Author Topic: .44 mag. Bullet weight vs. velocity? (Read 2560 times)

cs432 · « **on:** November 13, 2003, 09:17:28 AM »

I'm going to try deer hunting with my .44 629 classic this year. I can shoot the weapon well with target loads up to 100 yards. When I was exploring bullets for deer hunting, my first choice was the 240 grain xtp. I've used that bullet in the past to take deer with my black powder rifle, and it performs awesome. Ballistically, the load I tried for my .44, was equivaleny in energy and velocity of that I fired from my black powder gun. The catch is, I have trouble controlling the heavy recoil, off hand. I stepped down to the 180 grain xtp, in search of lighter recoil, and found that I can shoot that load as well as my target loads, in my .44. The question is... will the 180 gr. xtp be adequate enough to take whitetails? Its obviously lighter than the 240, but its going down range upwards of 1650 fps, whereas I was getting about 1200 fps with the 240. According to the Hornady manual, they have about the same energy at 100 yards. So, what do you all think about hunting whitetails with the 180 gr xtp?

All whom replied, please see results below.... Thanks!

Graybeard · « **Reply #1 on:** November 13, 2003, 10:07:17 AM »

I did it once. Will never do it again. Shot a buck at about 25 yards with an old (pre XTP) Hornady 180 JHP and it barely expaned at all and didn't exit. Luckily the deer fell in sight of me but it left no blood trail so it is a good thing it did. Now I use nothing less than a 240 on deer. So far I've used that weigth on a bunch of them and never failed to get an exit yet.

I just will nto use a 180 on deer again. A 200 maybe but not a 180. I honestly don't find max loads of 180, 200 and 240 grain bullets to have enough difference in recoil for me to tell the difference. In either case the recoil of the .44 mag to me is mild enough it just don't matter.

GB

safetysheriff · « **Reply #2 on:** November 13, 2003, 11:48:36 AM »

To handle recoil with a handgun: don't hold the piece too tightly; do hold it with the same grip strength in the same place every time(with your palms 'web' high on the grip just under the recoil shoulder on that '629';
keep your elbow(s) slightly bent to help absorb recoil -- do not lock them tightly straight out.

Try Metcalf's recipe from several years ago in Guns and Ammo -- use Remington 210 gr' JHP's in the .44 mag' as a 'go anywhere' load. Hit 'em in the lungs or the neck or the spine and they'll go down.

Good shooting.

drags · « **Reply #3 on:** November 13, 2003, 12:26:27 PM »

cs432
I shot a 100lb. whitetail with the serria 180gr. jhc .429 bullet in a 50 cal. muzzleloader. the load was 90grs. of triple 7 T.C sabot with the serria 180 gr. bullet, velocity should have been about 1700fps. The deer was hit broadside in the shoulder area had a complete pass through and the exit wound was about one to one and a half inches, lots of internal damage. The deer ran about 60yds and expired, very good blood trail. Last year I shot a deer with the old 240gr. hornady hp 100 gr triple 7 and she dropped in her tracks. Which is the better bullet? I don't know but the 180gr. load had a lot less recoil.
Joe

Gregory · « **Reply #4 on:** November 13, 2003, 04:53:40 PM »

Took a small spike at about 50 yds with a 180 gr Sierra out of a 10" TC Contender, I spined him and he dropped in his tracks. Used a 200 gr Nosler out of the same gun to take a 180 lb 8 point, complete pass through and deer ran less than 50 yds. Took a small 7 point with the same bullet out of a muzzleloader, complete pass through and massive internal damage. Good blood trail.

If you go with the 180 gr and go for the lungs you'll probably end up with a very dead deer.

Ranger413 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 14, 2003, 10:30:49 AM »

I'll cast another vote for the heavier bullets. Haven't tagged a deer with my .44 mag yet, but planning on it real soon. I'm currently shooting factory loads - Winchester Supreme Partition Gold 250gr.

