In most cases and for most shooters, the 44mag for deer is a 100 yard or less rifle. Past 100 yards the energy and accuracy decrease rather quickly. It is a lever-action brush gun, not a long range sniper rifle.
What really hurts is the wind drift at distance, especially past 100 yards. As I said in the video, the 44 mag is a 100-125 yards deer hunting cartridge. I will say that the 44 mag is very successful in metallic silhouette matches where it is shot to 200 yards. Hey, thanks for watching!
Hey John, it’s colder here in Pennsylvania today (14 degrees)then when you went to the range. I liked your video. I liked your presentation. And great reactions catching the extracted brass at the range. Wish you all the best and keep making enjoyable content.
240gn XTP at 1659fps = 1467 ft/lbs of muzzle energy! 1-1/4” at 50 yards and 3” at 100 yards with a pistol caliber is pretty darned good! I’d be happy with that load.
@@30-06johnI'm getting an honest 1,900 fps with Lil' Gun at .5 below max, a 240 jacketed and an 18.5 inch barrel. Looks like I found my new hunting load.
No , I will shoot 300gr loads in the near future. I have a few other things planned for this rifle. Leupold still has the fixed 4 on their website, but seems that there is not many of any Leupolds at the stores. Hey, thanks for your comments and watching!
Great information. I've been wondering about the 300-mp. I think I'll stay with the H110. I used the RPP rail and Warne low quick detach rings to mount the scope on my Henry. I added one layer of Scotch (4"x6") furniture pad and a leather ammo cuff and it's the perfect height for me when mounting the rifle. I wish you the best with continued load development.
I will probably set up this rifleimilar to yours. The 300-mp works really well in some applications for me. I have not found that load yet for 44 magnum. Hey, thanks for the info and watching!
Good video, I’ve got a Henry Big BoyX and also load the Horn. 240gr Xtp. I have a Swampfox 1-4 on mine. One thing that really made my gun better was installing a Ranger Point Precision sear. My stock trigger was 6 lbs, ugh. With the sear it’s a much smoother 4 lbs. The best I’ve been able to get is 2” groups at 100yds.
What you may want to check is your crimp on your rounds try shooting three rounds at a time then load four more and shoot them and then check your group size , lever actions require a heave roll crimp.
I use the same bullet, but use Vv N-105, 1,800 fps. With buckhorn sights, I can get 3 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards off of a rest. That is the best my 73 year old eyes can do.
H110 is the propellant of choice for all of my big bore revolvers. AA #7&9 are also a favorite, along with IMR-4227. It's a good time for powder and handloading choices. Just wish they all weren't so darned expensive. 😕 I've got a Henry Big Boy in .45 Colt. I chose that over .44 Mag because I also carry a .460 S&W XVR during deer season. That allows for the interchange of full H110 stoked .45 loads with 335 grain CPWNFPGC lead bullets. I also carry a S&W Governor which also shoots the same hot .45 Colt handloads.
Great powders, but yes, getting expensive. Especially Alliant powders for some reason. Having ammo commonality is great for firearms, you have a nice setup!
3" or so is good for that type of rifle. The forend, and mag tube hanging off the barrel does not help. Also, spring tension on mag tube changing with every shot is no fun, either. It is what it is. A fun gun, though devastating on medium game at close range, is a pleasure to shoot with lighter loads.
I’m loading 21.5 of Australian ADI 2205 with the Hornady 240gr XTP bullets in a Winchester Model 94 Legacy 24 inch barrel length with a 1in 26inch twist rate ( I believe that this twist rate won’t handle the heavier 260gr to 300gr bullets , is this true ). I have no idea what velocities I’m getting with that long barrel length as I haven’t clocked the velocity yet. If anyone has any idea what speeds the bullets are going please let me know. I have heard that I might not be getting any faster velocities because the long barrel actually slows the bullets down.
I do not know what that powder is equivalent too so it is hard to estimate velocity. That twist is a bit slow for heavier bullets but one never knows. Some slow twist 44 mags shoot heavy bullets fine. As to losing velocity because the barrel is long, I think with the slower powders you will see an increase but not as much. Hope that helps and thanks for watching.
Yeah, if you look at the Hodgdon reloading magazine, every load for H-110 and W296 have the same charge. Now that Hodgdon owns Winchester powder, they say that they are the same powder. The differences in other reloading manuals are from normal production lot differences. Hey thanks for watching!
Me and my sons have taken dozens of deer with our H&R 44. Great on deer out to 100yds. Anything further is questionable. Ive also found the slower the round the tighter it shoots out of my gun.
So are you loading rifle loads?Because there is a difference There is 44 magnum rifle data you can jack that cartridge up quite a bit, but not designed for handguns
Per published load data, the rifle and handgun 44 magnum loads are virtually the same. There is a large velocity increase due to the longer rifle barrel. Thanks for watching.
