44 REM Mag for Deer

[TimberGhost]

I was looking to use a Ruger deer carbine this coming fall for deer in NY . Being unfamiliar with this round I’ve been shopping around and noticed that since  it’s a handgun round there’s a lot of Hollow Point offerings … Does anyone have any experience with hunting with this caliber  ? If so , what are you using and why ?? Were You successful ??? What was recovery like ??? Love to hear the feedback 

Thanks 

[Splitear]

I killed one deer with my S&W 29, dropped it in its tracks at 15 yards. I sold the revolver a couple of years later, and regret doing so. I don’t even remember which ammunition I used. 

[Buckmaster7600]

I’ve killed a pile of deer with my 44mag carbines. Hornady xtp factory and hand loads 245gn, Barnes xpb hand loads in 225gn and my brothers killed a bunch with Winchester white box also 245gn. Great deer cartridge, stay in the 225-245gn range and keep your shots under 125yds and you’ll have dead deer if you do your part.

[G-man]

My brother uses his .44  pistol with a reddot site  keeps shot under 50 and works well.  

[DDT]

On 3/12/2023 at 10:44 PM, TimberGhost said:

I was looking to use a Ruger deer carbine this coming fall for deer in NY . Being unfamiliar with this round I’ve been shopping around and noticed that since  it’s a handgun round there’s a lot of Hollow Point offerings … Does anyone have any experience with hunting with this caliber  ? If so , what are you using and why ?? Were You successful ??? What was recovery like ??? Love to hear the feedback 

Thanks 

The 44mag in a carbine is a  whole different bullet in a carbine than a handgun. I would not use a hollow point in a carbine.  Flat point would give the penetration needed in that application,  due to the increased velocity the carbines longer barrel gives. 

I've been shooting the 44mag since 1981. Great caliber when using the right bullet and proper bullet placement. Have taken many deer with it. 

Just my dos centavos,  your mileage may vary. 

[dbHunterNY]

25 minutes ago, DDT said:

The 44mag in a carbine is a  whole different bullet in a carbine than a handgun. I would not use a hollow point in a carbine.  Flat point would give the penetration needed in that application,  due to the increased velocity the carbines longer barrel gives. 

I've been shooting the 44mag since 1981. Great caliber when using the right bullet and proper bullet placement. Have taken many deer with it. 

Just my dos centavos,  your mileage may vary. 

i don't but anyone i know that does sticks to flat points. you're not getting anything great for BC anyway and they've said they seem to hit harder but i'd imagine stay together too. many used the buffalo bore stuff if you can find it. some jacketed and some hard cast but i think that's because some hunt bear and hard cast is in their side arm.

[Rob-c]

3 hours ago, dbHunterNY said:

i don't but anyone i know that does sticks to flat points. you're not getting anything great for BC anyway and they've said they seem to hit harder but i'd imagine stay together too. many used the buffalo bore stuff if you can find it. some jacketed and some hard cast but i think that's because some hunt bear and hard cast is in their side arm.

In a carbine a 44 mag projectile will definitely have more velocity no doubt . And as you found the projectiles are tailored to handguns , but having said that . There are  hollow points that will hold up, Swift makes a very well built bullet and stays together up 3000 fps. https://www.swiftbullets.com/pages/bullets Scroll down to the  A-frame handgun bullets , granted they are not cheap but they have outstanding reviews on game . I have about 50 of these in 280 grain to use in M/L but I have not shot anything with them yet . I’ve used 240 grain xtp’s and 270 grain Speer deep curls in my Super redhawk with good results . But not sure how they would do at rifle velocity’s .

Edited March 22, 2023 by Rob-c

[ATbuckhunter]

Friend of mine uses a .44 mag lever action to hunt the Adirondaks every year. He's killed a few deer with it, including the biggest deer he's ever shot. He's never had a complaint about using it, but his shots are generally closer.