44 mag hunting ammo advice
What ammo do you guys who hunt with a 44 mag use for deer. I've killed 2 with my Blackhawk, but the second one has me reconsidering my bullet selection.
Shot the doe last weekend. She was about 25 yards, but the shot offered had me in a bit of an awkward position (+ I was a little excited) and I hit her a little back & high, just below the spine. She dropped like she'd never get back up. She landed in a ditch with not much of her body exposed and was thrasing around some so I decided to finish her with one to the head. Missed, missed again - she was moving her head around too and apparently bullets wizzing by her head inspired her to get up and move, but she only went about 10 yards, since her legs weren't working right yet. Well now there is plenty of body to shoot at so I aim behind her shoulder and shoot. No reaction from her except to get up again and try to get away. Shot her once more in the back ham/leg while she is moving. Must have missed with another shot because all 6 had been fired. But again she only went 10 yards or so and went down, looking like she was finished. So I'm thinking, she is done, I will casually reload and get out of the tree stand to get her. I get the 5th shell back in the cylinder and then she is getting up again! So, I shoot again behind her shoulder, & she goes back down. So I quickly get out of the stand, but she is trying to get up again. So I put one more behind her shoulder and she drops. I walk over to check her out and she raises her head like she is going to try one more time but I finally finish her with one to the head. Whew!! One tough doe. I was using Winchester 240 gr. jacketed soft points. Hit her 3 times thru the lungs + the one near the spine + the one in the hip. How come her body didn't realize she was dead? I know adreneline can really keep them going, but dang, those 3 thru the lungs seemed to wizz right thru with no effect.
Most of the deer I've killed have been with a shotgun or muzzleloader and if you hit lungs or heart they just don't stay on their feet very long.
Anyway, I am out of the Winchesters and am really wondering if 240 gr soft points are the way to go or if hollow points are lots better, or what? Also, is 240 or 250 gr bullets the best way to go or is smaller/faster like the 180 gr? I don't reload.
Shot the doe last weekend. She was about 25 yards, but the shot offered had me in a bit of an awkward position (+ I was a little excited) and I hit her a little back & high, just below the spine. She dropped like she'd never get back up. She landed in a ditch with not much of her body exposed and was thrasing around some so I decided to finish her with one to the head. Missed, missed again - she was moving her head around too and apparently bullets wizzing by her head inspired her to get up and move, but she only went about 10 yards, since her legs weren't working right yet. Well now there is plenty of body to shoot at so I aim behind her shoulder and shoot. No reaction from her except to get up again and try to get away. Shot her once more in the back ham/leg while she is moving. Must have missed with another shot because all 6 had been fired. But again she only went 10 yards or so and went down, looking like she was finished. So I'm thinking, she is done, I will casually reload and get out of the tree stand to get her. I get the 5th shell back in the cylinder and then she is getting up again! So, I shoot again behind her shoulder, & she goes back down. So I quickly get out of the stand, but she is trying to get up again. So I put one more behind her shoulder and she drops. I walk over to check her out and she raises her head like she is going to try one more time but I finally finish her with one to the head. Whew!! One tough doe. I was using Winchester 240 gr. jacketed soft points. Hit her 3 times thru the lungs + the one near the spine + the one in the hip. How come her body didn't realize she was dead? I know adreneline can really keep them going, but dang, those 3 thru the lungs seemed to wizz right thru with no effect.
Most of the deer I've killed have been with a shotgun or muzzleloader and if you hit lungs or heart they just don't stay on their feet very long.
Anyway, I am out of the Winchesters and am really wondering if 240 gr soft points are the way to go or if hollow points are lots better, or what? Also, is 240 or 250 gr bullets the best way to go or is smaller/faster like the 180 gr? I don't reload.
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I use 240gr HP's on pigs they work great for me. 0 -
I use either Federal JHP 240 grain or PMC 240 grain JSP in my carbine... 0 -
I asked a similar question for reloading purposes on this forum and the majority vote was for the Hornady 240gr XTP bullet using Winchester 296 powder. Based on my personal experience, I can now say that this bullet gives the biggest wound channel I have ever seen. If you don't reload, I assume this bullet is available in the Hornady loaded ammo and I'd say it's well worth the price. 0 -
I'd second the Hornady XTP if using only factory, and I have also had excellent terminal performance with the Sierra 240 JHC. In a handgun, I might even consider a 200gr. bullet for a little extra velocity and expansion. Penetration isn't usually a factor with the .44 on deer. 0 -
Use hollow points instead of soft points. More expansion and bigger wound channel. WHen you get a good hit on deer, leave them alone for a while, don't look or stare directly at them, gets them spooked and then they really get going. They'll calm down and relax a little, bleed out and die, works for me, getting too old to chase them all over creation. 125 grain 357 hollow points work pretty good for me, max charge of W296 or H110 nad Hornaday 125gr HP. 0 -
180 gr Hornady XTPs 0 -
Your sad story is a testament to why it's a bad idea for most folks NOT to use a handgun when hunting big game.
I consider myself better than an average shot with a handgun, but feel an obligation to use a firearm that will humanely end the animal's life with one WELL AIMED shot.
If the anti gun people get a hold of this disturbing account, I fear they will use it in their campaign to stop ALL of us from hunting.
If it were me, I'd be ashamed to recount this story to ANYONE.
Just my opinion.
Rob0 -
I use federal 240 gr JHP 0 -
Yo KX500, I wonder if you use that 44mag for home defense! 0 -
Ashamed! What for? It isn't as if I was using a .22 LR, or that I hadn't practiced with this gun quite a bit or that I blew it's jaw off & left it to die.
No, my first shot wasn't exactly what I had in mind. But from there on, I can't think of much I'd have done differently. I certainly keep shooting until I know the deer won't escape - and most of my shots didn't seem to have much effect.
It was probably just luck that my last dozen or so deer were one shot kills.
Of course I do feel bad that the deer didn't die instantly. But ashamed, no. I accept that I'm not perfect. This is hunting and these things happen.
Why do you think I was asking for ammo advice?0 -
Err....Sorry guy but the problem was not the ammo but rather sloppy shooting.
mike0
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