44mag load for hunting?

[bassmatt]

I have a smith 629 6" I will be hunting with this deer season. My gun shoots a cast 240gr swc with 10gr of unique under 1.5" at 50 yards. Would this be a sufficient load for hunting whitetail out to 50 yards. Or would I be better off to shoot a barnes 225gr XPB over 18gr of 2400 that groups 3" at 50yards. I know the 44mag is capable of taking whitetail but I am worried about shooting the XPB and the expansion at the slower velocity.

 

[snapping turtle]

Either will punch right through the boiler room of a whitetail so go with the better grouping option.

 

[hammer24]

^^^Yep. Either of those loads would work just fine on a deer. Pretty much any load fired out of a .44 will cleanly take a deer if put in the right place. That 10 gr. Unique/ 240 swc load would probably just about go through a deer end to end given it is 18 br. No experience with the Barnes bullet. I shoot 240 xtps and 240 swcs.

 

[luvall]

I took my buck at 127 yards with the 240 from a 629-4 w/ 6.5in

 

[Hookeye]

I crank 180's and 200's at max. Try to keep shots under 50 yards and no strong angles, but have popped a few broadside a ways past that.
Little hole in and out most times.

 

[Guido7562]

The last few deer I have taken with a .44 have been 185gr jsp's running close to max out of a Super Blackhawk. Groups around 2" at 50 yards benchrested.

 

[45fan]

If you already have a 240 gr load that is accurate in your pistol, I cant see where you would benefit from changing the bullet weight and powder charge this close to hunting season. Not to mention that the Barnes bullets are considerably more expensive. That 240gr SWC will plant a deer just fine, spending more money wont make it any more dead.

 

[Water63]

Both loads will work OK. I have used cast SWC before they will take down a deer just fine. The Father of handgun hunting Elmer Keith used that SWC to take several animals. The Barnes will do great also so whatever you can shoot accurately with is what I would go with.
Good Luck and shoot straight.

 

[midget]

Using this is my lever, but hear it works well in a revolver.

H110-23.5gr
240gr Hornady XTP
1.6" OAL

 

[bigbang]

Been using 240 SWC's and XTP's for years in a S&W 629 8 - 3/8" and a muzzle loader. The SWC's ALWAYS leave an exit wound. XTP's, not so much.

 

[Snizz1911]

If you already have a 240 gr load that is accurate in your pistol, I cant see where you would benefit from changing the bullet weight and powder charge this close to hunting season. Not to mention that the Barnes bullets are considerably more expensive. That 240gr SWC will plant a deer just fine, spending more money wont make it any more dead.

I agree. Use what you've proven most accurate and are used too. With the adrenaline rush of putting a deer in the cross hairs I want to be as comfortable as possible with whatever load, which sounds like the 240 you've been shooting. Good luck this season!

 

[Snizz1911]

Using this is my lever, but hear it works well in a revolver.

H110-23.5gr
240gr Hornady XTP
1.6" OAL

Just curious, do you have unburnt powder with that load? I load some 41 mag with H110, 210 hornady XTP's and mag primers and get noticeable unburnt powder.

 

[45fan]

Just curious, do you have unburnt powder with that load? I load some 41 mag with H110, 210 hornady XTP's and mag primers and get noticeable unburnt powder.

Im running about a half grain more than midget in my 240gr XTP loads. there was a bit of unburnt powder for me with the lower pawder charges and H-110. Before you go running a heavier charge in an effort to clean it up, it may be worth your time to crank the roll crimp down a little tighter too. In all the H-110 loads that I have worked up, I have found that it requires a heavy crimp to get a good burn, and it tends to like to be pushed hard.

 

[charley59]

I have been shooting the 240 LSWC with 10 gr. of Unique in my .44 Magnums for years...an accurate and pleasant load to shoot. If you are getting 1.5" groups @ 50 yds. in your S&W, then this is the load I would recommend for deer.

 

[bassmatt]

I want to thank everyone for the help. I will be using the 240swc on top of the 10gr of unique.
THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE,
Matt

 

[midget]

Just curious, do you have unburnt powder with that load? I load some 41 mag with H110, 210 hornady XTP's and mag primers and get noticeable unburnt powder.

I haven't noticed any. One thing that I've been reading (may or may not be true), but you absolutely have to run magnum primers. I am using the the Winchester LPP that double as magnums (if my memory serves me).