Well...back in 1980, I was invited to hunt Mule Deer in the state of Wyoming. My friend told me that I should bring a 25-06, .270 or a 7mag. He said that in the open country around there I would be shooting between 200 and 400 yards at them thar Mulies. Now then, I'm from the Texas Gulf Coast. I hunt the brush country along the coast and east to the Piney woods of the Big Thicket. My deer and pig gun was a Ruger semi-auto .44 mag. My load was a Hornady 265 grain flat nose soft point loaded with a hefty charge of H110. That load also worked wonderful in my Ruger Super Blackhawk that I also carried with me in a shoulder holster. Instead of buying a new rifle for that Mule Deer hunt, I bought a 4X Bushnell and mounted it on my .44 Auto. My friend thought I was nuts and said there was no way I could take a Mule Deer with that little gun because it didn't shoot far enough. Anyway, when we went out hunting we started walking out among the hills and prairies of the open country in search of the elusive Mule Deer. I noticed a drainage in between two hills that had a few trees and some brush along both sides of it. I told my friend that I wasn't used to all this walking and needed to take a break. I told him I would just go down in that drainage and find a shade tree and he could swing back by on his way out and pick me up. He laughed at me again and left out toward the open country. Just as I had expected, there was deer sign the entire length of the drainage. I sat down under a small tree on the upwind side of the drainage. About an hour later, I shot my first Mule Deer 45 yards from my little tree. I kinda felt stupid having to shoot it through the scope. When my friend came back 3 hours later he wasn't laughing. He also didn't have a deer.
I’ve been saying the same thing for years. I love reloading it, and the fact I can use it in my revolver and levergun is huge. I am up north, so long distance is rarely needed. For me, it is definitely one of the most versatile cartridges… and, hey, there is always the nostalgic/cool factor of 44 Mag!
Watching your video as I was priming some 44 Mag and Special. I also want a rifle. Have a Henry in 357, and it is great. Was thinking Rossi to save some money, but its hard to compare with the Henry. Love the versatility that the 44 gives you as a reloader.
I appreciated the fact that I could load .44 special as well as .44 magnum with those bullets, and they were pretty inexpensive when I was buying them, so I just passed the savings on to you. 😉
I have not got into 44 yet stuck with 45LC and 357/38. Do love the revolver lever gun combo with all of them. I would recommend a Henry or the Marlin for a lever gun. S&W is great for revolvers but they just started back with lever guns so I am a bit hesitant on trying one out.
I totally agree been saying the same for years. The only step up in a companion caliber would be 500 S&W which is on par with 45-70. Big Horn Armory makes a lever action for the 500 but hold on to your hat when you see the price
44 mag is right in the sweet spot when you consider reloading cost to power ratio for a rimmed cartridge. 45 Colt and 357mag are right there also. These three are my favs of all time. When you go up to 454 Casull, 460 S&W and larger, price starts to climb rapidly per round for brass and bullets and components don’t last as long.
I don’t have a.44 mag rifle but I like the idea of the rifle and pistol in the same caliber I have harvested white tail with the pistol but would keep my shots to fifty for the pistol and 100 for the rifle and the area that I hunt is a shot gun slug and pistol zone southern Minnesota I wish they would change like other states that allow straight wall rifle cartridges then I would like to have one. technically I could get a ar 10 .308 with a 12 inch barrel and call it a pistol to extend my range a little bit farther and be legal but I usually tag one with my bow and don’t gun hunt much anymore also have used a cross bow very lethal . I have not used a.357 on deer but would not hesitate to do so and my daily is a shield plus 9 mm and the ar 10 pistol is going to be my primary that I can carry with a permit because you can’t carry a rifle with a permit the dnr had that rule changed. Crazy times ahead
I don't think it's under-rated, a truly under-rated is the .45 colt loaded for Super Blackhawk and the lever action of your choice. Jmo. Love your vids.
I just voted with my wallet. Got a new SBH. Maybe not ideal for squirrels but it has been done. Our great great granddaddies did it with .44 WCF in their Winchester and Colt so it is kind of a tradition.
I’ve had both a .44 mag revolver and a Marlin 1894 in .44 though not at the same time. Is it underrated as a do it all revolver / rifle caliber? No. Not to those who pay attention to the ballistics tables and aren’t afraid to experiment a little. I think the issue is that people have gotten away from the one cartridge to do it all concept because we have so many options available today. My personal opinion is that .44mag from a rifle is awesome. If you practice and know your dope, it’s good out to 150/200 yards. To your point, most of us that don’t live in the desert or plains aren’t likely to take a shot beyond 100 yards much less 200. So, why the need for a .300 Win Mag or something similar?
