Many deer have fallen to my Ruger Super Redhawk. In northern WI your longest shot is 150 yards, and a .44 mag is all you’d ever need. Thanks Vortex for giving it the credit it is due!!!!!!!!!
I mean in WI, between 94 and 8 you’ll still get some spots where a 400 yard shot is unlikely but possible, a 44 mag won’t cover that but certainly will help anything close up as well as be a good bear protection gun that your 308 rifle with 3-6x bottom magnification just won’t do quite as quick and easy.
I remember a story from a Vietnam vet, he was an advisor in 1963 and was told to provide his own sidearm. He took his ruger super Blackhawk and got into a fire fight with and let a shot off. He swears that there was a 5 second loal in the shooting.
I remember reading in col Asken saying he was probably the first using the 44 in combat in the early adviser days in S.E.A. not necessarily vn as he was on a hunting trip . I not sure of the details its been years since I read his book.
Before settling on the 44 Special cartridge, Elmer Keith had tried hotrodding the 45 Colt. Due to the design of the 45 Colt cartridge, and the weakness of available guns chambered in 45 back then, Keith blew up several guns and decided to go with the 44 Special. Keith’s story is pretty incredible and it’d be interesting to see more time dedicated to him.
Smith was making their 38/44 heavy duty in 44 Special but not 45 Colt at the time. You can load 45 Colt to even higher performance than a 44 Mag at the same pressures. John Linebaugh has written a good bit on the subject. I have some 44 Magnum level loads Jim Taylor worked up for my S&W Mdl 25 using blue dot and a gas checked lead 260gr SWC. Accurate and a lot of fun to shoot. He has some even hotter loads for elk hunting with a Super Blackhawk
Frame size permitting. 45 colt can be loaded hot now, but in the days of Elmer Keith no. The 38/44 woodsman was a great example of this, being a 44 frame but a 38 caliber. Same goes for 45-70 and other cartridges from the black powder era. Modern guns can take higher pressures but these advances in wildcatting come from the lack of something a particular person is looking for which is great for options. Now we have what feels like unlimited options.
My grandfather passed down his 1976-1977 (ish) .44 Ruger Carbine to me Thanksgiving of 2020. Took that beautiful rifle out and shot an 8 point 2 weekends later. It’s my go-to stand rifle. Hunting whitetail on the east coast I’ve never set myself up in a scenario where I’d have over a 150 yard shot. Just my style I guess. Love my .44 Ruger Carbine!
Lucky to have one of those! You wouldn't find one easily now. Wish they'd remake that. Plus it's more powerful than you think, since most ballistic charts quote the cartridge as being fired from a short-barreled handgun. Your carbine probably has a couple hundred more FPS and of course energy too.
I have my early 80's model (tube fed) that was my first deer rifle, still use it depending on what stand I'm hunting from. Inside 125 yards it just works, 240gr semi-jacketed soft point to the boiler room is very effective. If a hog happens to step out, puts them down with authority.
@@markr.1984 on average ( from most videos I’ve watched, the lever action rifles with 18”-20” barrels are producing 400fps more velocity than from the 6” pistol barrels on the chronograph measurements )
One point that was not brought up, but should be in any discussion on the .44 is how well it and especially the .44 special work with cast bullets. With the .44’s you really can shoot less expensive cast bullets and not loose any effectiveness on game. And it’s and ideal cartridge to start casting your own bullets for!
Definitely. Shooters in the UK use lead cast almost exclusively for.38/.357 and .44 carbines like the 1894 Marlin. Ideal for light target loads or gas checked for the fast stuff. Thankfully the politicians don't seem to know these exist so we still have something interesting to shoot for now.
Its the cartridge round ive learned to cast and reload for. Nice and simple. No necks, no annealing. Pure lead with powdercoat = no alloying and leading. Nice. Gonna load some blackpowder rounds next.
I’m a late onset hunter here in southern Michigan. After “experiencing “ a 12 gage slug gun I went and bought a Marlin 1894 in .44 and shot a nice buck with it. 240 XTP Hornady destroyed both shoulders and dissolved the lungs. Unfortunately that was a Remlin and I had no end of mechanical issues with it so it was replaced w a Henry single shot. I paired these w a Ruger SBH Hunter Bisley and I can attest to the fun shooting and good effect on deer sized critters w this load. Happy New Years boys!
And here in Michigan, a .44 Mag will kill just about anything in these woods. My buddy got his first buck this year with his. Lower lung, into the liver, and it didn't run more than 30 yards. He bled out VERY fast.
I have an 1894C (.357) made by Remington and I've had no issues with it. I got a good deal on a box of 125gr JSP's that have a lot of exposed lead at the tip, and it even fed well with that ammo. Not all of the "Remlins" are terrible.
I live in Pennsylvania. Things were getting too easy for me using my 30-30 a few years back. I wanted to challenge myself. I started carrying a .44 Ruger Super Blackhawk (open sights). I have killed a dozen+ deer with it ranging from 15 yards out to 80 yards. They drop the same as using my 30-30. I have never in my 25 years of hunting had to track a deer and I shoot a minimum of 2 each year. (I only shoot neck or head). I reload my own .44 using Hornady 240 gr XTP. I am looking into getting a "companion gun" as you would call it. There is just something about shooting that large cal. wheel gun and I would recommend it to anyone. Great show guys! Very informative. Keep up the great work.
For deer and black bear, with the right bullets, the .44 Magnum is a good 150 yard cartridge. It is probably our most useful big game carbine/revolver combination in general.
@@hillbillyscholar8126 I would like to cast. I can handload. But don’t truly have the facilities to cast. It IS something I’ve wanted to learn for a couple of decades or so
@@robertfree1908 Given the current cost of good equipment and popular moulds I would not entertain the investment unless you shoot a lot of calibers suitable for cast bullets. Think of casting tools like you would reloading tools; you can get in to it for a minimal investment but the utility and flexibility of higher quality tools pays off if you enjoy the pursuit. Higher quality anything is expensive today and it can buy a lot of jacketed bullets or good commercial cast. Happy shooting!
@@hillbillyscholar8126 honestly, how you put it is how I’ve kept myself from getting into casting. Lol. And this mindset has only exacerbated with inflation. Someday, man. Someday
I'm that guy. I can say from experience the it's good for him to be able to share with people who care to listen. On behalf of all gun trivia nerds, "Thank You!"
I have always yearned for a RBH in .30 Carbine for some reason despite being a bit of a Flame Thrower with the muzzle flash and blast. Just havent been able to justify it....
