Dukebh40

im goin to be reloading for a .44 magnum this summer used for close range (-75 yds) deer hunting. my question is what would be the best bullet. i saw the speer gold dot (not the defensive one the hunting bullet) and was thinking that. any opinions are appreciated. thanks

DM

In what gun???? Revolver??? Single shot??? How long is the bbl.???

Drilling Man

Dukebh40

sry, its a smith wesson 6 1/2" barrel revolver.6 shot. i have a red dot bushnell trophy on top. sry i didnt include any of the info be4. thanks

rost495

I used a Redhawk with 240 JHP on smaller sized deer. Never expanded. So I moved down to a 180 jhp and it works very well. Even in my smith scandium. Finished a caribou last fall in Alaska at around 20 yards and the 180 never exited. So the 180 is too light for larger game IMHO. But the 240 was too stout for smaller deer. Pick the 180-200 IMHO and or use the Barnes pistol X. It will expand AND hold together.

Jeff

patch51

The 240 grain XTP works very good in my Rugers.Perfect mushroom and good penetration .I keep my shots 100 yards or less.

johnch

I use the Hornady 240 gr xtp with H-110 at 1400fps out of my 7 1/2" Red hawlk.
I get great groups (for me)1 1/2 -2" at 50 yds.
Only have recovered 1 bullet ,entered in the chest (faceing me at 50 yds) recovered just under the skin in the off ham ,perfictly mushroomed.
Never had a deer go far after being hit ,6 deer to this bullet /load/gun so far.

Dukebh40

anyone out there use barnes bullets in their pistols. ive always wanted to but the price always kept me away. i may finally break down and try it. anyone hear any positive/negative things about these. thank you

handloader1

I use LBT Style Hardcast bullets. Good luck.

Handgunr

Duke,
Depending on the preference of your particular gun, and although I don't use jacketed bullets much any longer, the best jacketed load that I used in the past (prior to the XTP) was the 210gr Sierra JHP's over 26grs. of W296.
I also used magnum primers as well. W296 has always been recommended to be loaded with maximum loads by Winchester/Olin due to erratic reporting of problems with lighter loads. Hodgdon's H110, which is characteristically the same powder, has never had (up until recently) any such warnings attached to it.

As previously mentioned, I initially had troubles using 240gr, Sierra JHP's in that they would over penetrate with minimal damage.
Remington bullets, in the same weight, on the other hand, performed much better due to their respective design.

The recommendation of bullets in the 200 to 220gr range, is good advice. Speer makes a 200grJHP (if I remember correctly), and the already mentioned 210gr Sierra are good choices.
From the reports of the Hornady XTP, it sounds as though 240gr bullets from them will perform very well also.

I switched to cast bullets years ago and never looked back. The performance levels that they seem to allow in relation to the cost, in my opinion, outweigh ( at least in handguns) any benefit of a jacketed bullet.
But that's just me.

Good luck,
Bob

DM

Hey Bob,

"That's just me" ----------------> TOO!!!

I use a 250 grain Keith style hard cast bullet in my 44's with great sucess, and have the added advantage that cast bullets are easier on "your revolver" than jackeeted bullets at the same velocity!!!

Biggest animial i've harvested with my S&W M29 is moose, and the load i used is 23.0 grains of H110, mag primer. That's the only load i use in my 44's anymore.

DRilling Man