.44 Rem Mag Opinions

[phenix78_99]

I fired the following 44 mag rounds from my CVA Scout (22” barrel) rifle today/in the past:

1) Federal 280 grain Swift A Frame - Average of 1,374 fps
2) DoubleTap 240 grain Speer JSP (DC) - Average of 1,747 fps
3) Underwood 240 grain XTP HP - Average of 1,761 fps
4) Buffalo Bore 270 grain Speer JSP (DC) - Average of 1,700 fps
5) Underwood 160 grain Lehigh Extreme Hunter - Average of 2,109 fps
6) DoubleTap 225 grain Barnes XPB - Average of 1,644 fps
7) DoubleTap 200 grain Barnes XPB - Average of 1,839 fps
8) Federal American Eagle 240 grain JHP - Average of 1,649 fps
9) Underwood 300 grain XTP HP - Average of 1,432 fps

I would appreciate any thoughts, real world experience, and/or opinions you all have regarding these rounds/bullets, as far as using them on deer within an appropriate range, in the 44 mag.

Thanks,
P

 

[GUN NUT]

I fired the following 44 mag rounds from my CVA Scout (22” barrel) rifle today/in the past:

1) Federal 280 grain Swift A Frame - Average of 1,374 fps
2) DoubleTap 240 grain Speer JSP (DC) - Average of 1,747 fps
3) Underwood 240 grain XTP HP - Average of 1,761 fps
4) Buffalo Bore 270 grain Speer JSP (DC) - Average of 1,700 fps
5) Underwood 160 grain Lehigh Extreme Hunter - Average of 2,109 fps
6) DoubleTap 225 grain Barnes XPB - Average of 1,644 fps
7) DoubleTap 200 grain Barnes XPB - Average of 1,839 fps
8) Federal American Eagle 240 grain JHP - Average of 1,649 fps
9) Underwood 300 grain XTP HP - Average of 1,432 fps

I would appreciate any thoughts, real world experience, and/or opinions you all have regarding these rounds/bullets, as far as using them on deer within an appropriate range, in the 44 mag.

Thanks,
P

use number 5 about the same as a 30/30

 

[snapbang]

Ive killed 6-7 deer with a 44 Ruger carbine. Lately I reload my own with max load of H110 and a 240 XTP. I would say that whatever your gun shoots accurately would be my choice. Will kill deer just fine within appropriate range as you say. Most of my shooting is 100 yards or less. Always a complete pass through.

 

[HC]

It seems the 240 XTP was a perfect bullet for the .44 magnum.

 

[brad502a]

I like #4 because I know the bullet, but accuracy is extremely important. How did the loads group?

 

[phenix78_99]

use number 5 about the same as a 30/30

Thank you. I do like the high velocity of this round, but I have no experience with the Lehigh extreme hunter. This rifle is chambered for the 445 SuperMag as well, and I do like the Cutting Edge Maximus 210 grain, which is getting a an average MV of 2,243 fps with this bullet. Maybe some real world testing of the extreme hunter is warranted.

 

[GUN NUT]

Thank you. I do like the high velocity of this round, but I have no experience with the Lehigh extreme hunter. This rifle is chambered for the 445 SuperMag as well, and I do like the Cutting Edge Maximus 210 grain, which is getting a an average MV of 2,243 fps with this bullet. Maybe some real world testing of the extreme hunter is warranted.

GOOD LUCK

 

[phenix78_99]

Ive killed 6-7 deer with a 44 Ruger carbine. Lately I reload my own with max load of H110 and a 240 XTP. I would say that whatever your gun shoots accurately would be my choice. Will kill deer just fine within appropriate range as you say. Most of my shooting is 100 yards or less. Always a complete pass through.

Thank you. I’ve never used the XTP on any deer, and while I know it is rated for 1800 fps impact velocity, I didn’t know if the high velocity rating would prove true on a deer shoulder, without the bullet grenading. I have also gotten an average MV of 2,224 fps out of this rifle shooting the Buffalo Bore 445 SuperMag with the 240 grain XTP, which is absolutely screaming, and rivals the velocity of the 444 Marlin load from Remington, which averaged 2,263 MV out of the same rifle. Thanks for the real world eval input.

