Does a 454 kill deer any faster than a 44mag?

[ths78]

Inside of 75-100 yds, does a 454 kill deer any faster than a 44mag? I'm dying to take up handgun hunting next year, and want to go ahead and get a new pistol so I'll have 9 months to practice.

Thanks!,
ths78

[Virginia7]

Nope! All things being "equal", like distance/range, shot placement, bullet construction,
etc., there's not going to be much, if any, difference. Yes, the 45cal. cartridge will make
a little bigger hole, but it's not much.
You want something neat to hunt with, check out the 45LC (45Colt). Get ya' a Ruger
Blackhawk, maybe 5-1/2" barrel (or a Redhawk). You can practice some with regular factory loads, then also with custom heavy stuff for hunting use. It's amazing what this old cartridge can do. It's a hoot!

Ammo: http://www.cpcartridge.com/index.htm

[James B]

No. A good hit with either will do the same job.

[johnch]

I hunt deer with both a Ruger Redhawlk 7 1/2" 44 mag and a Ruger Super Redhawlk 7 1/2" 454.
Shot placement is everything .
True if you shoot Hornady 240 gr 454 load the shock of the 2000 fps bullet is greater than a 1400 fps .429 di bullet but the dead deer will not know the diffrerance.

If you load the 454 is more versital.
I load 45 colt cowboy loads and shoot it out of my 454 to the 360gr hardcast load at 1500 that I hope to use on bear next year.

I load a 250 gr Hornady bullet at 1450 fps for deer .
It is just a little faster than you can push a 44 mag bullet.
Off sand bags sub 3" groups (great for me ,gun & load shoot better for others) at 100 yds.

Witch ever you choise it will kill deer to at least 100 yds cleanly.

Have fun ,shoot lots and get good at killing deer

In this case I would say yes. I haven't did your comparisons, but kinda the same thing. I usually hunt with a ML with 95gr of Pyrodex and 240gr XTP cruisin at 1550fps. I have shot dozens of deer with it. This year I started using 3-777 pellets with 240gr XTP kicking at 2100fps and the damage in the deer was much more devastating. Exit hole also was big as a silver dollar. I was impressed.

I have shot deer with a 44 mag with the 240gr XTP and 23gr of H110. It is going at 1300fps and didn't get a exit most of the time.

[James B]

I have shot a lot of deer with the 300 grain Hornady XTP. In 44 cal. Every one has exited. A couple of them exited after going through both shoulders. I shot one elk with them. It also exited taking out the back of one shoulder. This at about 1450 fps.

Thats excellent James B. Glad you had such good luck. I didn't. Not sure what else to say. I got the bullet still, if you need a picture of it????

[uncle matt]

454 will kill them deader than a 44 everytime. Your wrist and arm, too.

Uncle Matt (in IL)

[James B]

Big country. were useing the 240 or 300 grain. I have only used the 300 grain for big game. I shoot the 300 grain in my Muzzle loader with two 50 grain pellets. I shoot them from my NEF 44 mag rifle with H110 to about 1450 fps. I shoot them from a Contender, same load at about the same velocity. I have not found any jacketed bullet that I like better although there are a few Speer bullets I should try. I am soon getting the New Black Hawk Hunter. Just have not decide which barrel length to get.

[8mm/06]

Yes. It will kill deer faster. About 450-650 fps faster.