salty444

I bought my wife a lever action marlin a couple years ago just so she could target shoot. She never shoots it so I have decided to give it a try on deer. I would limit my range to under 80 yards but I am wondering how effective this cartridge will be on a deer out to 80 yards. I bought a box of winchester 210 grain silvertip hunting rounds and they shoot great. I was thinking of trying those hornady leverolution rounds also. I usually hunt with a .35 whelen or my 300 WM and just need some guidance on what to expect. I know shot placement is everything.... will I have a search on my hands or will this 44 knock them down like the big guns?

DannyD

At that distance you will be fine. Fun gun to shoot too.

No gun knocks them down, 416 Rigby or 44mag at 80 yards in the boiler room = dead deer, minimal tracking

salty444

Danny,

If you think no gun knocks them down you should look into a .35 whelen. The gun literally flips the deer on their backs and they are dead on impact. I have only had 1 deer run and it was a small doe... I'm sure other .35 whelen nuts will attest to this.

not trying to start a war but you should get one and try it for yourself...

salty444

BTW, I bought this gun for my wife and she hated shooting the mag shells out of it so I bought some 44 special rounds and it kicks less than a 22.

DannyD

I look forward to hearing from them.

salty444

I loaded 200 grain spire points and 250 grain grand slams which I only used the 200 grains for deer. One doe I shot flipped on it's back with its legs sticking straight into the air.. I honestly believe it died instantly almost like a headshot

DannyD

This may have happened with this particular doe. It could have happened with this gun, a 30-30, the 44 mag you are asking about or any gun.
But it you think that the general result of shooting a 35 Whelen at a deer is "the gun literally flips the deer on their backs and they are dead on impact" I believe you will find that this is not going to be the case.

Soup du Jour

My father use to hunt with a 44 mag. It is a great brush gun out to about 100 yards. After 100 yards the bullet would tumble and go everywhere. He harvested a lot of deer with this gun. Like any firearm it is shot placement. I still use my 30-30 that I was given from my father nearly 25 years ago. I changed to the Hornady bullets last year and I can not tell you how much better and farther I can shoot using them. They are more expensive but well worth it. My confidence using this new bullet is tremendous. I would recommend them to anyone.

Just my two cents- Soup

salty444

I just picked up 2 boxes of the hornady 44 mag lever revolution's for 20.00 per box.. I thought that was reasonable.

My 300 WM shells cost me about 40 per box for the hornady's.... I agree they shoot awesome

oldsmellhound

.44 mag out of a rifle is great for deer out to 100 yards or so. Just practice and know your limitations in terms of accuracy, and go hunting!