Hunting with .44 rem mag

[jaylow?]

not too long ago I picked up a Winchester model 94 legacy in 44 mag . do you guys have experience hunting with this ? im not worried at all about hunting deer but I start to wonder about a good size moose or elk . I don't imagine id be taking many shots outside 100 with the open sights.

[amosfella]

Within 100 yards, it's a lethal little cartridge. While I don't have experience hunting with it, I have killed a lot of cattle with one... Over penetration is generally not an issue.

[propliner]

Originally Posted by jaylow?

not too long ago I picked up a Winchester model 94 legacy in 44 mag . do you guys have experience hunting with this ? im not worried at all about hunting deer but I start to wonder about a good size moose or elk . I don't imagine id be taking many shots outside 100 with the open sights.

For hunting large moose, the .44 Magnum is mostly inadequate for a reliable, humane kill. In a lever, I prefer the .444 Marlin which delivers twice the energy.

At short range, the .44 is acceptable for elk but there are much better choices.

[1899b]

Originally Posted by propliner

For hunting large moose, the .44 Magnum is mostly inadequate for a reliable, humane kill. In a lever, I prefer the .444 Marlin which delivers twice the energy.

At short range, the .44 is acceptable for elk but there are much better choices.

The .44 mag is a great round. I had a load with H110 and a hornady 240 grain XTP bullet that would give me 900 ftlbs of remaining energy at 150 yards with not that much drop. Be a hunter and get within range and you will make meat.

I have also hunted with a .444 Marlin which was a blast..

[jaylow?]

Originally Posted by 1899b

The .44 mag is a great round. I had a load with H110 and a hornady 240 grain XTP bullet that would give me 900 ftlbs of remaining energy at 150 yards with not that much drop. Be a hunter and get within range and you will make meat.

I have also hunted with a .444 Marlin which was a blast..

Yeah thats my thinking , i have rifles that can reach out farther than i ever care to , and where i hunt mainly in north central alberta i dont often need to shoot more than 150.

i owned a .444 marlin as well , it was a beauty and drops a bear pretty hard but man did she jam up

[Scott N]

I've had a 44 mag carbine for a few years now, and while I've never hunted with it, it seems like hardcast bullets would should shoot right through just about any critter around AB. I'm tempted to try it I must admit.

[brewster29]

The same nimrods that will tell you a 243 is the perfect elk and moose round will tell you the 44 mag won't kill anything!

Use 265 Hornady flat points and you can shoot through just about anything within your range constraints.
The extra barrel length of a rifle over a handgun gains a large increase in velocity, making the 44 a potent short range cartridge. Good luck hunting with it.

[Flight01]

I'd go hardcast and for elk and moose keep it inside 75 yards. But it is a capable cartridge. I am going for a deer with my model 92 in 357 mag this year. I am keeping shots inside 75 yards for this.
A 75 yard shot out of a 16" carbine will have as much energy as a 4" revolver shot at point blank. I think that is very capable.

[elkdump]

Originally Posted by brewster29

The same nimrods that will tell you a 243 is the perfect elk and moose round will tell you the 44 mag won't kill anything!

Use 265 Hornady flat points and you can shoot through just about anything within your range constraints.
The extra barrel length of a rifle over a handgun gains a large increase in velocity, making the 44 a potent short range cartridge. Good luck hunting with it.

A simple question from a nimrod whom has has killed about 30 elk over the last 40 years ?

What cartridge does an expert like yourself recommend ultimately for elk and moose ?

[Dick284]

So what's the velocity of a saboted .429" 240gr.-300gr. Bullet fired out of an inline muzzle loader?

I wonder out loud if it is any different than what a 20" bbl'd carbine .44 mag will do?

I wonder if the front stuffer crowd feels inadequate hunting moose or elk with these bullets?

Inside 100 yds I'd wager a well built 240 gr. pill from a venerable .44 mag lever gun will get things done on a moose or elk just fine.