I shot an 8-point the first day of muzzleloader with an Encore 209X50. Load was 100gr. Triple 7 (loose) and a 300gr. Hornady XTP in a sabot. Quartering toward shot (in front of rt. shoulder, out left ribcage) dropped the buck on the spot. Complete pass-thorugh with noting but mush in the lung/heart area - WOW. This is my ML load from hear on out. I'm anxious to see what the Winchester factory load out of my SRH will do.

As far as recoil goes . . .

Practice with light loads, that's what I do. I can shoot my cast over Unique all day long. I shoot the hot stuff only to sight in before the hunt. When you're in the deer woods and you squeeze the trigger you'll never feel the recoil, and most likely not even remember hearing the round go off. It's called buck fever.

Ranger413

ingwenya · « **Reply #6 on:** November 22, 2003, 09:30:59 PM »

I got a Super BlackHawk a couple years ago. Aside from from my marriage and the birth of my three children, it is probably the best thing that happened to me. Don't download it too much despite what others might say. Load yourself up some xtps somewhere in the neighborhood of 240grn/1250fps, maybe even heavier and practice. You'll be able to sight quicker and your accuracy will increase. I'm serious, that load made the gun great. If you absolutely have to download, realize that your effective range has been reduced significantly. The ballistics/drop chart is on the Hornady website. Good Luck! Post how it goes, I would like to hear what happens.

Larry Gibson · « **Reply #7 on:** November 23, 2003, 06:18:40 AM »

cs432

If you shoot the 180 XTP well and have confidence in your abilities then use it, it will kill deer. Just stay within your abilities and put the bullet in the heart/lung, i.e. aim for the heart. While I normally recommend the 200-210 gr .44 bullets of HP or SP persuasion the 180 XTP is the best of the 180 gr weight range. I have heard nothing but good results from appropriately placed bullets when used out of 4" revolvers in the 1500-1600 fps range. Your use in the 1600 fps range should prove good. Next time you get a box of bullets to load you might try the 210 gr XTPs just to see how well you handle them. Good luck on your hunt and please let us know your results if you bag a deer.

Larry Gibson

cs432 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 04, 2003, 10:24:24 AM »

To all whom replied: Thank you for your insights! I decided at length, to go ahead with the hunt, and use the 180gr. XTP. I'am not disappointed. My first time out in the woods with my 629 Classic, and on opening weekend I sat downhill, in a tree stand, from a large cattle run with tons of deer sign crossing the run. Around eight thirty in the morning I noticed a grey body working down the cattle run towards me, I rolled the hammer back and fired, just then two more does hopped out from behind the thicket, over the fence, and in plain sight about ten yards past where the first doe appeared, I again rolled the hammer back fired once at the closest doe, then again as the second doe ran across the hillside to within twenty yards of me. In all, I tagged three does in approx. ten minutes. The first fell in approx. 15 yards, the second about the same, both with solid double lung shots, the third I hit a bit rearward as she was running, but still took out one lung, and the liver. This past weekend, I was walking, along a ridge top when I spotted a tail flash down the steep ridge, about sixty yards downhill. I quickly sat in a prone position and watched. A large doe stood broadside roughly sixty to seventy yards downhill. I rested over a small deadfall in front of me, sqeezed one off, and the deer did a donkey kick, bellowed once, and dropped in her tracks! I was impressed, to say the least. The 180 XTP entered high on the shoulder blade, exited low in the opposite shoulder, took out both lungs, and crushed both shoulders. Whom ever said those 180's were'nt adequate for deer? I would have to differ.... What a season!!!

Larry Gibson · « **Reply #9 on:** December 04, 2003, 11:26:27 AM »

cs432

"Whom ever said those 180's were'nt adequate for deer? I would have to differ.... What a season!!![/quote]"

Very well done! Your experience mirrors the reports I have got on the 180 XTP. It mirrors the effectiveness of the 200 gr XTPs out of my 6.5" barreled revolver. Once again, well done.