You won't believe me , but acting a longer barrel won't give you more speed....adding a shorter barrel would give you MORE speed. Why? Because H110 burns sooo fast 9-13 inches in the whole powered is burned off. Beyond 13in, the barrel is just adding friction slowing bullet down and adding heat.
Well, with longer barrels and H-110, velocity gains are minimal after a point. Also, rifles don't have the cylinder gap that revolvers do, which increases velocity. Thanks for watching!
I have a sightmark wraith on my 44 henry. Works fine on hogs at night. I also use ut on deer during day time so I can record the hunt. Works with a scope just fine.
In most cases and for most shooters, the 44mag for deer is a 100 yard or less rifle. Past 100 yards the energy and accuracy decrease rather quickly. It is a lever-action brush gun, not a long range sniper rifle.
What really hurts is the wind drift at distance, especially past 100 yards. As I said in the video, the 44 mag is a 100-125 yards deer hunting cartridge. I will say that the 44 mag is very successful in metallic silhouette matches where it is shot to 200 yards. Hey, thanks for watching!
Great deer round & rifle. 44 Magnum is very effective within reasonable ranges. 3" at 100 yards isn't terrible.
I had a 44 lever action years ago and I now that I have this one, I really like it! Thanks!
Those are 50 yard groups, at 100 yds it would be minute of garbage can lid.
Hey John, it’s colder here in Pennsylvania today (14 degrees)then when you went to the range. I liked your video. I liked your presentation. And great reactions catching the extracted brass at the range. Wish you all the best and keep making enjoyable content.
Thanks Frank! Yeah, I heard about all the bad weather that part of the country was having! Stay warm and safe!
Morning John 44 magnum is a fun caliber the winchester powder did good the others wasn’t to bad either thanks for sharing
Thanks! Yeah, I will be doing more work with the other powders.
Excellent choice for bullet and brass
23.5 H110
240 XTP
Thanks! Yeah, that load works pretty good.
Good video. I just pick one these up. I’ve always wanted a 44 in a lever.
Thanks! Yeah, I really like my Henry 44 mag, and thanks for watching!
240gn XTP at 1659fps = 1467 ft/lbs of muzzle energy!
1-1/4” at 50 yards and 3” at 100 yards with a pistol caliber is pretty darned good! I’d be happy with that load.
Thanks! That is a good load but I still want to try Lil'Gun again and see if I can find an accurate load. Appreciate you watching!
@@30-06johnI'm getting an honest 1,900 fps with Lil' Gun at .5 below max, a 240 jacketed and an 18.5 inch barrel. Looks like I found my new hunting load.
Shame Leupold discontinued that 4x; I have the 2.5x and like it. Have you shot your bear loads through this?
No , I will shoot 300gr loads in the near future. I have a few other things planned for this rifle. Leupold still has the fixed 4 on their website, but seems that there is not many of any Leupolds at the stores. Hey, thanks for your comments and watching!
Good information on your new rifle and load development. Can't wait to see more from this beautiful lever gun. Echo
Thanks Echo! yeah, I will be working up more loads! John
Great information. I've been wondering about the 300-mp. I think I'll stay with the H110. I used the RPP rail and Warne low quick detach rings to mount the scope on my Henry. I added one layer of Scotch (4"x6") furniture pad and a leather ammo cuff and it's the perfect height for me when mounting the rifle. I wish you the best with continued load development.
I will probably set up this rifleimilar to yours. The 300-mp works really well in some applications for me. I have not found that load yet for 44 magnum. Hey, thanks for the info and watching!
Thanks John! I always liked to .44 Mag. 🙂Mike.
No problem Mike! 44 mag is a useful and fun cartridge to shoot! John
Your video answered a bunch of questions for me , thanks! I appreciate the load data.
Thanks for watching! Glad you found the video useful.
Good video, I’ve got a Henry Big BoyX and also load the Horn. 240gr Xtp. I have a Swampfox 1-4 on mine. One thing that really made my gun better was installing a Ranger Point Precision sear. My stock trigger was 6 lbs, ugh. With the sear it’s a much smoother 4 lbs. The best I’ve been able to get is 2” groups at 100yds.
Sounds good! Thanks for watching!
What you may want to check is your crimp on your rounds try shooting three rounds at a time then load four more and shoot them and then check your group size , lever actions require a heave roll crimp.
Yeah, I will work on these loads more, crimp will be part of it also. I am using a Lee factory crimp die. Hey, thanks for the input and watching!
I have some 44 caliber bullets I could send you 29 at 300grains 15 at 265 grains and 4 at 240 grains
Thanks, actually I have a lot of 44 cal bullets since I shoot a lot of 44 handguns. Thanks again!
Thanks so much! Just got a 44 Mag Big Boy. I'm still trying to figure out what powder to use.
Thanks, I have a few videos on loading for the Henry 44 mag. And thanks for watching!
Good testing 👍🏻🇺🇸
Thanks Jesse!