I don't feel that elk or moose have changed much over the last century, and we all know success was had years back with lever guns shooting cartridges like the 25/35, 38/55, 30/30, 303Savage, and 44/40.

It's more likely the "jerk behind the trigger" has changed far more than the quary.

[RancheroMan]

I've got a Ruger 77/44 that has become my go-to bush rifle. I'm loading the 265gr Hornady Interlock's and H110.

I've only been lucky enough to harvest one nice little 5x5 whitetail with it at about 75 yards (my zero range for this rifle/scope). The bullet was a pass through, with slight expansion from what I could tell by the exit hole and 1/2" hole through the buck's heart.

I would not hesitate to use this combination on elk or moose, provided I stayed at or below 100 yards, it's a big hole for blood to escape.

[Xbolt7mm]

Originally Posted by elkdump

A simple question from a nimrod whom has has killed about 30 elk over the last 40 years ?

What cartridge does an expert like yourself recommend ultimately for elk and moose ?

Derail

[elkdump]

Originally Posted by Xbolt7mm

Derail

In retrospect , I have killed many elk and moose over the years, using dozens of different cartridges, from .243 all the way up to .416 Mag,

the LAST thing I would I would intentionally pull out the gun safe to intentionally hunt elk or moose would be a .44 Mag ,

And I have shot bull elk as close as 9 meters

There ! , are we back on track enough ?

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by brewster29

The same nimrods that will tell you a 243 is the perfect elk and moose round will tell you the 44 mag won't kill anything!

Use 265 Hornady flat points and you can shoot through just about anything within your range constraints.
The extra barrel length of a rifle over a handgun gains a large increase in velocity, making the 44 a potent short range cartridge. Good luck hunting with it.

Exactly.

[brewster29]

Originally Posted by elkdump

A simple question from a nimrod whom has has killed about 30 elk over the last 40 years ?

What cartridge does an expert like yourself recommend ultimately for elk and moose ?

Did we have to turn this into p***ing contest?
I do not know what constitutes an expert here, but with 35 bull elk on my wall and assists on another 20 or so, I think I could at least be considered somewhat experienced! I have seen what worked and what did not.

See my post #35 under "guns and ammo discussion- favourite caliber for elk".

In my part of the world we may only get one glimpse of a legal bull all season.
Steep and rough terrain, heavy timber, and general lack of possibility of follow up shots or blood trailing make it wise to use 30-06 or more powerful cartridges with stout well constructed bullets.

My point on the 44 mag is that with good bullets and hand loads it is actually a pretty good equivalent to a 45-70 with factory loads. Nobody would hesitate to use a 45-70 on an elk at 100 yards!

Peace out.

[JustMe]

Originally Posted by brewster29

Did we have to turn this into p***ing contest?

I do not know what constitutes an expert here, but with 35 bull elk on my wall and assists on another 20 or so, I think I could at least be considered somewhat experienced! I have seen what worked and what did not.



See my post #35 under "guns and ammo discussion- favourite caliber for elk".



In my part of the world we may only get one glimpse of a legal bull all season.

Steep and rough terrain, heavy timber, and general lack of possibility of follow up shots or blood trailing make it wise to use 30-06 or more powerful cartridges with stout well constructed bullets.



My point on the 44 mag is that with good bullets and hand loads it is actually a pretty good equivalent to a 45-70 with factory loads. Nobody would hesitate to use a 45-70 on an elk at 100 yards!



Peace out.

Close enough and calm enough, any rifle will kill an elk or anything else. But like you, I would recommend at least a 270/30-06 as a realistic minimum cartridge. Of course the 44 will "work" if you're close enough and don't get buck fever, would it be one of my top choices? Not likely when there are so many other options.


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[Yaha Tinda]

I have reloads from 180 to 300 for my 44. Generally stuff them full of as much H110 as the case will allow. For hunting I prefer the Hornady ftx - 225 grain. Better ballistics down range and quite accurate. They still pack a wallop at 100 yards with 1000 ft-lbs. Excellent close range bush gun for anything in Alberta, and one of these years we're going bighorn hunting.