Elmer Keith once was out with a friend hunting deer. His friend wounded one and it was about to go over a hill. Elmer took a shot with his 44 to help put it down. It disappeared over the hill but they found it dead on the other side. Elmer's shot prevented it from getting away. They walked off the distance and it came to 325 yards. Elmer knew that pistol/cartridge better than anyone in the world.
I liked hearing a conversation on this cartridge. I have a Ruger Model 44 Carbine my dad purchased for me in 1984 when I was 7 to use as my deer rifle as I got older. Still have it to this day, and seems like people are always trying to buy it from me, but I'll never get rid of it.
I have a Ruger 44 carbine and love it. It is fun to take to the range and watch people's faces when It goes off, because everyone just assumes that it's a 10/22. Looking at the current asking price for them I got a heck of a deal on mine when I paid $400 for it 5 or 6 years ago.
Lucky you.. I have been searching for a Ruger 44 semi auto or many years now.. and still looking for one - I have come across about 5 of them for sale over the last few years and I totally regret not buying one of them, with the best price being 1100.00 for one in very good condition. Now I have recently come across a couple of them again just this year.. and they are going for well over 2000.00 It is one firearm that I absolutely MUST have in my collection one day.
.44 magnum is probably my favorite pistol cartridge. I own three revolvers chambered in the cartridge and they are all smith and wesson double action revolvers. S&W model 29-2, 29-10, and 629-1. I go to the pistol range once a month and every time I go I bring one of my .44's to shoot. The recoil can be stout but it is perfectly manageable. Even my wife can shoot them. Honestly it is probably the report of the shot itself rather than the recoil that gets people nervous about it. Every time I take one of them out to shoot I always get looks from people going "what's that?". It's always a fun time.
Still my favorite rimmed pistol caliber. Like it in a revolver and love it in a rifle. An old Ruger Deerfield is without a doubt, at the top of my list of guns I regret letting go of. Have had 44 Specials, Magnums and the God Father 444 Marlin. One could say I am fond of this diameter bullet lol
One of my favorite #10 MinuteTalk episodes yet. I had a 16" Winchester Trapper 44 Mag many years ago and still feel a pang of regret when I think of getting rid of that fine little rifle. It was pure poison on deer or hogs in the woods. Now your episode has me thinking I need to find another carbine to pair with my Super Blackhawk! BTW the Buffalo Bore 340 grain round you mentioned is rated out of a pistol. They list it as 1478 FPS from a factory stock Red Hawk, it falls about 30-50 FPS short of that in my Blackhawk depending on batch, temp, etc though. Great episode!
I bought my first rifle this year, a Henry Big Boy Classic in 44 mag just before deer season started. It’s definitely a cowboys gun with its octagonal barrel, brass receiver and yes a brass buttplate. I knew I was going to handload my deer hunting ammo but needed some brass so I bought a box of 240gr hollow point fed American eagle($72 a box ouch) I hunt from a tree stand in the THICK woods so I sighted in at 25 yards. Just to see how it would do I lined up 6 one gallon water jugs at 10 yards and it went through 2 and landed in the third, I weighed it and it was now only 120gr that was not going to cut it for me. So to the hand loading books I went and found a load that used a 265gr atop a charge of 19.5-21.5 grains of h110 (now we were cooking) I found that 20.5 grains seated to 1.630 had the best accuracy and would put them in one BIG hole with open sights, I tested this load with another 6 one gallon water jugs at 10 yards and to my amazement it went though all 6 and keep going till it hit the base of my 25 yard target 😮 it had expanded more than I expected but it sill weighed 228gr now I was ready to hunt. Opening day was the 13th but temps were in the low 70s by 10am so I waited till it got a little colder, and when it did I got up in the tree stand around 6am and waited for them to roll on in. I could see a group of deer off in the distance about 7:30 and by 8:30 they gave me a shot, 2 of them walked down to about 25-30 yards from me, I was with my dad and told him here we go I lined up the buckhorn sights on the first one to go broadside and… BOOM it dropped so fast neither my dad or the other deer knew what had happened, the second deer jumped back about 10ft but didn’t know what happened and went broadside, so I said to my dad do I shoot again? Hem thinking I missed it the first time said SHOOT EM!! Boom down it went and the others ran off. After getting down from the stand my dad walks up to the first and says I thought it fell over there? That’s when I walked to the 2nd and said it did but I shot that one first, let’s just say he was shocked. So after all of this what I am trying to get at is, 44 MAGNUM need more be said?
Interarms single action in .44 mag was the first pistol I ever bought. 40+ years later I still have it and use it for hunting with my Marlin lever action in .44. Always been a great combo for deer.
The 44 mag has to be the best all around “medium small” cartridge, plenty of power to kill deer at realistic ranges, not a ton of recoil even in many revolvers very gentle in rifles. Probably won’t let anyone down who plans to use it for anything they want to use it for.
Hi guys ! Thanks a lot fore the great podcasts i absolutely love them. They are the best compagnons for all my road-trips. I leave in France ne I have a marlin 1894 chambered in 44 mag. I absolutely love it !!
This is a fantastic cartridge for deer hunting in MI straightwall cartridge area . I love my Ruger 44 carbine. I reload and hunt with Hornady 240gr XTP ammo. Shoot most of my deer between 20-100 yards. Longest shot opportunity I have ever had was 135 yards on a doe, she didn't go far.
Happy New Year! Also they make those super noisy shot loads for 44 mag. I keep a few around for grouse/squirrel when I'm walking around with my Henry. Love this ol cartridge!
I really enjoy your videos. And I’m very glad to see the 44 mag as the star of the show. But I have to say I hear and read so often in the gun industry that Remington was the ammunition company involved in developing the 357 mag. It was actually Winchester. Since Remington developed the other 2 of the same length(41 & 44) as 357 mag many people in the last 15 years or so assume it was Remington. Credit where credit is due, guys. Thanks for the very enjoyable content. And have a great New Year!
I took two deer this year using a Henry lever action in 44 mag with the 240g Hornady XTP. Where I am in Ohio, there really isn't anywhere you can safely shoot over 100 yards. I have been very happy with the results out of it. Great episode!
i too killed a buck at approx. 75 yds with my henry lever gun in .44 mag. it dropped in it's tracks and did quite the damage . it was a high shoulder shot. am also from ohio, killed mine just outside of coolville
Ruger still produces the 77/44 bolt action .44 mag rifle, I have the stainless “all weather” version with a 2-7x scope mounted. With Hornady LeveRevolution ammo I’m sited in 1” high at 50 yards, dead on at 75, and 1.5” low at 100 yards. Overall length of the gun is only 38” and just over 6 pounds to carry. Perfect Pennsylvania big woods deer gun.
