.44 mag for deer?
 

My girlfriend is going to start deer hunting this year and all of my guns are too much for her. I went and looked at an H & R .44 mag rifle for her today.She liked the feel of it. Is this going to be a good deer gun for her? I was thinking 50-75 yard shots. We live in Indiana so its a shotgun or a pistol cartridge rifle.

The 44 is quite capable out to 100yds with a handgun. A rifle, would stretch that a bit further, but not too much further.
About all available ammo, even the bottom line stuff, has been effective, and accurate for me.
One thing though, lots of times, light 44 rifles kick more than you'd think they would.
Overall it should make a nice package.

If the .44 mag is too much then try the specials. I think that they are interchangable just like they are in a revolver.

What about something like a .243 or 25-06? If it was for deer I'd much rather go with one of those two.

go with 7mm-08

I saw a pistol in .45-70.....does that mean you can use a rifle in .45-70 in IN?

The .44 should be just fine for her. Very effective.

Hornady's 357 Mag and 44 Mag LEVERevolution cartridges

44 Mag, or 357 Mag would be good at the ranges you stated.
357 would be a lot softer to shoot.

But you know how it goes, You see Mr.Big Buck.
After the shot, I didn't feel the recoil at all.

JMHO

Good Luck

The .44 would be way down the list in my choice of deer calibers. I would opt for the .243 to 7mm08 as has been mentioned. Add a quality scope and let her go. Can't ever tell when the over 100 yard shot will present itself.

I agree that .243, 7mm-08, etc would be better but I think he said shotgun or pistol only. That being said .44 mag is more than adequate at the ranges you said. recoil is pretty stiff in a revolver, but I think with a rifle it will be a little easier to control...certainly less than your average shotgun slug load.

I agree with you guys on much better choices for deer than the .44mag but here in Indiana we are limited to pistol cartridge rifle so with our limited selection of cartridges and keeping with over the counter ammo the 44 is a good choice. I bought a pair for my Grandsons and was amazed at the accuracy the little NEF Handi produce. Green box Remingtons 3 shot groups 100 yds. one ragged hole.

the .44 mag will work well for her. there have been plenty of deer killed by .44 mag handguns. i've killed deer with a .44 mag handgun myself and i've never fealt that i was using a inadequate cartridge. and out of a longer barreled rifle she'll be able to take longer shots with confidence. good luck to her this season.

The 44 with a good bullet is perfect for deer out to even 125-150 yds.

In Indiana, any rifle can be used. The limitation is on the ammo. The bullet must be .357 diameter or larger, and the case can be no longer than 1.625". Wildcatters are coming up with some really cool cartridges within these limitations.

Come on guys,read the mans post,he says he lives in Indiana which is only a shotgun or pistol caliber state..With that being said,the 44mag is an adequate caliber for whitetails on shots under 100yds,no further. I killed a 4pt at 60 yds with my Marlin 1894 in 44mag,droped him in his trax..Very little recoil also,it should be a good caliber to start out on..My gun loved winchester 240gr JHP..Deadly accurate with them.Good luck which ever caliber you choose!

I carry marlin in 357 mag and taken deer out to 100 yds with iron sites. The 44 mag is a good round, if the recoil is not too much. The 44 special has a lighter recoil. My daughter shoot my rifle with 38 loads for practice, then use full power hunting. Just a thought, dont make her gun shy, thats a way to ruin somebody.

My suggestion is a semi auto 20 ga shotgun. Very, very little recoil and deadly beyond 100. Get a fully rifled barrel w/scope. She will be set.

You should do fine with the .44 Mag in a rifle- with good sights or a scope, it should be a good deer gun out to 125 yards, or even a little further. If you're worried about recoil, there are plenty of "lighter" loads out there that won't kick as much. Any good 240 grain jacketed hollow point should do just fine.

I've got both 20 guage shot guns and .44 mag Ruger. 44 kicks less.

The .243 and the 25-06 are rifle cartridges. Illegal for him.

I would say the .44 will do fine.

I hunt in New England and have had more success with my (old) Ruger .44mag carbine. Of course it all depends on the areas hunted. If I expect to see and shoot deer are distances greater than 100+ yards, I will take another rifle. But if I hunt the thick, nasty stuff, with close shots, my go-to gun is the .44mag. Plus, I have never shot a deer further than 40 yards with it and no deer has ever taken a second step.

If you expect to shoot at close range, the .44mag comes highly recommended from this NH hunter.
Good Luck!

44 mag is fine on deer.. I would say 100 yds or less no problems.. The Handi rifle is a pretty heavy little gun so that should help on the recoil..

good little brush carry gun. I love going into big time htivkets w/ that little gun! But then I am not going to shoot long range, very comfy 75 yards and under w/ agood shot picture.

The recoil on a .44 mag in a rifle is hardly noticeable. The noise is what scares them the most. She will do fine with the .44. Good luck.

Agreed, I even removed the recoil pads on mine so they would fit my Grandsons better and they still had no problem with recoil.

Pistol Cartridge Only
 

As mentioned, the State of Indiana only allows pistol cartridges. You can't use a high powered rifle, i.e. 243, 270, 25-06. The cartridge can't be more the 1.16 inches long. I have a 44mag and shoot the Hornady ammo and it shoots great out to 100 yards. I can drill the center of a pie plate all day long. My wife uses the .44 mag as well and with all the clothes she wears hunting, the recoil is never an issue.

Good luck

Thats gonna be a lot of power for her... but for a grown man... no prob.

I bought my girlfriend a .44 mag H&R Handi single shot last week. We went to my farm and I shot it just enough to get the scope close for her then I gave it to her. Her first shot was dead on at 40 yards. She said she absolutley loves the gun! If it does a good jod on the deer she is going to shoot I would reccomed this gun for all the ladies out there.

that wuld be perfect. ive killed two deer with a 44 mag rifle. try hornady lever evolution ammo. it does a number on deer

I've hunted witha 357 mag handi rifle for the past two years and takin some good deer. This year I traded up to a marlin 1894 and so far it seems like its gonna be a great brush gun. I would definately go for it. I don't know if your in indy or not but the gander mountain on the northside has a nice scoped combo for $350.