[Dean2]

44 Colt and 44-40 were used to successfully hunt with back in the day. Will the 44 mag work, yes, lots of examples from the U.S. of hunters using it in revolvers to successfully hunt game. That said, since we can't hunt with revolvers and have to carry rifles and since weight of ammo is rarely a consideration I will stick to the 38-55, 444 or 45-70. They are a heck of a lot more effective and come in short lever guns with 16" barrels.

Why handicap yourself with an under powered round when all of Alberta is pretty much bear country?

[Xbolt7mm]

Originally Posted by elkdump

In retrospect , I have killed many elk and moose over the years, using dozens of different cartridges, from .243 all the way up to .416 Mag,

the LAST thing I would I would intentionally pull out the gun safe to intentionally hunt elk or moose would be a .44 Mag ,

And I have shot bull elk as close as 9 meters

There ! , are we back on track enough ?

Then thats what you shoulda said the first time

[Xbolt7mm]

Originally Posted by brewster29

Did we have to turn this into p***ing contest?
I do not know what constitutes an expert here, but with 35 bull elk on my wall and assists on another 20 or so, I think I could at least be considered somewhat experienced! I have seen what worked and what did not.

See my post #35 under "guns and ammo discussion- favourite caliber for elk".

In my part of the world we may only get one glimpse of a legal bull all season.
Steep and rough terrain, heavy timber, and general lack of possibility of follow up shots or blood trailing make it wise to use 30-06 or more powerful cartridges with stout well constructed bullets.

My point on the 44 mag is that with good bullets and hand loads it is actually a pretty good equivalent to a 45-70 with factory loads. Nobody would hesitate to use a 45-70 on an elk at 100 yards!

Peace out.

Thats got to be a pretty hot 44mag to match a factory 45-70

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by Xbolt7mm

Thats got to be a pretty hot 44mag to match a factory 45-70

Anyone that thinks the 44 mag is equivalent to a 45-70 factory load has been smoking too much of the Ganja man!

Remington 405 loads are the mildest factory stuff available and they are still doing 1,400 FPS. There is no load for a 44 mag that even comes close. The heaviest bullet is 300 grains, and though it too is doing 1,400 fps out of a 20" rifle barrel, the 105 grain difference in bullet weight is substantial. On top of that, these aren't factory 44 Mag loads. It takes no work at all to get a 300 grain 45-70 load over 2400 FPS. Let me see someone do that with a 44 mag.

[Xbolt7mm]

Originally Posted by Dean2

Anyone that thinks the 44 mag is equivalent to a 45-70 factory load has been smoking too much of the Ganja man!

Remington 405 loads are the mildest factory stuff available and they are still doing 1,400 FPS. There is no load for a 44 mag that even comes close. The heaviest bullet is 300 grains, and though it too is doing 1,400 fps out of a 20" rifle barrel, the 105 grain difference in bullet weight is substantial. On top of that, these aren't factory 44 Mag loads. It takes no work at all to get a 300 grain 45-70 load over 2400 FPS. Let me see someone do that with a 44 mag.

Dont jump on me over it, i said the same thing as you, just not mean about it.

[amosfella]

Here's the simple answer... Yes. It will kill. Yes, it will work. Are there other better options?? Yes. Do I carry one as a backup gun when hunting due to being extremely familiar with it, yes....

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by Xbolt7mm

Dont jump on me over it, i said the same thing as you, just not mean about it.

I wasn't jumping, I was agreeing with you. You might call my comment mean but I get sooo flipping tired of reading stuff that is posted here and is completely out to lunch. Guys need to spend a little more time understanding and knowing what they are talking about. Ballistics is not a matter of opinion, there are hard facts involved. You can't just make up new truths like your Donald Trump.

