44 mag, why me lol

[6.5x55swm]

when I think of all the guns I have had over the years I keep coming back to a marlin 1894 in 44 mag as my deer rifle, why? I think it's an excellent deer gun, I am in the bush so 100 yds would be a long shot, just wondering if the Hornady ftx 225gr would be good out to 150yds, I guess my chopping is a little bigger now lol

 

[cody c]

44 mag is cool, dont own one but wish I did...

I got some bird shot 44mag shells that my uncle gave me before he passes away, you could shoot 44 special rounds out of 44mag chambered rifles apparently, so plinking on the cheap, and you could get a 44 mag revolver to match, or perhaps a 44russian antique that you could fire 44 special shells out of, read up on that before anyone does as there is info for and against. But potentially you could take a lever and a revolver, and be able to share shells, carry bird shot and plink with them and carry ammo that would overlap. Too cool. I need to buy one, which means I need to sell something first I guess...

 

[6.5x55swm]

I know I should keep mine but never shot anything with but paper, all the deer/moose I have shot were with other rifles and I carry the 44 over 50% of time hunting, lol going to need a scope this I think, my eyes are not what they used to be lol

 

[todbartell]

225gr FTX gives the illusion of better performance at longer range, but in reality it's no better than a 240gr XTP for aerodynamics and velocity. The 225gr Leverevolution ammo does 1720 fps from my 16.5" Marlin 1894, BC is .150 (verified at .146 based on 50y retained speeds on my Labradar doppler). A 240gr factory load does 1760 fps in my rifle, Ballistic Coefficient is higher than the FTX

 

[mark k]

I have the same problem. Two full gun safes and my Marlin 1894 16” is my go to gun. I shoot 240gr XTP’s with H110 just under 1700 fps. I’m not sure how you can really improve on that for deer.

 

[kc34]

I have an old H&R Model 155 in 44 Rem Mag that I haven't really shot much that I want to get out for a bush deer, hopefully this year. Up north in the thick stuff I'm not really giving up anything to a flatter shooting cartridge. I will pull it out of the safe in the Spring and see what it likes to shoot.

 

[Falconflyer]

I don't think the 225 g is going to do anything for you that the 240 g won't do.

I love my Rossi 92 in 44 mag. I load 240 g cast bullets to 1000 fps for subsonic plinkers and 300 g XTP's for when I take a walk in bear and cougar country.

 

[buck knife]

I like hunting deer with my ruger .44 carbine,it's a short range gun but lots of fun.Ive tried hornady 225 grain ftx in it and they work great but I like thr 240 grain american eagle hollow points best for deer hunting.Ive yet to shoot one that didn't flop right where it was shot.Up close the .44 makes a wallop .

 

[blasted_saber]

44 mag is a wonderful deer cartirdge. Every dead deer Ive seen from one you could eat right up to the hole. No wrecked meat, no jelly, nothing. Nice and clean and almost always a bang flop.

 

[bunny]

The 240 XTP is very hard to beat, unless you go hard cast lead.

 

[blasted_saber]

My 44 really likes American Eagle 240gr JSP. Anyone shot a deer with them?

 

[buck knife]

Yes,I have shot a deer with the american eagle 240 grain jacleted soft point,do yourself a favor and use the same bullet but the hollow point,jfp are more of a plinking bullet.