Ruger 44 MAG for western whitetails?

[T.R.]

I've read some unkind things about this little gem from Ruger.  But its a genuine keeper!  I clobbered this dandy 3X3 buck at about 80 yards or so with one shot through the chest.  A long stalk along the Grande River in Perkins County. Hunted with Hornady Custom 240 grain XTP ammo.  The bullet made a ghastly exit wound and was never recovered.

I owned a Marlin 1894 but it didn't shoot nearly as straight as this Ruger.  Doesn't matter if  the bullet is a sl-o-ow 44 Special or heavy 300 grain 44 MAG, this Ruger shoots small groups.  This carbine seems to like 240 grain XTP best, perhaps because of the .430 diameter.

I carry this carbine on alll my backpack trips into the Bighorns for bear protection, although I've never actually had to use it that way.  But it certainly feels right late at night when the wind howls down the canyon and makes an ominous moaning sound.
TR

[nomosendero]

I sure like the Spearfish area, I have passed through many times on the way to Wyoming to hunt. There is nothing wrong with you gun or cartridge if the range limitations are acceptable to you, what others think is no biggie if you like it.  

[victorcharlie]

I've got to admit I've never owned a Ruger Lever action.  It's very encouraging to hear some good things about this carbine.  I'd love to try one.

[Pinkerton]

Hi TR

Nice to see another fellow from the Black Hills.

My wife bought one about 2 yrs ago and she likes it. Its a handy little rifle, the best load I've found for it has been 23 gr of H4227 under 240gr XTP. I've got a ton of hornady 265 gr  for my 444 that shot well also, but 300gr xtps and sierras didn't do well at all, and 200 gr xtps didn't group as well either. But for it's purpose the 240 and 265 fit the bill.

Nice to hear from someone else who likes the ruger 96.

take care.

[T.R.]

My Ruger typically shoots like this:

2" at 30 yds- 44 Special Winchester 200 gr SilverTip hollow point

2" at 50 yds- 44 MAG Hornady 300 gr XTP Hornady factory ammo

2.5 - 3.25" at 100 yds- 44 MAG (24.0 grs WIN 296) 240 gr Hornady XTP

3 - 4" at 100 yds- 44 MAG (28.0 grs WIN 296) 200 gr Hornady XTP


The 44 Special ammo is sub-sonic.  I have shot many porkupines at night with this ammo.  Far less noise than a 22LR but is quite lethal.

I agree that the 240 grain bullet is a good choice for this carbine.  It has the accurasy and knock down power to get the job done quickly.

I drive to Deadwood all the time for business at the County Courthouse.  Building plans, permit review, etc.  I always have lunch at Tin Lizzy's.

There is a big buck above Spearfish Canyon that I missed in 2004.  He walking through a thick stand of aspen and I shot too soon.  Saw his tracks a few times last Fall but never sighted him.  He was a wide racked 5X5 in 2004.
TR

[Pinkerton]

Best I ever got with 300's was 3.5" at 50yrds and about 6" at 100yrs. My 240 XTP load does will do 2.5" at 100yrds. The 265gr Hornady's will do alittle less than 2" at 100yrs but I wonder if the bullet would be alittle to hard to expand at the lower velocity of the 44mag.

2004 I took a deicent 4x4 whitetail just off the tinton road near the small quarry just outside of Spearfish. And my wife took a doe just below Cement Ridge lookout. I used my 444 that year with 300gr xtp's and my wife used her 270wsm. This year if we get tags I'll try to talk my wife into using her 96. If I get enough practice in this summer and feel proficient enough I'm using a Super Blackhawk Hunter 44mag.

[T.R.]

I've done some target plinking near the quarry but never hunted there.  Ever tried that BLM land near the Ft. Meade cemetary?  I've seen elk there many times while deer hunting but never had a tag.  

I gave up on the South Dakota elk lottery and now hunt the Bear Lodge Mts. near Sundance for elk.  The non-resident rate is spendy but travel costs for me are far less than what a hunter from Pennsylvania would pay!

Yesterday, I stalked a herd of bighorn sheep along the cliffs above Cleghorn Canyon Rd. (just outside of Rapid). I wasn't armed, just having fun.  I got within about 50 yards of a large ram I named Mr. Big.  He has a stout neck and muscular shoulders.  3/4 curl would probably place him high in the Pope & Young book and would likely make the minimum for B&C.  I had a ball!

I saw cougar prints on the edge of that old burn from the 1980's. This is close to town; I could look down from the cliff edge into Canyon Lake Park!  

44 MAG is a good hunting cartridge for the person who has some patience to watch and wait.  It doesn't have the reach for long shots but it certainly hits hard within its limits.
TR

[Doc T]

Go to www.hawkbullets.com and look at their .429 bullets.  They make a true spitzer bullet in various weights that would be perfect for that rifle since it has a rotary magazine.  It has a higher B.C. and may give you another 50yds or so.  I have shot some in 265gr and they are accurate.  Haven't killed anything with them yet, though.

[T.R.]

Thanx for the info about semi-pointed bullets.  Truth is that if I planned to take a shot longer than 100 yards, I'd simply hunt with another rifle from my rack.  I have several rifles, purchased used but NOT abused over the past 3 decades.

I don't much care for taking deer with archery equipment.  The animal does not drop quickly enough to match my expectations. I have zero interest in a muzzle-loader either.  Yet I do not embrace the long distance Weatherby magnum rifles either.  I'm attracted to taking my freezer meat the old fashioned way.  That is, stalk quietly and wait for a good shot into the chest.  A good lethal shot taken at 50-100 yards brings great pleasure to me.  For me at least, the 44 MAG is a very good hunting tool.
TR

[Lone Star]

Go to www.hawkbullets.com and look at their .429 bullets.  They make a true spitzer bullet in various weights that would be perfect for that rifle since it has a rotary magazine.

The rotary magazine is the exact reason why those bullets will not work.  Ruger chose to make a very short magazine, so the use of even some flat-pointed 300-grain bullets is not possible without seating them too deep. Too bad too.

[Pinkerton]

Hello TR,

I work at Ft. Meade but have never hunted there, I believe it's bow only, and I know what you mean about getting an elk tag here in SD I've got 6 years of preferance points now, and I'll send my 5 bucks this year to keep the points, don't think I'll have time for elk this year and I'm affraid if I did put in for the tag, this would be the year I'd get it.

Speaking of elk there is a huge hurd on the little spearfish road by gravel pit above roughlock falls. It's amazing how they disappear in there though.

[Steve E]

Pinkerton

            Just across the road from Ft. Meade on the way to Laurel you will find the Patuxent Research Center and you can take some of the very numerous Whitetail with bow, muzzle loader or shotgun(slug only)in their respective season. Be sure to sign up for the bonus hunts on the Central Tract too. If you use your Bonus Tags(from Wal-Mart etc.) on the Central hunt it does not count against your state limit. My favorite area was Area X, between the power line and BW Parkway.

                                                Steve E........