Larry Gibson

litman252 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 04, 2003, 12:29:27 PM »

When you disregard any bullet weight and take out at least one lung, you have dead deer.
Giving any leasons on shooting soon??
Congrats

Tony

Gregory · « **Reply #11 on:** December 04, 2003, 01:13:36 PM »

Quote from: Gregory

Took a small spike at about 50 yds with a 180 gr Sierra out of a 10" TC Contender, I spined him and he dropped in his tracks. Used a 200 gr Nosler out of the same gun to take a 180 lb 8 point, complete pass through and deer ran less than 50 yds. Took a small 7 point with the same bullet out of a muzzleloader, complete pass through and massive internal damage. Good blood trail.

If you go with the 180 gr and go for the lungs you'll probably end up with a very dead deer.

I'm not surprised at all. Good shooting!!!!!!!!!!!!

Larry Gibson · « **Reply #12 on:** December 05, 2003, 05:48:19 AM »

cs432

Forgot to ask, what load are you using? Have you had a chance to chronograph it? I'm also assuming a 6" barrel but correct me if I'm wrong. Again good hunting and good shooting.

Larry Gibson

444encore · « **Reply #13 on:** December 06, 2003, 12:56:03 PM »

Being a recoil junkie I can't quite relate. However , if you havn't heard that Barnes has entered the pistol bullet market.
The Barnes XPB is available in .44 cal. in either 200 gr. or 225gr.
While I haven't tried these yet I have much experiance with Barnes expander M/Z's and can attest to the effectiveness of these bullets.
If Barnes has followed the same principle in the XPB. This bullet is worth trying since they will expand relyably at rediculously low velocities. It is possible "with some testing" to load these bullets to an acceptable recoil level for you and still optomise lethality.

jakes10mm · « **Reply #14 on:** February 20, 2004, 11:29:45 AM »

Instead of pushing the border on the lighter side, why not go heavy bullet at a slower pace? Many years ago, I loaded some very hot 44mag rounds with 300gr bullets. Without changing the sights from factory 240gr loads, the 300grainers were hitting point of aim at 300yds. Recoil was brisky. Drop the load down to a "minimum" powder charge and you will still deliver a great punch downrange. Depending on your handgun, you may be able to add an underlug weight to help reduce/absorb the recoil. Your powder choice can also affect your felt recoil. I find Federal 305gr 45-70 rounds are too painful! Yet, 405gr over a 3/4max load of 5744 feels like a 12ga field load....pleasant to shoot (for a 45-70).

jakes10mm · « **Reply #15 on:** February 20, 2004, 11:34:31 AM »

Sorry, noticed a little boo-boo in the above post:

The impact on the 300grainers was "100 yds" not "300 yds". Ok, so I have a problem judging range......LOL

Krazyhorse · « **Reply #16 on:** February 27, 2004, 04:33:25 AM »

jakes10mm

You had me going there for a minute. I was thinking if you guys shoot at 300yds with a handgun, I need to practice some more...a lot more! :eek: :lol:

Captainkev · « **Reply #17 on:** March 09, 2004, 10:25:53 AM »

Hornady also sells a factory loaded 200 gr. XTP in 44 mag, that might give you a bit more punch, without the push of the 250 gr. fare.

Kevin

swifty · « **Reply #18 on:** March 21, 2004, 04:51:48 AM »

I would like to remind our readers of a point that I learned from Elmer Keith. " You do not need to push a heavy cast bullet very fast and it will deliver a tremendious punch through the gam you are trying to havrest"
Instead of shooting a modern bought bullet, buy so hard cast quality bullet
in the 265 to 300 grain range. Shoot it at under 1000 feet per second.
I have taken deer up to 50 yards and wild boar with this load. The energy part of the equation is speed times weight. I have never found the spent bullet because there is always a huge exit hole in the animal.
Also, I would suggest that you wear a glove to soften the "felt recoil".

The deerslayer · « **Reply #19 on:** April 13, 2004, 10:50:48 AM »

Try to get something between.