Marlin 44 mag for deer?
 

Hi guys, I bought my wife a 44 mag this year and I was thinking about taking it out a couple times for deer this season. What is the maximum effective range for this round? I usually shoot .35 whelen's and 300 mag's so I am not familiar with this smaller rifle. I have been target shooting it well @ 100 yards ... What ammo would you use? I noticed wolf ammo shoots well out of this gun

RE: Marlin 44 mag for deer?
 

I am not really familiar with 44 as a rifle round, but according to Winchester ballistics, it has less than 1000 fps at 100 yards with their 240 gr bullet. That being said, I would keep shots under 100 yards (50-75 preferably).

RE: Marlin 44 mag for deer?
 

According to Federal Ballistics, >44 Rem Mag .240gr HP

Muzzle> 1760 fps

100yds>1387 fps

200yds> 1123 fps

But here is whereit shows its a 100yd round,IMO.

Muzzle> 1651 foot pds of energy

100yds> 1025"" """""""

200yds> 672 """" "" """"" Not enough IMO

I don't use or shoot any ammo which will not give me from 900 to 1000 foot pds of energy for atleast 300yds.

RE: Marlin 44 mag for deer?
 

Has she shot this gun??? My son just got one and he says it is the hardest kicking gun we own. I never shot it because my shoulder and back don't need the hassle. That said, it is a 100yd gun, They fall off FAST after that and energy becomes an issue much past that.

There are much better guns w/less recoil. .243 for example. Just my .02. We got ours for bears over hounds.

RE: Marlin 44 mag for deer?
 

Dryridge, what 44 Mag. gun is it? I bought a Ruger Semi-Auto for my son last year.The gun isa very nice shooter and has almost no kick. I can shoot this thing with one hand. I love to hunt with it because it is light, compact, and handles easy.

Remington hasa deer load that give you over1000ftlbs/1000ftsec at 100 yards andshoots well. Corbon has some hot loads that also shoot well. I shoot 240gr & 270gr out of the gun because it does not group anything else good.

RE: Marlin 44 mag for deer?
 

Look above at my post! Federal's 240gr is better!:)

RE: Marlin 44 mag for deer?
 

Rebel, I agree, but I just don't like using hollow points for deer. I have not shot one with a HP, but I would think if you hit a big deer in the front shoulder it may have a penetration problem. If you make a double lung shot it would destroy them with a HP.

RE: Marlin 44 mag for deer?
 

LA, I know , to each his own!:DMost Muzzle Loaders use the Hornady 240gr XTP for deer hunting






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50 CAL SABOT WITH 44 CAL 240 GR HP/XTP BULLET
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[align=center]View Ballistics[/align]


[align=center]6720[/align]
[align=center]20[/align]
[align=center]$10.52[/align]
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RE: Marlin 44 mag for deer?
 

Rebel, that is what I use out of my muzzleloader too. Is that bullet the same as the one in the Federal ammunition?
Ihave not shot one with my muzzleloader yet.I shoot for a double lung shot on all deer I shoot and just try to make sure I don't hit the shoulder.

But as they say, S*** happens!

RE: Marlin 44 mag for deer?
 

I think your most effective range is going to max out at 100 yards, If your grouping consistently then i see no reason on why you shouldn't use it if thats what you want to use, however, if shots beyond 100 yards are not that uncommon then i think you would be foolish to take a chance when that "trophy" buck could possibly present itself at 150 yards, especially if you have a 300 that could do the job easily, good luck,

RE: Marlin 44 mag for deer?
 

dryridge, My wife complained badly about the recoil of the 44 mag rifle. We have the marlin lever gun. Once I bought some 44 special ammo she loved it. I wouldn't recommend shooting a bear with 44 specials though! I could definitely see this gun knocking a deer on it's butt out to 80 yards with the mags. I don't think it kicks but you are also talking to someone that hand loads 250 grain grand slams for a 35 whelen and 300 mags

RE: Marlin 44 mag for deer?
 

I shoot a Ruger semi-auto in .44 mag and find it a perfect stalking rifle for heavy cover.It has almost no recoil and is light and fast handling.I wouldn't attempt anything over 75-100yds but that is what stalking is about.You just need to work your way closer.I would also recommend head or neck shots if you are interested in venison as there is a large amount of meat damage.A large Red hind and yearling shot on Saturday,both head shot within 50yrds of each other.

RE: Marlin 44 mag for deer?
 

I own a marlin 1894 model for the .44 mag and i love it.it don't have hardly any recoil and and is very accurate with the winchester 240 grs. Last year i shot a small buck with it at 75 yards and it droped like a sack of potatos.

RE: Marlin 44 mag for deer?
 

A 240grn XTP HP will have no problem penetrating a deer's shoulder. Ive used them in my 44 Deerstalker and ML for years.

RE: Marlin 44 mag for deer?
 

Salty, Try A 200 gr nosler out of that puppy, the recoil will be considerably less and they killed like lightning out of my super redhawk. I never shot them out of my rifle but the extra barrel length should put them right in the ballpark with A dirty-dirty, 75 yds should not be A problem, possibly A hundred with A lung shot.

The one buck I shot Irecovered the bullet and it was A perfect mushroom(it weighed 178gr)it looks just about like A marble, you can't ask for more!

RE: Marlin 44 mag for deer?
 

I cut my teeth deer hunting with a marlin lever action .44 mag. It works well loaded with the 240 grain hollow point out to 100 yards. The longest shot I ever made with it was on a nice doe at about 115 yards. Double lung shot that wiped her out within 40 yards. Please don't delude yourself into taking a shot much further than 125 yards. As I grew older, I tried several different calibers, searching for the extra distance that is sometimes needed. I settled on the .30-06. Your 44 is really nice for stalking or driving in thick cover. The little lever action is fast and manuverable in close quarters, and really has enough energy to help you out on a marginal hit at close range. Make sure you use it in the proper application, and you'll love it.


GH

RE: Marlin 44 mag for deer?
 

ya that gun does kick like a mule but it is sufficent at 100Yrds my brother has hunted with it.

RE: Marlin 44 mag for deer?
 

I have a Ruger carbine, had it since 1968. Sweet shooting no recoil been using Win.240 sp's. 100 yds. and under couldn't ask fer a better deer killing rifle.