Muzzle velocity of HSM .44 Magnum "Bear Load"

B

boomer49

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Hi guys,

I bought a box of this stuff from Kate about a month ago. The muzzle velocity is listed by the factory at 1260 fps for the 305 gr. WFN gas-check hard cast lead bullet. But (for some reason) there is no mention of the barrel-length that produced that number. I couldn't find it on the factory website or anywhere on the Internet, either.

So I picked up the phone and talked to HSM's technical department ... that's from a six-inch barrel. Very impressive ... my Rossi has a 12-inch barrel, so I am good-to-go.
 
boomer49 said:
Hi guys,

I bought a box of this stuff from Kate about a month ago. The muzzle velocity is listed by the factory at 1260 fps for the 305 gr. WFN gas-check hard cast lead bullet. But (for some reason) there is no mention of the barrel-length that produced that number. I couldn't find it on the factory website or anywhere on the Internet, either.

So I picked up the phone and talked to HSM's technical department ... that's from a six-inch barrel. Very impressive ... my Rossi has a 12-inch barrel, so I am good-to-go.
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Not only that, but your bullet has 6" less distance before it hits the bear!
 
Good question ... I don' t know the answer. Whatever the "industry standard" is, I suppose ...
 
boomer49 said:
The ads ...
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The magazine ads ... I hope that I am wrong ... were (by current standards) ghastly. As bad as it can get. But I am super-tired and am taking some serious meds for a vicious bout of gout ... So what I say should be taken with a huge grain-of-salt.
 
You mean the one with the hunter posing with the dead Gorilla? It was pretty cool I thought, anyway this gun is in excellent shape and made in 1976. I don't want to damage it though.
 
Miles Teg said:
You mean the one with the hunter posing with the dead Gorilla? It was pretty cool I thought, anyway this gun is in excellent shape and made in 1976. I don't want to damage it though.
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Yes, that's the one I still remember. Much has changed since that time. I wonder what vintage the ads were ... my dad subscribed to three different outdoorsy magazines when I was a kid ... Sports Afield, Field & Stream, and Outdoor Life.
 
boomer49 said:
Yes, that's the one I still remember. Much has changed since that time. I wonder what vintage the ads were ... my dad subscribed to three different outdoorsy magazines when I was a kid ... Sports Afield, Field & Stream, and Outdoor Life.
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It just took a minute to find an image of the ad in the Smith & Wesson forum. I just Googled "Ruger" and "carbine" and "gorilla". It's a gross picture. The gorilla was apparently hunted-down for a museum.
 
You may not get enough penetration with that bullet from a rifle length barrel (faster = expands to quickly).

I would go with a jacketed bullet of some sort for bear.
 
I own a Ruger 44 carbine dated 1976 and it shoots 300 gr Hornady XTPs under a max load of H110 as good as anything else. The only issue with the carbine shooting lead bullets is that over time, it can dirty the gas port and is actually advised against by Ruger. That said, a gas checked bullet may decrease the likelihood and if you are not shooting high volumes of lead ammo, it may be ok.

FWIW hard cast bullets will penetrate deeeeep at any 44 Mag velocity whether from a handgun or rifle. The Barnes buster is a much more expensive alternative if you are looking for a completely jacketed bullet capable of maximum penetration. You tube 444 Marlin Barnes Buster.....

astuart44
 
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