RE: Maximum distance of a .44
<energy doesnt kill deer, tissue damage kills deer>
Not sure I agree with such a defined statement. I've had deer shot with my 7 mag go until they bleed out. Every single deer I've shot with my .222 has gone down like sacks of cement. I know there was more tissue damage with the 7 mag. But a deer that runs into a solid wall goes down faster. Same with hitting them with a wall of energy from my .222. My .222 literally explodes and unloads it's considerable energy in the first couple of inches before it stops.
I hunt Northern CA so my deer aren't the biggest in the country. My .222 took many, from forks to 4X4 or what is sometimes referred to as a 10 point. A cheap old beater but it was my favorite until I had to give up on guns.