I'm thinking, (oh! oh! 😳), the .44 Magnum cartridge in all its load variations is still a very viable round for multiple applications. Perhaps with all the new bigger handgun calibers arriving on the scene, (i.e. .500 Magnum, 50 AE, 460 Rowland, 454 Casull, etc), the .44 Mag has lost some of it's "work"...as a rifle caliber it certainly has its place, for sure. I have two S&W .44 Mag revolvers, (a Model 29 and a 69), which I shoot frequently and truly enjoy. Now, you have me thinking about getting a .44 Mag rifle....hmm, I hope my wife don't read this, gulp...Good topic for discussion! Take care and stay safe my friend!
If .44 Magnum shall be the choice, I prefer 240-gr JHP (1,300 ft/sec muzzle velocity from a 5.5-inch barrel) for revolvers and 240-gr JSP (1,500 ft/sec from a 16-inch barrel) for leveraction carbines.
I’m still trying to decide if I want a new Marlin 18.5” .44 magnum. I’ve been loading .444 Marlin down to .44 magnum with Blue Dot, but you do have the expensive case and lube issue.
Well...back in 1980, I was invited to hunt Mule Deer in the state of Wyoming. My friend told me that I should bring a 25-06, .270 or a 7mag. He said that in the open country around there I would be shooting between 200 and 400 yards at them thar Mulies. Now then, I'm from the Texas Gulf Coast. I hunt the brush country along the coast and east to the Piney woods of the Big Thicket. My deer and pig gun was a Ruger semi-auto .44 mag. My load was a Hornady 265 grain flat nose soft point loaded with a hefty charge of H110. That load also worked wonderful in my Ruger Super Blackhawk that I also carried with me in a shoulder holster. Instead of buying a new rifle for that Mule Deer hunt, I bought a 4X Bushnell and mounted it on my .44 Auto. My friend thought I was nuts and said there was no way I could take a Mule Deer with that little gun because it didn't shoot far enough. Anyway, when we went out hunting we started walking out among the hills and prairies of the open country in search of the elusive Mule Deer. I noticed a drainage in between two hills that had a few trees and some brush along both sides of it. I told my friend that I wasn't used to all this walking and needed to take a break. I told him I would just go down in that drainage and find a shade tree and he could swing back by on his way out and pick me up. He laughed at me again and left out toward the open country. Just as I had expected, there was deer sign the entire length of the drainage. I sat down under a small tree on the upwind side of the drainage. About an hour later, I shot my first Mule Deer 45 yards from my little tree. I kinda felt stupid having to shoot it through the scope. When my friend came back 3 hours later he wasn't laughing. He also didn't have a deer.
Good R&R. Thank you.
Thank you!!!
...I dunno buddy, but the slow motion results of the 8.6BO spinning every inches through gel, is actually terrifying
lol 😂
44 magnum is one of my favorite cartridges. I only have it in revolvers but I would love a Henry lever gun in 44.
@@mikethebike67 I have a video
Coming out on the 44 Henry big loop
I’ve been saying the same thing for years. I love reloading it, and the fact I can use it in my revolver and levergun is huge. I am up north, so long distance is rarely needed. For me, it is definitely one of the most versatile cartridges… and, hey, there is always the nostalgic/cool factor of 44 Mag!
@@mobilejonny that’s right. Not much long range in the Appalachians either lol
Henry all weather and Raging hunter 6" both in 44 mag are amazing hunting pews. The henry color case Hardened are just BAM!
I haven’t seen an all weather in person. Need to look around more
Watching your video as I was priming some 44 Mag and Special. I also want a rifle. Have a Henry in 357, and it is great. Was thinking Rossi to save some money, but its hard to compare with the Henry.
Love the versatility that the 44 gives you as a reloader.
I appreciated the fact that I could load .44 special as well as .44 magnum with those bullets, and they were pretty inexpensive when I was buying them, so I just passed the savings on to you. 😉
@@scubaguy007 I liked those bullets so well I bought 1k more lol
I was checking out a Marlin 1894 SBL in 44mag yesterday and now this video shows up.
Must be a sign from the Universe! LOL
Don’t doubt the signs!
I have not got into 44 yet stuck with 45LC and 357/38. Do love the revolver lever gun combo with all of them. I would recommend a Henry or the Marlin for a lever gun. S&W is great for revolvers but they just started back with lever guns so I am a bit hesitant on trying one out.
I totally agree been saying the same for years. The only step up in a companion caliber would be 500 S&W which is on par with 45-70. Big Horn Armory makes a lever action for the 500 but hold on to your hat when you see the price
@@angrysheepdog9744 bet that’s a thumper too.
How is it not more popular? Easy - $2.50/round or more for almost any brand.
Reload! lol
44 mag is right in the sweet spot when you consider reloading cost to power ratio for a rimmed cartridge. 45 Colt and 357mag are right there also. These three are my favs of all time. When you go up to 454 Casull, 460 S&W and larger, price starts to climb rapidly per round for brass and bullets and components don’t last as long.