I have a Ruger Deerfield passed down from my dad. Learned to shoot centerfire on it. Still one of my favorite guns in my collection and IMHO the best for young hunter in GA. Almost 0 recoil and more than enough power inside 100yrds.
I have a Henry (non-side gate) Big Boy Steel 20” barreled rifle in .44mag. Love that gun. Only reason why I would part with it is for the side gate version.
Not only due I live in OH where I’m limited to straight wall cartridges for rifles, I’ve been hunting with a .44mag for years. I was using my S&W 629 when we were shotgun/pistol only deer state, but the first year (2014/2015, can’t quite remember off top of my head) that we allowed straight wall rifle, I went out & got me a model 92 carbine in .44mag that year and been using it ever since. I hand load my own pills 240gr Sierra JHC for the wheel gun and 200gr XTP for the carbine, both under max load H110. I find that the lighter/higher velo out of my carbine works best. I keep my shots under 100yds though. In the thick NE OH woods this isn’t a problem. .44mag is great whitetail medicine if you don’t like to track.. with good shot placement of course. Thx for showing the .44mag some love guys.
Growing up, my Dad had (well, still has) a Ruger Redhawk 7.5" barrel .44 mag. I've always loved it. Now, I currently own 3 of my own. A Taurus Tracker, an old Herters Powermag, and lastnight I just picked up a Ruger Super Blackhawk 7.5". Hands down one of my favorite cartridges. Love watching yalls videos. God bless!
What a great discussion! I absolutely love the 44mag. There is a 29-2 that never gets shot, Virginian Dragoon, and a CVA pistol that is going to get rechambered to 444 Marlin in my collection. The 69 combat mag is on my short list along with the new Anaconda. Don't forget about the beautiful Henry lever guns that shoot amazing also. I bought one for my Dad when he retired. Keep the awesome content coming.
Buffalo bore’s velocities for the 340 +p+: •1,401 fps -- 5.5-inch factory stock Red Hawk •1,478 fps -- 7.5-inch factory stock Red Hawk I’ve chrono’d them out of my 4.2” Red Hawk and I’m averaging around 1,380fps. Ferocious recoil.
The first gun I ever bought for myself was a 44 Magnum Ruger RedHawk. I later got a Super RedHawk, a Super Blackhawk Bisley Hunter, and a Model 29. And, those numbers are possibly out of a longer barrel pistol. I have shot those BBs as well some Garret Hammer Heads. They are all you need for anything that walks. The 44 special is also a wonderful cartridge in its own right. It was magnificent to shoot in the Model 29 with a 4 inch barrel. Just as pleasant and accurate as a 45ACP out of an all steel 1911. Just pleasure with power. Those Dinosaur killers…not so much but they are spectacular for what they are intended to do.
My current woods hunting combo is a Henry Big Boy X paired with a Taurus Raging Hunter... Both in 44 Rem Mag. Got a red dot on the Henry, loaded it with Hornady LEVERevolution, then loaded the Taurus with a mix of 305gr hard cast and 240 grain SP. Same cartridge, two firearms, 3 unique but complementary loadings, capable of taking any game in North America out to 150 yards. One of the most versatile cartridges on the market.
Hunting in the heavy woods of northeastern Minnesota where a 40 yard shot is normal and a 75 yard shot is a LONG shot, the .44 Mag is really an ideal cartridge. I shot a Ruger .44 autoloading carbine for many years, and switched to a Ruger 96/44 lever gun about 30 years ago. A 240 grain jacketed soft nose with a good load of 2400 powder does the job just fine.
I hand loaded the Hornady 225 grain FTX for my 14” TC Contender to around 1700 fps and took a doe at 75 yards in South Texas last season. Currently, I hunt a 44 mag Henry model x at home and have never had a deer walk more than 12 yards post impact. I love it for deer and hogs. It’s a very cool cartridge.
I shot a whitetail at 104 yards this year with my .44 mag Marlin 1894. Complete pass through both sides with excellent lung destruction. Ran maybe 50 yards and DRT. One of these years Ill take one with the Ruger Super Redhawk….
My Dad had a Ruger Super Black Hawks in 44 mag. I still have it. He was a big time reloader. He got a Deer hunting load in the 1980's with 240 grain bullet at 1500 fps. He never went over what the reloading manual said. He had a 6 inch barrel on it. I have it today, my Dad passed away in 2003, 20 years ago. It still shoots great groups at 50 yards and 100 yards. In 1981 He shot a 3x3 mule deer the first year they allowed 357 and up hand guns in Nevada for Big Game.
Shot a .44 mag the first time a couple years ago. Never felt anything like it its the biggest handgun cartridge I've ever fired. Would definitely get one if my priorities weren't elsewhere but its on the list of future buys.
You are right about those lever revolution rounds every time I run them hard I never have an issue if I’m really taking my time aiming and not racking that lever I’ve had them catch on the feed ramp
Michigan hunter here... I've got a 44 mag cva, i shoot the lever evolution 225fxt which is that bullet they have. it's single shot and cheap... I've shot 17 deer in 4 years with this gun which is now my favorite. EVERYTHING that this bullet touches dies. Some deer run but most drop where they stand. It doesn't miss, great expansion on bullet and I've shot and killed deer as far as 165 yards. I love this bullet, and I love my cva scout 44 mag
I had an 1894 many years ago. It had a bit of recoil with 240gr factory loads, and I didn't want to shoot lead bullets out of it. I started shooting Trail Boss under a 220 Sierra FPJ (no exposed lead at the tip, so they feed smoothly every time). This load had no recoil and still hit plates like a 10mm. I don't remember the velocity, but it was around 975. This cartridge is also easy to load, because resizing straight wall brass requires little effort. The caliber is very versatile, and those who experience it with only full power factory loads are missing out. Plinking with a thumper that has very low recoil is so much fun!
Went deer hunting on the coast of NC few years back with buddies. One didn’t have a rifle, 1sr timer, I let him use my REM 700. I borrowed my hosts Ruger carbine 44 mag. I feel in love with it. Smoked a doe at 300 yards with it using the lever rev rounds. One of my favorite rifles of all time
I have been shooting .44 Rem Mag since the early 80's and love it. I have four firearms chambered for it. My first revolver, Ruger Super Blackhawk. A bazillion rounds through it, still shoots great. Also have a Taurus Tracker in .44 that I carry when backpacking. Bout a .44 Magnum barrel for my Thompson Encore and finally I have a Rossi Puma chambered for .44. The revolvers are a lot of fun to shoot with lighter handloads and if you need the power, then shift to a full leaded version. The Thompson is a tack driver with 180 grain XTP's, but it took a lot of testing to find a recipe that the barrel liked. The Puma is my baby! Living in a rural area with livestock, it found its niche as our ranch rifle. The Magnum cartridge in its intended loadings is plenty for any predators we have here and it is accurate, so less chance our livestock is harmed if we need to dispatch a bad animal. Hope you all get as much enjoyment from the cartridge as I have! Happy New Year!