 

[phenix78_99]

It seems the 240 XTP was a perfect bullet for the .44 magnum.

Thank you. I have read a lot of good things about the XTP, I just don’t have any experience with them on game. I have tended to stay with the likes of the Knight Bloodline, CEB Maximus when shooting 445 SuperMag out of this rifle, and Federal Trophy Copper out of my DSG. But, as with the extreme hunter, I will see what happens with this on a deer.

 

[10acres]

I can say the XTP’s are lethal on deer. The one I don’t see on your list is the Winchester 240g JSP. There has been a bunch of deer killed with that round.

 

[phenix78_99]

I like #4 because I know the bullet, but accuracy is extremely important. How did the loads group?

Thank you. Luckily, all of the listed rounds shoot well out of the rifle, which I am sure has something to do with the 1:20” twist rate. Also, strangely, the rifle seemed to shoot better after being reamed out for the 445 SuperMag…go figure. Anyway, most of my 50-yard three-shot groups with all of these have at least two rounds touching with the third close by.

 

[phenix78_99]

I can say the XTP’s are lethal on deer. The one I don’t see on your list is the Winchester 240g JSP. There has been a bunch of deer killed with that round.

Good to know, thank you. I’ve read that many folks swear by the WWB JSP on deer, I just never considered it based on the velocity numbers I’ve seen associated with it out of a rifle...NOT THAT VELOCITY is the be all end all of terminal performance. I don’t want to offend anyone or assert that velocity matters more than the bullet. Speaking of velocity, I really wish I knew someone who had used the Swift A frame at the posted velocities, as this bullet intrigues me.

 

[10acres]

I’ve never used a Swift bullet, but everyone that does swears by them. I’ve never heard anyone talks about the 280g though.

 

[CatamountRob]

https://www.modernmuzzleloader.com/threads/300g-a-frame-80g-blackhorn.28735/
That’s a 300 grain A-Frame with 80 grain of BH209. I don’t know what that would get you velocity wise?

 

[earlthegoat2]

Knocked these two down several years ago with Hornady factory loaded 300 XTPs.

I chose them because they grouped the best from my 1894SS.

Behind the shoulder shots and they both ran around 40 yds before crumpling. Complete pass throughs with lots of blood.

 

[Frank in Fairfield]

#9 is as close you can get to my chosen cartridge.
300 grain Hornady XTP or Nosler JHP in front of 20 grains of H110.
I use a 10” barrel magna-ported on my Contender.
Two Blacktail deer, three pigs and one antelope.
DRT

 

[anonymouscowherd]

Been a long time since I could afford to feed my '63 vintage Ruger carbine, but when I could (early 90s) it ate RemWinFed 240gr JSP with no issues. The only "super ammo" it got was a few boxes of the PMC Starfire loads, which fed and cycled well also.

Need to break down, buy a box and get the reloading press going chunk-clunk for it

 

[phenix78_99]

I did some shooting today, and here are some notes/photos for this interested.

This is the Federal Swift 280 grain load mentioned above. At 25 yards, it went through two 1 gallon jugs of water, and one 2.5 gallon jug lengthwise; I found the bullet on the ground next to the last jug. It expanded to 0.63” and weighed 263 grains.

MTF…

 

[phenix78_99]

This is the Underwood Ammo 44 mag with 240 grain XTP bullet load mentioned above. At 25 yards, it went through three 1 gallon jugs of water, and was found in a fourth jug. It expanded to 0.80” and weighed 197 grains.

MTF…

 

[phenix78_99]

This is the Buffalo Bore 44 mag with 270 grain Speer JSP bullet load mentioned above. At 25 yards, it went through five 1 gallon jugs of water, and was found in a sixth jug. It expanded to 0.54” and weighed 192 grains.

MTF…