Starts with a 4, no regrets
@@larryderagowski8273 there we go
I agree with you 100%. Im thinking of a lever gun in .44 mag and .357 mag.
@@jamessotherden5909 I may get a 357 and tacticool it out just for the heck of it and leave the 44 classic
What do ya mean welcome back,,,
we never left 🤠
@@LogisticallyMisrepresented good!!!
you just made all my arguments for it being one of the 3 cartridges
@@ThePenn7 lol good!
I don’t have a.44 mag rifle but I like the idea of the rifle and pistol in the same caliber I have harvested white tail with the pistol but would keep my shots to fifty for the pistol and 100 for the rifle and the area that I hunt is a shot gun slug and pistol zone southern Minnesota I wish they would change like other states that allow straight wall rifle cartridges then I would like to have one. technically I could get a ar 10 .308 with a 12 inch barrel and call it a pistol to extend my range a little bit farther and be legal but I usually tag one with my bow and don’t gun hunt much anymore also have used a cross bow very lethal . I have not used a.357 on deer but would not hesitate to do so and my daily is a shield plus 9 mm and the ar 10 pistol is going to be my primary that I can carry with a permit because you can’t carry a rifle with a permit the dnr had that rule changed. Crazy times ahead
@@brianleverich4467 mix of crazy rules lol
That's how I feel about 45 Colt & 454. That aside I have a 92 action in 44 and an Anaconda. 44 is helluva round.
Same concept with the 45 and 454, except the 454 is more than I want in a handgun lol 😂
@thegundungeon But you don't have to load it to max spec. I enjoy loading it to the same level as a stout 45 Colt.
@ oh yes I would have to lol 😂
I don't think it's under-rated, a truly under-rated is the .45 colt loaded for Super Blackhawk and the lever action of your choice. Jmo. Love your vids.
@@zeddediah1997 45 colt can get rowdy too
I just voted with my wallet. Got a new SBH.
Maybe not ideal for squirrels but it has been done.
Our great great granddaddies did it with .44 WCF in their Winchester and Colt so it is kind of a tradition.
@@mkshffr4936 I bet a squirrel wouldn’t talk bad about it afterwards lol 😂
I’ve had both a .44 mag revolver and a Marlin 1894 in .44 though not at the same time. Is it underrated as a do it all revolver / rifle caliber? No. Not to those who pay attention to the ballistics tables and aren’t afraid to experiment a little.
I think the issue is that people have gotten away from the one cartridge to do it all concept because we have so many options available today. My personal opinion is that .44mag from a rifle is awesome. If you practice and know your dope, it’s good out to 150/200 yards. To your point, most of us that don’t live in the desert or plains aren’t likely to take a shot beyond 100 yards much less 200. So, why the need for a .300 Win Mag or something similar?
I'm thinking, (oh! oh! 😳), the .44 Magnum cartridge in all its load variations is still a very viable round for multiple applications. Perhaps with all the new bigger handgun calibers arriving on the scene, (i.e. .500 Magnum, 50 AE, 460 Rowland, 454 Casull, etc), the .44 Mag has lost some of it's "work"...as a rifle caliber it certainly has its place, for sure. I have two S&W .44 Mag revolvers, (a Model 29 and a 69), which I shoot frequently and truly enjoy. Now, you have me thinking about getting a .44 Mag rifle....hmm, I hope my wife don't read this, gulp...Good topic for discussion! Take care and stay safe my friend!
@@johnkennedy4015 I don’t know I want more than a hot 44 in a revolver lol
If .44 Magnum shall be the choice, I prefer 240-gr JHP (1,300 ft/sec muzzle velocity from a 5.5-inch barrel) for revolvers and 240-gr JSP (1,500 ft/sec from a 16-inch barrel) for leveraction carbines.
I’m about to start some velocity testing with the rifle.
@@thegundungeon, enthusiastically looking forward to your future videos. 👍🏼
A box of 44 mag near me is 75$ and 65$ at a runnings I love 44 but the price is why I pick something else. Just a thought
@@Larry-xf3qt a reloading kit isn’t much more than a couple boxes of that. 😉
Distance I prefer 45/70 rifle. And a 44 mag revolver. 44 mag is a great cartridge. In a rifle or revolver.
Yessir
I agree with the title.
I’m still trying to decide if I want a new Marlin 18.5” .44 magnum. I’ve been loading .444 Marlin down to .44 magnum with Blue Dot, but you do have the expensive case and lube issue.
The answer is always yes lol
Subsonic stuff defeats the purpose of rifles.
I wouldn't feel undergunned with .44 in both revolver or lever action.
Amen
I didn't like the front heavy barrel weight of the Smith and Wesson 44 mag rifle. The Marlin has better balance, but they are hard to find.
I haven’t held the smith but glad I chose correctly lol