I love the .44 mag! I live in a "straight wall case" state for deer and it has been my go to since they first let us use them in handguns only. My first deer I killed with a gun was with my Super Redhawk. Since then I have added a TC Encore Pro Hunter with a .44 mag barrel from MGM and my pride and joy is my Ruger .44 carbine. She takes no prisoners.
I like the mention of the 480 Ruger. Hopefully it can make your show in a few years. It’s a bit obscure and under appreciated to make it though. I have 2. Both 5-shot Blackhawks. 6.5 & 4.6”. I’ve only run the Hornady factory 325gr XTP load out of the 6.5”. Accuracy is good. It absolutely flattened a 200lb hog. I have loaded the 4.6” with Montana Bullet Works 340gr SWC. It has a very broad meplat. Looks like it could plow a meteor strike furrow! I run that one at just under 1000fps with some old W571 powder. Great powder for mid-range applications. Again, loved the showcasing of the 44 mag. Just due. And live reading others comments on it. Thanks for a top notch show, guys!
In the 90s my father was big into reloading and designed a deer cartridge especially for his Ruger .44 magnum carbine. It shot pistol rounds "OK" but he wasn't happy with the accuracy and how the bullets would fragment apart. After a lot of experimentation he came up with one that was both incredibly powerful and accurate. 300 grain Hornady XTP, I personally put 3 in the same hole at 50 yards while sighting it in. Still use this round in both the carbine and my Super Blackhawk which I can put a decent group with open sights in a 6" diameter at 50yds and I"m sure would be in the kill zone further out than that but haven't tried.
I Live in southern Michigan, I hunted with a 16 side by side for a few years then an 870 for a couple years. Then switched to Knight disc 50 smoke pole. Still love that one. Got a K77 in 44 5 or 6 years ago. Love it Rem. 180gr running a little over 2000 fps. 1 shot kills all day long.
I have a Super Blackhawk, a Taurus T44 and a Marlin 1894 in 44 Magnum. The T44 works very well with lighter loads that are still quite potent. A 200 gr bullet in the 1894 is pushing 1900-2000 fps with devastating effect, including punching holes easily through 1/4" steel plate.
Henry model X 44 MAG is my dream lever gun for deer and as a compact and hard hitting truck gun. Deer hunting with it, it's a bang flop program. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
“Cardio is NOT its thing” fantastic synopsis Mr Muckenhern!
“It’s Bernise from the volleyball team”
Many deer have fallen to my Ruger Super Redhawk. In northern WI your longest shot is 150 yards, and a .44 mag is all you’d ever need. Thanks Vortex for giving it the credit it is due!!!!!!!!!
I mean in WI, between 94 and 8 you’ll still get some spots where a 400 yard shot is unlikely but possible, a 44 mag won’t cover that but certainly will help anything close up as well as be a good bear protection gun that your 308 rifle with 3-6x bottom magnification just won’t do quite as quick and easy.
@@saltycowboy8900 As someone from northern Wisconsin, we consider everything south of Highway 8 to be southern Wisconsin! lol
I have taken deer in Alabama with my Super Blackhawk. It is far from antiquated. Great bear defense and other large animals too.
I remember a story from a Vietnam vet, he was an advisor in 1963 and was told to provide his own sidearm. He took his ruger super Blackhawk and got into a fire fight with and let a shot off. He swears that there was a 5 second loal in the shooting.
I’m aware of a Marine Recon Vietnam Vet who carried a .357 Redhawk in his tours in the Rockpile area!! Very interesting.
I'm sure they all thought an explosion happened and checked themselves for a wound
Not trying to be that guy, but Ruger Redhawk was released in 1979...
@@20020x I am probably have the exact model wrong. It might have been the Blackhawk. I'll fix the comment
I remember reading in col Asken saying he was probably the first using the 44 in combat in the early adviser days in S.E.A. not necessarily vn as he was on a hunting trip . I not sure of the details its been years since I read his book.
Before settling on the 44 Special cartridge, Elmer Keith had tried hotrodding the 45 Colt. Due to the design of the 45 Colt cartridge, and the weakness of available guns chambered in 45 back then, Keith blew up several guns and decided to go with the 44 Special. Keith’s story is pretty incredible and it’d be interesting to see more time dedicated to him.
+1
His books are sometimes available online but not cheap. Very good reading by him
Smith was making their 38/44 heavy duty in 44 Special but not 45 Colt at the time. You can load 45 Colt to even higher performance than a 44 Mag at the same pressures. John Linebaugh has written a good bit on the subject. I have some 44 Magnum level loads Jim Taylor worked up for my S&W Mdl 25 using blue dot and a gas checked lead 260gr SWC. Accurate and a lot of fun to shoot. He has some even hotter loads for elk hunting with a Super Blackhawk
Frame size permitting.
45 colt can be loaded hot now, but in the days of Elmer Keith no. The 38/44 woodsman was a great example of this, being a 44 frame but a 38 caliber. Same goes for 45-70 and other cartridges from the black powder era. Modern guns can take higher pressures but these advances in wildcatting come from the lack of something a particular person is looking for which is great for options. Now we have what feels like unlimited options.
I believe that the 44 Russian begat the 44 Special which begat the 44 Magnum.
My grandfather passed down his 1976-1977 (ish) .44 Ruger Carbine to me Thanksgiving of 2020. Took that beautiful rifle out and shot an 8 point 2 weekends later. It’s my go-to stand rifle. Hunting whitetail on the east coast I’ve never set myself up in a scenario where I’d have over a 150 yard shot. Just my style I guess. Love my .44 Ruger Carbine!
Lucky to have one of those! You wouldn't find one easily now. Wish they'd remake that. Plus it's more powerful than you think, since most ballistic charts quote the cartridge as being fired from a short-barreled handgun. Your carbine probably has a couple hundred more FPS and of course energy too.
I have my early 80's model (tube fed) that was my first deer rifle, still use it depending on what stand I'm hunting from. Inside 125 yards it just works, 240gr semi-jacketed soft point to the boiler room is very effective. If a hog happens to step out, puts them down with authority.