[jaylow?]

well i guess I will have to see what kind of a hole i can punch in a bull this fall. i have some 240gr soft points , hollows and leverevolutions in 225 gr i believe? thanks boys

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by jaylow?

well i guess I will have to see what kind of a hole i can punch in a bull this fall. i have some 240gr soft points , hollows and leverevolutions in 225 gr i believe? thanks boys

Please do and share the experience and pics with us!

[RancheroMan]

Question for the folks who have harvested more elk and moose then me. It's seems that most in the thread have little issue with a 44Mag in a carbine rifle taking deer, but opinion changes when elk and moose are the target species.

I don't believe that organ tissue between the three are all that different (heart and lungs of all three are pretty similar) and the major difference is the heavy bone found in the elk and moose compared to deer.

So, 44Mag will go through deer bone and kill ok, but is marginal for elk and moose?

I've been able to pull 3 moose tags in my hunting career (all three filled) and should pull my 4th in a year or two. I fully planned on packing my 44Mag when close quarters hunting this moose tag but some of the responses in the thread have me questioning my decision, especially elkdump's comment that of the dozens of cartridges he's taken elk and moose with, 44Mag would be his last choice (including .243 Win).

My load chronograph's to 1100lbs of energy at 75yards, I thought that would be plenty?

[brewster29]

Originally Posted by Dean2

Anyone that thinks the 44 mag is equivalent to a 45-70 factory load has been smoking too much of the Ganja man!

Remington 405 loads are the mildest factory stuff available and they are still doing 1,400 FPS. There is no load for a 44 mag that even comes close. The heaviest bullet is 300 grains, and though it too is doing 1,400 fps out of a 20" rifle barrel, the 105 grain difference in bullet weight is substantial. On top of that, these aren't factory 44 Mag loads. It takes no work at all to get a 300 grain 45-70 load over 2400 FPS. Let me see someone do that with a 44 mag.

Still making this a p***ing contest I see. Read "factory 45-70".
I can find plenty of 44 mag handload data with 300 gr bullets at 1500 fps plus from an 18.5" barrel. The model 94 will better those velocities. I am staring at a box of Winchester Supreme Elite 45-70 ammo, 300 gr bullet at 1500 fps. I would say those are are pretty good match. Physics says energy should be identical.
Again, who among us would not shoot an elk with that ammo in a 45-70?
The elk will never know the difference!
The 44 mag in a rifle is a whole 'nother animal than the handgun round.
Of course, it would not be my first pick, but if that's what I had in my hands I would have no qualms about using it.

[Dean2]

How

Originally Posted by brewster29

Still making this a p***ing contest I see. Read "factory 45-70".
I can find plenty of 44 mag handload data with 300 gr bullets at 1500 fps plus from an 18.5" barrel. The model 94 will better those velocities. I am staring at a box of Winchester Supreme Elite 45-70 ammo, 300 gr bullet at 1500 fps. I would say those are are pretty good match. Physics says energy should be identical.
Again, who among us would not shoot an elk with that ammo in a 45-70?
The elk will never know the difference!
The 44 mag in a rifle is a whole 'nother animal than the handgun round.
Of course, it would not be my first pick, but if that's what I had in my hands I would have no qualms about using it.

Just because you are full of hot air and trying to bend the available information to suit your position and there arre more than a few of us who refuse to agree with you does not make a pizzing contest. It just makes you are factually wrong.

Yes u can buy factory 1500 fps 44 mag loads and u can buy 1500 fps 45-70 loads but you can also buy 2500 fps facotry 45-70 300 grain loads. If I was after moose or elk I sure wouldn't pick the most anemic load on the shelf. Show me a single 44 mag factory load at 2500 fps. I can download a 460 Weatherby to 44 mag performance but the does NOT make the 44 mag equivalent to a 460.

Also, if you re read what I said I already agreed the 44 mag will get the job done if you have to. I just see no reason to do it by choice. You do what you like but don't blow smoke about why you make the choice.

[260 Rem]

Please ignore this derail ... an M1 30 Carbine can easily plant three 110gr in the boiler room in less than three seconds ... kind of like a 330gr bullet that came apart