Bob H in NH

there are several .44 mag rifles, all ruger carbines, in my family hunting group. they have taken deer in a variety of sizes from up close and personal to around 120 yards.

sixgunluvr

Are you serious? A .44 mag with a good 240gr. hollowpoint will flatten the biggest buck that ever walked out to 200 yards with proper shot placement with ease. The question is can you hit where your aiming at that distance.

TimberCreek

Yes I am serious! the poster never said he had a rifle! The original poster has not answered back if it was a rifle or pistol. With a 44 mag pistol unless you are really great 40 yds is about it or you take the chance of missing vitals. With proper placement a 22 rimfire will drop a deer but thats not the point!

sixgunluvr

Lol, ok not trying to stir the pot here. Guess it depends how much you practice and how famaliar you are with your weapon but I WAS referring to an iron sighted pistol such as my 10.5 in. Super Blackhawk .44 that I took a doe with at 60 yards and felt that it was kind of an....easy.. shot. but then again I shoot it all the time and often ground hog hunt with it and can routinely keep 4-5 out of 6 shots in a pie plate at 100 yards off a bench and sand bags.
To support your post , however, TimberCreek, If he has no experience with a .44 pistol and it is iron sighted 40 yards is also IMHO about the max. but then again I have a friend who claims to be a 'rifleman' only that couldn't hit his own foot if he tried with a pistol, not that I recommend trying to hit your own foot of course.

Jimmy S

One of my weapons of choice is my old Ruger .44 mag carbine.
Some areas I hunt are very thick and I know my shots will be in-close. It can be difficult to see a deer further than 40-50 yds.

I have shot more deer with my .44 than all the others. No shot was more than 30-40 yds,most 1/2 that distanceand no deer ever took another step, ever.

I'm not saying it won't kill a deer a lot farther, it's just my peronal decision.

If I decide to hunt more open areas then I leave the .44 back at camp. But if I decide to hunt thick, nasty swamps or very thick alders, my .44 will be with me.