@@markr.1984 on average ( from most videos I’ve watched, the lever action rifles with 18”-20” barrels are producing 400fps more velocity than from the 6” pistol barrels on the chronograph measurements )
I bought a couple of those carbines several years ago. I found 300gr XTP shoot amazing out of it. So finally going to take it Deer hunting this year
Have my dad's 44 ruger, bill of sale from Macy's sporting good dept.1964. Mail order. Sent via USPS, $1.28 postage. Box marked in red, firearm. Ha
One point that was not brought up, but should be in any discussion on the .44 is how well it and especially the .44 special work with cast bullets. With the .44’s you really can shoot less expensive cast bullets and not loose any effectiveness on game. And it’s and ideal cartridge to start casting your own bullets for!
Agreed
Definitely. Shooters in the UK use lead cast almost exclusively for.38/.357 and .44 carbines like the 1894 Marlin. Ideal for light target loads or gas checked for the fast stuff. Thankfully the politicians don't seem to know these exist so we still have something interesting to shoot for now.
Its the cartridge round ive learned to cast and reload for. Nice and simple. No necks, no annealing. Pure lead with powdercoat = no alloying and leading. Nice. Gonna load some blackpowder rounds next.
It's always interesting to see how younger folks react to the things us old bastards have been using for decades.
The .41 Remington Magnum is actually a more powerful cartridge that the. 44.
. No it's not
@@rudygeorgiamulesandcountry1594Huh? Since when?
@@rudygeorgiamulesandcountry1594 that is not true. It's a good cartridge but the .44 Magnum will do the same and more.
A LOT of bears in Alaska have been killed by the 44 mag.
I’m a late onset hunter here in southern Michigan. After “experiencing “ a 12 gage slug gun I went and bought a Marlin 1894 in .44 and shot a nice buck with it. 240 XTP Hornady destroyed both shoulders and dissolved the lungs. Unfortunately that was a Remlin and I had no end of mechanical issues with it so it was replaced w a Henry single shot. I paired these w a Ruger SBH Hunter Bisley and I can attest to the fun shooting and good effect on deer sized critters w this load. Happy New Years boys!
And here in Michigan, a .44 Mag will kill just about anything in these woods. My buddy got his first buck this year with his. Lower lung, into the liver, and it didn't run more than 30 yards. He bled out VERY fast.
I have an 1894C (.357) made by Remington and I've had no issues with it. I got a good deal on a box of 125gr JSP's that have a lot of exposed lead at the tip, and it even fed well with that ammo. Not all of the "Remlins" are terrible.
I live in Pennsylvania. Things were getting too easy for me using my 30-30 a few years back. I wanted to challenge myself. I started carrying a .44 Ruger Super Blackhawk (open sights). I have killed a dozen+ deer with it ranging from 15 yards out to 80 yards. They drop the same as using my 30-30. I have never in my 25 years of hunting had to track a deer and I shoot a minimum of 2 each year. (I only shoot neck or head). I reload my own .44 using Hornady 240 gr XTP. I am looking into getting a "companion gun" as you would call it. There is just something about shooting that large cal. wheel gun and I would recommend it to anyone. Great show guys! Very informative. Keep up the great work.
I hunt WV… that would be a lot of fun, still hunting with a wheel gun.
Winchester leavers gun's even made over sea's in my experience are are better/ reliability int field. Than other copies.
For deer and black bear, with the right bullets, the .44 Magnum is a good 150 yard cartridge. It is probably our most useful big game carbine/revolver combination in general.
Factory loaded? 44mag. Agree fully. Handloaded? 45 Colt is my preference just by a slight margin
@@robertfree1908 I would agree with that. My personal favorite is .45 Colt but I reload and cast.
@@hillbillyscholar8126 I would like to cast. I can handload. But don’t truly have the facilities to cast. It IS something I’ve wanted to learn for a couple of decades or so
@@robertfree1908 Given the current cost of good equipment and popular moulds I would not entertain the investment unless you shoot a lot of calibers suitable for cast bullets. Think of casting tools like you would reloading tools; you can get in to it for a minimal investment but the utility and flexibility of higher quality tools pays off if you enjoy the pursuit. Higher quality anything is expensive today and it can buy a lot of jacketed bullets or good commercial cast. Happy shooting!
@@hillbillyscholar8126 honestly, how you put it is how I’ve kept myself from getting into casting. Lol. And this mindset has only exacerbated with inflation. Someday, man. Someday
Ryan has taught me more about different cartridges than probably anyone. And he’s sent me down more rabbit holes than most.
I'm that guy. I can say from experience the it's good for him to be able to share with people who care to listen. On behalf of all gun trivia nerds, "Thank You!"
Would love to hear about the 41 magnum or 30 carbine. Both straight walls.
+1 for the 41 rem mag
41 for sure!
+1 for the 30 Carbine! 🤙
+1 for the .41mag
I have always yearned for a RBH in .30 Carbine for some reason despite being a bit of a Flame Thrower with the muzzle flash and blast. Just havent been able to justify it....
You guys should do a talk on the old 41 mag sometime. I would love to see it since it's a relatively unknown cartridge, but it kicks butt
The.41 mag is a dark horse for sure
If there is any cartridge that can mimic the 44mag for deer/hog killing power with less felt recoil 41 mag/210gr JHP is it!
The 41 is a killing machine with 250 kieth style hard cast around 1200 fps it will shoot through anything in America that walks
41 just a off brand lighter loaded hard to find 44 is all. Ok if you like spending $45 a box for cartridges
41 is another great cartridge that just never caught on. I suppose the marketing campaign for the 44 mag was better.
In spirit of this episode, we need a 10+ min talk on the 500 Magnum
thermonuclear device
Another vote for this👍
Yes, I was so looking forward to seeing this one. Thank you! It's probably my most reloaded cartridge.
A 10 minute talk on the 44-40. The first cartridge that was chambered in both the rifle and handgun.
This right here!!
44 Henry was chambered in rifles and revolvers before the 44WCF
Elmer Keith once was out with a friend hunting deer. His friend wounded one and it was about to go over a hill. Elmer took a shot with his 44 to help put it down. It disappeared over the hill but they found it dead on the other side. Elmer's shot prevented it from getting away. They walked off the distance and it came to 325 yards. Elmer knew that pistol/cartridge better than anyone in the world.
1956 was a very very good year. I was born and, 5 days later, my wife was born. Then, secondarily, many good cartridges came out in that year as well.
I liked hearing a conversation on this cartridge. I have a Ruger Model 44 Carbine my dad purchased for me in 1984 when I was 7 to use as my deer rifle as I got older. Still have it to this day, and seems like people are always trying to buy it from me, but I'll never get rid of it.
Id buy it .. 😂
Those carbines are impossible to find now days. Don't get ever sell yours.
Happy new year boys.
New Zealand is in 2023 already.