I use the same bullet, but use Vv N-105, 1,800 fps. With buckhorn sights, I can get 3 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards off of a rest. That is the best my 73 year old eyes can do.
That is pretty good shooting! Thanks for watching.
H110 is the propellant of choice for all of my big bore revolvers. AA #7&9 are also a favorite, along with IMR-4227. It's a good time for powder and handloading choices. Just wish they all weren't so darned expensive. 😕
I've got a Henry Big Boy in .45 Colt. I chose that over .44 Mag because I also carry a .460 S&W XVR during deer season. That allows for the interchange of full H110 stoked .45 loads with 335 grain CPWNFPGC lead bullets. I also carry a S&W Governor which also shoots the same hot .45 Colt handloads.
Great powders, but yes, getting expensive. Especially Alliant powders for some reason. Having ammo commonality is great for firearms, you have a nice setup!
My ruger supper Blackhawk hunters sp.likes 270grain gold dots .what twist is it. My ruger is 1/ 18
My Henry lever action 44 mag has a 1/ 20" twist. Appreciate the question and you watching!
3" or so is good for that type of rifle. The forend, and mag tube hanging off the barrel does not help. Also, spring tension on mag tube changing with every shot is no fun, either. It is what it is. A fun gun, though devastating on medium game at close range, is a pleasure to shoot with lighter loads.
I will work and try to get that group a bit better. Really fun gun to shoot! Hey thanks for your input and watching!
Is that the 18 inch barrel? I just purchased one and you have the best reloading video for this rifle!!! Thank you.
I have a 16" barrel model, sort of like a "trapper". Thanks for watching!
Great content thanks for sharing
Thanks, glad you found it useful!
I’m loading 21.5 of Australian ADI 2205 with the Hornady 240gr XTP bullets in a Winchester Model 94 Legacy 24 inch barrel length with a 1in 26inch twist rate ( I believe that this twist rate won’t handle the heavier 260gr to 300gr bullets , is this true ). I have no idea what velocities I’m getting with that long barrel length as I haven’t clocked the velocity yet. If anyone has any idea what speeds the bullets are going please let me know. I have heard that I might not be getting any faster velocities because the long barrel actually slows the bullets down.
I do not know what that powder is equivalent too so it is hard to estimate velocity. That twist is a bit slow for heavier bullets but one never knows. Some slow twist 44 mags shoot heavy bullets fine. As to losing velocity because the barrel is long, I think with the slower powders you will see an increase but not as much. Hope that helps and thanks for watching.
Well made video.
Thanks, glad you liked it!
I've been using 29gn of lil gun with a 180 gn Hornady xtp and getting some Chrono results of that load out of a carbine would be really awesome
I don't have any 180s, but I have some 200 XTPs and Lil'Gun. I can try that. Thanks for watching!
That's interesting I have both those powders and never noticed they were the same
Yeah, if you look at the Hodgdon reloading magazine, every load for H-110 and W296 have the same charge. Now that Hodgdon owns Winchester powder, they say that they are the same powder. The differences in other reloading manuals are from normal production lot differences. Hey thanks for watching!
Me and my sons have taken dozens of deer with our H&R 44. Great on deer out to 100yds. Anything further is questionable. Ive also found the slower the round the tighter it shoots out of my gun.
Glad you are having great hunting success with the 44 mag! I appreciate you watching.
I use the same load 23-24 grain of h110
Yep, work pretty good! Appreciate you watching.
So are you loading rifle loads?Because there is a difference
There is 44 magnum rifle data you can jack that cartridge up quite a bit, but not designed for handguns
Per published load data, the rifle and handgun 44 magnum loads are virtually the same. There is a large velocity increase due to the longer rifle barrel. Thanks for watching.
@@30-06john really then why is there rifle data only, I believe there’s a few more powers
I had better groups shooting soft point then hollow points.
Thanks! I will be working up more loads and use JSP bullets. Appreciate you watching!
You won't believe me , but acting a longer barrel won't give you more speed....adding a shorter barrel would give you MORE speed.
Why? Because H110 burns sooo fast 9-13 inches in the whole powered is burned off.
Beyond 13in, the barrel is just adding friction slowing bullet down and adding heat.
Well, with longer barrels and H-110, velocity gains are minimal after a point. Also, rifles don't have the cylinder gap that revolvers do, which increases velocity. Thanks for watching!
@@30-06john I live in Texas too :))
Love your content as a Texan myself
I actually live in Alaska, not Texas. Texas is a great state, I have been there a few times!
A lever action is not a scope gun
Yours may not be, mine sometimes are. Hey, thanks for watching!
With my old eyes it is a scope gun.
I have a sightmark wraith on my 44 henry. Works fine on hogs at night. I also use ut on deer during day time so I can record the hunt. Works with a scope just fine.
A LeVeR AcTiOn iS NoT A ScOpE gUn
it's pronounced lou..pold spelled leupold not leopold
You say tamatoe, I say toematoe! Thanks for watching!