.44-40 for Deer?

[Johnn Peterson]

I think the big difference is that a high velocity slug (2000+ fps) will both expand and create a broad area of cavitation along the wound channel. That imparts a lot of shock to the animal and to a limited extent means that a more marginal hit is still rapidly lethal. A slow moving heavy projetile means that shot placement is much more critical. I am reminded of a deer shot with a .270 broadside through the chest; exit hole was 3" or more in diameter and the deer was dead in 2 jumps. A similar shot with a 44-40 and it would have almost certainly run for a hundred yards or perhaps several hundred yards. Here on the Island that translates into a lost deer. If you hare hunting in snow that is much less a problem or on the prairies the deer can run for 2 or 3 days before it is out of sight :>) :>)

cheers mooncoon

No arguement from me with your statement on the broad or broader area of cavitation and the size of the wound channel created by a high velocity projectile VS that of a larger diameter but slower moving one. I content however, that if you place a 44 cal bullet, at say 1200 - 1600f/sec, broadside through the chest on a Deer in the same location as your .270 round, not only will the bullet pass through, but the Deer will go down. Perhaps not in two jumps, but quite likely three. I've shot them on the island with 'similar' large relatively slow moving bullets, broadside in the chest area and none have travelled more than a few yards at best.
Going a step further, over the years and especially on Moose, the caliber I've noticed on a regular basis that 'seems' to impart the most tissue damage has been the 7mm Mag, hands down! In most cases, it was with bullets in the 150 - 160gr weight range. So, if you want said Deer to only take 'one jump', the 7mm Mag may be a better choice yet.
Even with some of the more high velocity calibers, a fair number of Deer have been shot badly, chased for a considerable period of time and in some cases, lost, by some hunters. Gut shot, legs blowen off etc. Square # 1 is still hunter ethics followed very closely by shot placement. Archery especially proves this on a regular basis, so, the 44-40 with decent shot placement and used within its capeabilities is more than adequate.
Johnn

 

[John Y Cannuck]

Don't worry about sizing them down, just load them as they are and go to the range......429 bullets work fine in a 44-40.

Ted

Not in all of them Ted. Mine, a '92 with a '94 barrel won't take .429's without squeezing the hell out of the lever. I use the lee sizer to size them down. i get about .4275 after they have sat a bit, and that works very well. Just roll the bullets in case lube before sizing.

 

[John Y Cannuck]

The deer I shot with the 44-40 went only a couple of hops before rolling on her back and kicking her last.

 

[Why not?]

Not in all of them Ted. Mine, a '92 with a '94 barrel won't take .429's without squeezing the hell out of the lever. I use the lee sizer to size them down. i get about .4275 after they have sat a bit, and that works very well. Just roll the bullets in case lube before sizing.

Okay, but yours has been rebarrelled, right?

I doubt very much if any original 44-40 rifles are so tightly chambered in the neck that they won't take an extra one and a half thousandths diameter in the neck of a loaded cartridge.

The neck of yours could easily be polished out to do the same.

Ted

 

[Win 38-55]

You might be able to use a bit larger caliber without straining on the lever if you crimp with a Lee Factory Crimp die. I use it for my 44-40 and it does allow my to chamber larger bullets.

 

[John Y Cannuck]

Okay, but yours has been rebarrelled, right?

I doubt very much if any original 44-40 rifles are so tightly chambered in the neck that they won't take an extra one and a half thousandths diameter in the neck of a loaded cartridge.

The neck of yours could easily be polished out to do the same.

Ted

True, but it was with a modern '94 barrel, meaning the are are likely lots of modern '94s that are just as tight.
And I do use a Lee factory crimp die.