I've been drooling over the 77-44 for years now. Maybe this year?!
I have a Ruger 44 carbine and love it. It is fun to take to the range and watch people's faces when It goes off, because everyone just assumes that it's a 10/22. Looking at the current asking price for them I got a heck of a deal on mine when I paid $400 for it 5 or 6 years ago.
Lucky you.. I have been searching for a Ruger 44 semi auto or many years now.. and still looking for one - I have come across about 5 of them for sale over the last few years and I totally regret not buying one of them, with the best price being 1100.00 for one in very good condition.
Now I have recently come across a couple of them again just this year.. and they are going for well over 2000.00
It is one firearm that I absolutely MUST have in my collection one day.
Fantastic work this week gentlemen! Happy New Year!
my daughter is 12 she got her first deer last year. about 100 y away with a 44MAG love it
.44 magnum is probably my favorite pistol cartridge. I own three revolvers chambered in the cartridge and they are all smith and wesson double action revolvers. S&W model 29-2, 29-10, and 629-1. I go to the pistol range once a month and every time I go I bring one of my .44's to shoot. The recoil can be stout but it is perfectly manageable. Even my wife can shoot them. Honestly it is probably the report of the shot itself rather than the recoil that gets people nervous about it. Every time I take one of them out to shoot I always get looks from people going "what's that?". It's always a fun time.
Still my favorite rimmed pistol caliber. Like it in a revolver and love it in a rifle.
An old Ruger Deerfield is without a doubt, at the top of my list of guns I regret letting go of.
Have had 44 Specials, Magnums and the God Father 444 Marlin. One could say I am fond of this diameter bullet lol
100% with you
One of my Favorite calibers of all time, hands down. Its one that has been in my collection since the early 80's
One of my favorite #10 MinuteTalk episodes yet. I had a 16" Winchester Trapper 44 Mag many years ago and still feel a pang of regret when I think of getting rid of that fine little rifle. It was pure poison on deer or hogs in the woods. Now your episode has me thinking I need to find another carbine to pair with my Super Blackhawk! BTW the Buffalo Bore 340 grain round you mentioned is rated out of a pistol. They list it as 1478 FPS from a factory stock Red Hawk, it falls about 30-50 FPS short of that in my Blackhawk depending on batch, temp, etc though. Great episode!
Best podcast for gun enthusiasts. Keep it up.
I love these cartridge breakdowns. I would really like to see one on the 458 Socom.
Love these cartridge talk videos
I use a .357 Mag for deer hunting and have been exceptionally pleased with the results. Very accurate at 100 yards. Love to hunt with it.
Happy new year 💥💥💥💥 keep the cartridge podcast coming 😀💥💥💥
I bought my first rifle this year, a Henry Big Boy Classic in 44 mag just before deer season started.
It’s definitely a cowboys gun with its octagonal barrel, brass receiver and yes a brass buttplate. I knew I was going to handload my deer hunting ammo but needed some brass so I bought a box of 240gr hollow point fed American eagle($72 a box ouch) I hunt from a tree stand in the THICK woods so I sighted in at 25 yards. Just to see how it would do I lined up 6 one gallon water jugs at 10 yards and it went through 2 and landed in the third, I weighed it and it was now only 120gr that was not going to cut it for me. So to the hand loading books I went and found a load that used a 265gr atop a charge of 19.5-21.5 grains of h110 (now we were cooking) I found that 20.5 grains seated to 1.630 had the best accuracy and would put them in one BIG hole with open sights, I tested this load with another 6 one gallon water jugs at 10 yards and to my amazement it went though all 6 and keep going till it hit the base of my 25 yard target 😮 it had expanded more than I expected but it sill weighed 228gr now I was ready to hunt.
Opening day was the 13th but temps were in the low 70s by 10am so I waited till it got a little colder, and when it did I got up in the tree stand around 6am and waited for them to roll on in. I could see a group of deer off in the distance about 7:30 and by 8:30 they gave me a shot, 2 of them walked down to about 25-30 yards from me, I was with my dad and told him here we go I lined up the buckhorn sights on the first one to go broadside and… BOOM it dropped so fast neither my dad or the other deer knew what had happened, the second deer jumped back about 10ft but didn’t know what happened and went broadside, so I said to my dad do I shoot again? Hem thinking I missed it the first time said SHOOT EM!! Boom down it went and the others ran off. After getting down from the stand my dad walks up to the first and says I thought it fell over there? That’s when I walked to the 2nd and said it did but I shot that one first, let’s just say he was shocked. So after all of this what I am trying to get at is,
44 MAGNUM need more be said?
Interarms single action in .44 mag was the first pistol I ever bought. 40+ years later I still have it and use it for hunting with my Marlin lever action in .44. Always been a great combo for deer.
I believe they were made in west Germany. Am I wrong? KISS ALWAYS and OLD DEVIL DOG
cool stuff
Your cartridge talks are great. I was driving across Texas a few weeks ago and listened to all of them. Looking forward to more.
My favorite combo, Remington 788 bolt action carbine and Ruger Redhawk both in 44 Mag!!
The 44 mag has to be the best all around “medium small” cartridge, plenty of power to kill deer at realistic ranges, not a ton of recoil even in many revolvers very gentle in rifles. Probably won’t let anyone down who plans to use it for anything they want to use it for.
44 mag in a lever gun is so nice. It still has a little thump but it's a completely different animal
Keep the reviews coming! Great stuff guys
Great episode. Happy New Year everyone!
I have a Ruger Deerstalker 44 mag carbine and I love it. I am still waiting for a deer to step out when its in my hands.
Great Podcast, LOVE IT 🤩
Hi guys !
Thanks a lot fore the great podcasts i absolutely love them. They are the best compagnons for all my road-trips.
I leave in France ne I have a marlin 1894 chambered in 44 mag. I absolutely love it !!
I've liquidated most of my older rifles, and the one I will forever miss the most was my Browning Model 92 in 44 Mag.
This is a fantastic cartridge for deer hunting in MI straightwall cartridge area . I love my Ruger 44 carbine. I reload and hunt with Hornady 240gr XTP ammo. Shoot most of my deer between 20-100 yards. Longest shot opportunity I have ever had was 135 yards on a doe, she didn't go far.
Happy New Year! Also they make those super noisy shot loads for 44 mag. I keep a few around for grouse/squirrel when I'm walking around with my Henry. Love this ol cartridge!
I really enjoy your videos. And I’m very glad to see the 44 mag as the star of the show. But I have to say I hear and read so often in the gun industry that Remington was the ammunition company involved in developing the 357 mag. It was actually Winchester. Since Remington developed the other 2 of the same length(41 & 44) as 357 mag many people in the last 15 years or so assume it was Remington. Credit where credit is due, guys. Thanks for the very enjoyable content. And have a great New Year!
