44 Magnum for Moose?

[atr]

Don't know if this will help but i took a cow and a calf at 65 and 80 yards with my 1894C in .45LC . 300 grain hard cast , sized , lubed and gas checked over 23 grains of H110 . Shot right through the calf , double lung . Hit the cow in the shoulder which resulted in both shoulders broken and the bullet resting in the inside of the hide on the opposite side . She went down and i fired once more to finish her . If you can get 'em or cast 'em i'd recommend a hard cast bullet over a JSP but a 240 JSP ought to do the trick .

 

[Takujualuk]

When my son is old enough to join me on the family moose hunt as a full participant he will have my Ruger 44 Carbine loaded with 250 grain Nosler Partitions. These are no longer made but if you can find a box they expand to about 55Caliber and penetrate very well. Hard Cast don't create a wide enough wound channel IMO.

By the way Lil' Gun is a great 44 powder! With the Noslers I am near MOA at 100 yards with the 3X scope.

 

[skokie]

Im going with Barnes XPB's, the 225grain, with a full load of 296 , it hits like a 300, but shoots like a target load. Should be good to go on everything in Ontario Bush.

 

[Northman999]

I'm prettys sure the legal minimum energy requirements referred to earlier are for Bison only, not all big game.

 

[RSA1]

Do not laugh, but in a previous life (actually on another continent) I culled donkeys in conservation areas where they could cross-breed hybrids with the endangered mountain zebra. From experience I can confirm that a good quality 240gr soft nosed bullet from a 6.5 - 7.5" revolver will shoot sideways through the shouldes of an average sized donkey.

In Canada I have chronographed velocity in six different 44 Mag firearms, and I list velocities recorded in three, my homemade (and legally registered!!!) 4.2" Custom S&W 629-6, my 7.5" Ruger Super Redhawk and finally, my 20" Marlin 1894:

240gr Win JSP factory load (very hot!!!) = 1231ft/s, 1414ft/s and 1758ft/s (Yes, the rifle really gives 300ft/s more)

300gr Frontier CMJ using 95% max 2400 powder = 1083ft/s, 1202ft/s and 1418ft/s. In this load with the heavy bullet, using H110 / Win 296 should give about 100-150ft/s more in the rifle.

However, do not use round nose bullets as mentioned in post #10 in a Marlin Lever rifle. Only use flat nosed or bullets made for lever rifles.

Best loads in my opinion (I have not seen any ConBon in Canada) is the cheap`` 240gr Win JSP mentioned above, the expensive Win Gold with 250gr Partition bullet, or best, load the 270gr Switt A-Frame, using the slower H110. In my Marlin 1894 the 300gr bullets do not feed reliably unless deeply seated in the case, as Speer prescribes in their Number 14 Manual. However, this reduces case capacity and I believe the 270 Swift A-Frame to be the best for a rifle. Would love to try the Ruger 44/77 bolt rifle.

At point blank range, the 44 Mag has more stopping power than a 30-06 with 180gr bullet, not only on paper but also real life (RSA = Reallife Shooting Analysis).

Regarding reloading data for bullets over 300gr, the Hodgon 2011 Annual Manual lists 3 bullet types (325-355gr) on page 164, and the Second Ed. Lee reloading manual lists 4 bullets (320-355gr).

 

[torontogungal]

I have several 44 Magnum rifles. A marlin 1894C and a ruger carbine. Within 100 yards would this caliber, using 240 JHP rounds loaded to the max, be capable of a humane kill on a moose. I don't expect to be hunting for a bull but I do have a calf tag.

I am looking for input from those who have actually tried it.

Moose were routinely shot with a Winchester model 92 in 44-40 by my Dad and Grandad but of course this is 2012 and you need a 375 RUM shooting premium bullets at $100 a box.

My brother shot 2 adult moose (bull and cow) near Ear falls, Ontario last year with a Ruger model 96 lever action in 44 Magnum. One was at 40 yards and the other paced off around 70 yards. He had the cow tag and his friend had a bull tag. He used Winchester brand "white box" 240 grain SP ammo. The 44 Mag pistol ammo puts out about 1700 ft-lbs of muzzle energy from a 18 1/2" rifle barrel.

No problem if you put the bullet in the right place and the range is reasonable (within 100 yd).

The notion that you need a shoulder super-cannon to hunt moose is flogged by people who market guns and ammo.

 

[cheapsk8]

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...-So-who-thinks-the-44-mag-is-p***y-in-a-rifle

See above link

Edited to add:

I would stay away from ANY 240 gr load. These are generally used for deer and expand for such. If you cant get good hardcast solids, load your own with Hornady 265 gr JSP. These are desigend for the .444 Marlin and will hold together on heavy shoulder bone.

Best,
cheapsk8

 

[beretta boy]

I used the 44 Mag a lot back in the late 60's through the 70's ... in a converted Mod. 92 rifle,
a Marlin 1894 and a Ruger carbine (as well as an 8-3/8" Mod. 29 S&W).

Quite a few deer (who counts ?) at least one black bear and a couple of moose were
collected. My favourite load was the hard cast Keith type 250 gr. Lyman 429-421,
with 24.0 gr. of either WW296 or H110. No complaints for anything out to 100 yards
or so. The two lever guns were also a lot of fun to shoot snowshoe rabbitts with ahead
of the hounds. Same cast bullet, but with 8.0 grains of Unique.

 

[ryan32]

i'd shoot it with the 44 and not even think twice. It aint a cap gun