Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

44 mag carbine bullet wgt ??

goldslammer
What weight bullet should I use in a carbine ? I have some 240gr. and 180gr. hollowpoints I use in my revolvers, but I am going on an end of season deer hunt and I want to take the Ruger 44 carbine I just bought. I will be hunting in heavy woods so distance is limited to 45 yards or less. Thanks
0

Comments

9 comments

Date Votes
  • ndbilly
    Have used the 240 gr JHP in a M94 carbine for the last 12 years. Shot 9 deer with it. Only 1 needed a second shot. Distances and conditions such as you describe.
    0
  • fergusonmorse392
    If its one of the older Ruger carbines, do not use the 180gr as it may/will not cycle.
    0
  • Laredo Lefty
    I have a Ruger Deerfield .44 Mag and noticed Ruger says to not use any aluminium cased ammo.
    I would suggest 240 gr hollow or flat points for reliable functioning and max stopping power.

    "Never let school interfere with your education"
    0
  • bambihunter
    I've always used 240 grain in either jacketed softpoints or jacketed hollowpoints in all my Ruger .44 mag carbines. Like the Desert Eagle pistol if you use an all-lead bullet it CAN smash a side of it on the feedramp and thus jam.
    I personally think you have the best gun for the situation you described!
    One more thing, practice shooting it from your "off-side". I can't repeat the number of times deer slipped by me in the thick woods because they approached from an odd (or unexpected) direction. Since I've started practicing with my off-side, I've taken 3 deer cleanly that way that I normally would have had to watch go by.
    0
  • old06
    Back when I had my ruger I used 240 soft point seemed my rifle liked them better and I went with the though that the hollowpoint open up to quick.

    psalms 16
    0
  • Iconoclast
    Back when I had my Ruger, I never used anything but 240 gr and it thrived on them.
    0
  • BOBBYWINS
    ferguson makes a good point.
    My deerstalker won't cycle the 180 gr.,but works perfectly w/any 240gr.As far as the "bullet" goes,w/a .44mag at that range,I don't think the deer's gonna know the difference[xx(][xx(].

    Good luck,
    BW

    IT'S WHAT PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THEMSELVES THAT MAKES THEM AFRAID.
    0
  • booger
    Hornady makes a wicked 300gr. loading, gauranteed to cycle, hehehe. That's what I've settled on, bigger hammer theory. Shooting it out of a Blackhawk pistol though, ouch.

    Them ducks is wary.
    0
  • gotstolefrom
    I load 44 mag for my hunting handguns. I had a pet load using a 255 Kieth bullet for short range slam dunks. When I went to use it in a lever gun, the over-all-length was just a tad too much. I am ashamed to say that I did not find that out until I was in the stand. Fortunately I had a super-blackhawk with me (saw no deer anyway).
    You may not have this problem, but just a thought.
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity