullets are loose and the .430's are tight.

Recent purchased doesn't mean recent manufacturer, check the frame serial number against the build year info in the FAQs. A .429" bullet shouldn't fit at all in the bore of a tight 44mag barrel due to the lands, mine slugs .424" at the lands and.4285" in the groove, see Bore slugging and chamber casting in the FAQs on how to properly check and measure the bore with a lead slug.

It will normally take max loads to push 300gr bullets to shoot accurately in the 1:38", those that rechambered their oversize bored 44mags to 445 Supermag got good 100yd accuracy with the 300gr XTP.

Tim

tykempster · « **Reply #18 on:** October 13, 2008, 04:55:40 PM »

Sahakari, sounds like some african fruit...

jy951 · « **Reply #19 on:** October 13, 2008, 05:13:16 PM »

my gun has a frame with a serial number beginning with HX purchased new last weekend. the lands are definitley between .429 and .430.