I took two deer this year using a Henry lever action in 44 mag with the 240g Hornady XTP. Where I am in Ohio, there really isn't anywhere you can safely shoot over 100 yards. I have been very happy with the results out of it. Great episode!
i too killed a buck at approx. 75 yds with my henry lever gun in .44 mag. it dropped in it's tracks and did quite the damage . it was a high shoulder shot. am also from ohio, killed mine just outside of coolville
Ruger still produces the 77/44 bolt action .44 mag rifle, I have the stainless “all weather” version with a 2-7x scope mounted. With Hornady LeveRevolution ammo I’m sited in 1” high at 50 yards, dead on at 75, and 1.5” low at 100 yards. Overall length of the gun is only 38” and just over 6 pounds to carry. Perfect Pennsylvania big woods deer gun.
Great set up and use.
I’ve taken deer with the .44 Mag in both a Marlin 1894SS and a Ruger 44 Carbine. Very impressive round within reasonable range.
Have a Ruger no. 3 in this caliber. Absolutely love it!
Ruger! Please bring the Deerfield .44 back! (And release it in .357 also!)
I have a .44 mag carbine (Henry) and absolutely love it. Like they say about the .44 mag…shoots like a rainbow, hits like a pot of gold.
Thank you. Gotta love the 44 mag.
My first rifle was a Winchester 1894 Trapper model in .44 Rem Mag. I added XS ghost sights and that is all she needed! Awesome Carbine
The ruger deer field is the one that got away and the 77/44s are crazy expensive.
I have a Ruger Deerfield passed down from my dad. Learned to shoot centerfire on it. Still one of my favorite guns in my collection and IMHO the best for young hunter in GA. Almost 0 recoil and more than enough power inside 100yrds.
I have a S&W 29-5 Classic. 5" barrel. I put a Burris 2-7 power scope on it. I've only shot targets with it so far, but it is outstanding!
I possess a single action, a semi auto, and a big boy lever action; you just gotta love the roar!
I have a Henry (non-side gate) Big Boy Steel 20” barreled rifle in .44mag. Love that gun. Only reason why I would part with it is for the side gate version.
Henry makes a very nice 44 magnum ,I have one in a lever action and a single shot ,the single shot is perfect for a first time hunter
Not only due I live in OH where I’m limited to straight wall cartridges for rifles, I’ve been hunting with a .44mag for years. I was using my S&W 629 when we were shotgun/pistol only deer state, but the first year (2014/2015, can’t quite remember off top of my head) that we allowed straight wall rifle, I went out & got me a model 92 carbine in .44mag that year and been using it ever since. I hand load my own pills 240gr Sierra JHC for the wheel gun and 200gr XTP for the carbine, both under max load H110. I find that the lighter/higher velo out of my carbine works best. I keep my shots under 100yds though. In the thick NE OH woods this isn’t a problem. .44mag is great whitetail medicine if you don’t like to track.. with good shot placement of course. Thx for showing the .44mag some love guys.
Don't forget the odd 96/44 Ruger, cool looking leaver action carbines
Growing up, my Dad had (well, still has) a Ruger Redhawk 7.5" barrel .44 mag. I've always loved it. Now, I currently own 3 of my own. A Taurus Tracker, an old Herters Powermag, and lastnight I just picked up a Ruger Super Blackhawk 7.5". Hands down one of my favorite cartridges. Love watching yalls videos. God bless!
What a great discussion! I absolutely love the 44mag. There is a 29-2 that never gets shot, Virginian Dragoon, and a CVA pistol that is going to get rechambered to 444 Marlin in my collection. The 69 combat mag is on my short list along with the new Anaconda. Don't forget about the beautiful Henry lever guns that shoot amazing also. I bought one for my Dad when he retired. Keep the awesome content coming.
Buffalo bore’s velocities for the 340 +p+:
•1,401 fps -- 5.5-inch factory stock Red Hawk
•1,478 fps -- 7.5-inch factory stock Red Hawk
I’ve chrono’d them out of my 4.2” Red Hawk and I’m averaging around 1,380fps. Ferocious recoil.
The first gun I ever bought for myself was a 44 Magnum Ruger RedHawk. I later got a Super RedHawk, a Super Blackhawk Bisley Hunter, and a Model 29. And, those numbers are possibly out of a longer barrel pistol. I have shot those BBs as well some Garret Hammer Heads. They are all you need for anything that walks. The 44 special is also a wonderful cartridge in its own right. It was magnificent to shoot in the Model 29 with a 4 inch barrel. Just as pleasant and accurate as a 45ACP out of an all steel 1911. Just pleasure with power. Those Dinosaur killers…not so much but they are spectacular for what they are intended to do.
I worked in a gun shop in the mid 80's. Most guys that carried 44 magnums kept them loaded with 44 special hydro shocks .
My current woods hunting combo is a Henry Big Boy X paired with a Taurus Raging Hunter... Both in 44 Rem Mag.
Got a red dot on the Henry, loaded it with Hornady LEVERevolution, then loaded the Taurus with a mix of 305gr hard cast and 240 grain SP.
Same cartridge, two firearms, 3 unique but complementary loadings, capable of taking any game in North America out to 150 yards.
One of the most versatile cartridges on the market.
Hunting in the heavy woods of northeastern Minnesota where a 40 yard shot is normal and a 75 yard shot is a LONG shot, the .44 Mag is really an ideal cartridge. I shot a Ruger .44 autoloading carbine for many years, and switched to a Ruger 96/44 lever gun about 30 years ago. A 240 grain jacketed soft nose with a good load of 2400 powder does the job just fine.
I hand loaded the Hornady 225 grain FTX for my 14” TC Contender to around 1700 fps and took a doe at 75 yards in South Texas last season. Currently, I hunt a 44 mag Henry model x at home and have never had a deer walk more than 12 yards post impact. I love it for deer and hogs. It’s a very cool cartridge.
I shot a whitetail at 104 yards this year with my .44 mag Marlin 1894. Complete pass through both sides with excellent lung destruction. Ran maybe 50 yards and DRT. One of these years Ill take one with the Ruger Super Redhawk….
My Dad had a Ruger Super Black Hawks in 44 mag. I still have it. He was a big time reloader. He got a Deer hunting load in the 1980's with 240 grain bullet at 1500 fps. He never went over what the reloading manual said. He had a 6 inch barrel on it. I have it today, my Dad passed away in 2003, 20 years ago. It still shoots great groups at 50 yards and 100 yards. In 1981 He shot a 3x3 mule deer the first year they allowed 357 and up hand guns in Nevada for Big Game.
