I have hunted with a 357. Mag for deer, but want to try my Ruger Redhawk 44 Mag for elk, have any of you shot an elk with a 44 Mag? What happened, did the animal go down right away? What is the best load that you would recommend for my 44? Currently I use 240 grain hollow point. Thanks for your help!

Dr. Mike
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Not Elk but my huntin buddy dropped a big Bull moose with one shot to the chest with a Ruger Super Redhawk. 300 Grain Hornady XTP. A good cast bullet will usually give the best penetration. I would stay with 300 grain or heavier bullets for game bigger than deer.

Just as James stated, big, heavy and hard.....for best penetration!

I have never taken an elk with a handgun but I have taken them with a muzzleloader. Standard 44 mag loads would be the rough equivalent of a muzzleoader shooting sabots with 100 grains or less powder. My experiece is as follows: Do not use hollow pts--you need penetration more than expansion; 240 grain bullets will work but are marginal if you hit big bones--use the heavy weight bullets (I am a fan of 300 grain jacketed soft points); get in as close as you can; and hit them in the right place--I prefer a lung shot in about the lower third of the chest. Good luck.

The 300 Grain Hornady XTP will give plenty of penetration and expasion both.