Shot a .44 mag the first time a couple years ago. Never felt anything like it its the biggest handgun cartridge I've ever fired. Would definitely get one if my priorities weren't elsewhere but its on the list of future buys.
Awesome talk guys. Love my 44.
You are right about those lever revolution rounds every time I run them hard I never have an issue if I’m really taking my time aiming and not racking that lever I’ve had them catch on the feed ramp
Michigan hunter here... I've got a 44 mag cva, i shoot the lever evolution 225fxt which is that bullet they have. it's single shot and cheap... I've shot 17 deer in 4 years with this gun which is now my favorite. EVERYTHING that this bullet touches dies. Some deer run but most drop where they stand. It doesn't miss, great expansion on bullet and I've shot and killed deer as far as 165 yards. I love this bullet, and I love my cva scout 44 mag
Just used my Marlin 44 Mag for black bear on a September hunt in New Mexico. Worked perfect using Hornady factory 240 XTP.
I had an 1894 many years ago. It had a bit of recoil with 240gr factory loads, and I didn't want to shoot lead bullets out of it. I started shooting Trail Boss under a 220 Sierra FPJ (no exposed lead at the tip, so they feed smoothly every time). This load had no recoil and still hit plates like a 10mm. I don't remember the velocity, but it was around 975. This cartridge is also easy to load, because resizing straight wall brass requires little effort. The caliber is very versatile, and those who experience it with only full power factory loads are missing out. Plinking with a thumper that has very low recoil is so much fun!
Went deer hunting on the coast of NC few years back with buddies. One didn’t have a rifle, 1sr timer, I let him use my REM 700. I borrowed my hosts Ruger carbine 44 mag. I feel in love with it. Smoked a doe at 300 yards with it using the lever rev rounds. One of my favorite rifles of all time
I have been shooting .44 Rem Mag since the early 80's and love it. I have four firearms chambered for it. My first revolver, Ruger Super Blackhawk. A bazillion rounds through it, still shoots great. Also have a Taurus Tracker in .44 that I carry when backpacking. Bout a .44 Magnum barrel for my Thompson Encore and finally I have a Rossi Puma chambered for .44. The revolvers are a lot of fun to shoot with lighter handloads and if you need the power, then shift to a full leaded version. The Thompson is a tack driver with 180 grain XTP's, but it took a lot of testing to find a recipe that the barrel liked. The Puma is my baby! Living in a rural area with livestock, it found its niche as our ranch rifle. The Magnum cartridge in its intended loadings is plenty for any predators we have here and it is accurate, so less chance our livestock is harmed if we need to dispatch a bad animal.
Hope you all get as much enjoyment from the cartridge as I have! Happy New Year!
I love the .44 mag! I live in a "straight wall case" state for deer and it has been my go to since they first let us use them in handguns only. My first deer I killed with a gun was with my Super Redhawk. Since then I have added a TC Encore Pro Hunter with a .44 mag barrel from MGM and my pride and joy is my Ruger .44 carbine. She takes no prisoners.
I like the mention of the 480 Ruger. Hopefully it can make your show in a few years. It’s a bit obscure and under appreciated to make it though. I have 2. Both 5-shot Blackhawks. 6.5 & 4.6”. I’ve only run the Hornady factory 325gr XTP load out of the 6.5”. Accuracy is good. It absolutely flattened a 200lb hog. I have loaded the 4.6” with Montana Bullet Works 340gr SWC. It has a very broad meplat. Looks like it could plow a meteor strike furrow! I run that one at just under 1000fps with some old W571 powder. Great powder for mid-range applications.
Again, loved the showcasing of the 44 mag. Just due. And live reading others comments on it. Thanks for a top notch show, guys!
Awesome talk. Love the 44 mag in lever gun. How about a 35 Remington talk?
Chiappa still makes the 1892 in 44mag. In a takedown. And threaded for a suppressor.
I pair mine with the 329pd.
In the 90s my father was big into reloading and designed a deer cartridge especially for his Ruger .44 magnum carbine. It shot pistol rounds "OK" but he wasn't happy with the accuracy and how the bullets would fragment apart. After a lot of experimentation he came up with one that was both incredibly powerful and accurate. 300 grain Hornady XTP, I personally put 3 in the same hole at 50 yards while sighting it in. Still use this round in both the carbine and my Super Blackhawk which I can put a decent group with open sights in a 6" diameter at 50yds and I"m sure would be in the kill zone further out than that but haven't tried.
I like the companion gun set up as well. I have the S&W 629 6.5" and Henry Big Boy X lever gun both in .44 Magnum.
I love my JM stamped 1894 in 44 Magnum!
Winchester mod 94 top eject in 44mag is my choice for fellow deer in Australia in the scrub open sights fantastic
Get some ghost ring sights for it. You'll never look back.
Great caliber to end the year on. Texas and I own a Marlin lever action and is easily one of my favorites
I LOVE my Ruger semi auto carbine in 44 I always take it when I am hunting in heavy cover.
I Live in southern Michigan, I hunted with a 16 side by side for a few years then an 870 for a couple years. Then switched to Knight disc 50 smoke pole. Still love that one. Got a K77 in 44 5 or 6 years ago. Love it Rem. 180gr running a little over 2000 fps. 1 shot kills all day long.
My uncle lived in the Washington Cascade mountains. He claimed the Ruger deer field was the best elk rifle for his area.
Get one! Sad it’s the last talk for a bit. Still hoping on 300 Savage in the future
I bought the Ruger Super Redhawk with a 7 1/2” barrel. Absolutely love shooting that revolver. Not very good yet but still fun.
Jim must have
I have a Super Blackhawk, a Taurus T44 and a Marlin 1894 in 44 Magnum. The T44 works very well with lighter loads that are still quite potent. A 200 gr bullet in the 1894 is pushing 1900-2000 fps with devastating effect, including punching holes easily through 1/4" steel plate.
Got 2. Love them. One 10 barrel for my contender and a Henry lever gun.
I have a Ruger Super Blackhawk 44 Magnum 10.5 inch barrel and Winchester 94AE in 44 Magnum Love them both
Henry model X 44 MAG is my dream lever gun for deer and as a compact and hard hitting truck gun. Deer hunting with it, it's a bang flop program. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
I have one of those ruger deerfield, and I love it. im just waiting for Pennsylvania to allow semi-auto for big game
A Thompson Contender 14” .44 Mag is my pet for whitetail deer hunting. Topped with a Vortex Crossfire Red Dot.
I have all 10" barrels for my Thompson Contender. One of which is .44 Mag with a scope.