Have a .44 lever Winchester on the way and looking to purchase some .44 magnum ammo for it that's tubular-magazine friendly. I figure that most .44 mag ammo is good to go but if anybody has any recommendations for brands, that'd be great. flat nose lead, JHP if those are lever friendly. They're just for plinking (I know .44 is an expensive plinker) for now.
Where to buy .44 Magnum that's lever-action friendly?
- Thread starter mr00jimbo
- Start date
Is it one of those new Winchester/Miroku 1892's?
For factory ammo I know Ferderal AE is jacketed with a lead flat nose, perfect for levers and it's a pretty stout magnum load too. Hornady makes 44 mag with their XTP hollowpoint, pricey though.
For factory ammo I know Ferderal AE is jacketed with a lead flat nose, perfect for levers and it's a pretty stout magnum load too. Hornady makes 44 mag with their XTP hollowpoint, pricey though.
I can't say I've ever seen .44 mag ammo that wasn't lever friendly. I've seen some with pointy cast bullets but never as a factory offering. Only pointed factory bullets I've seen are the Hornady FTX which are designed for lever rifles (the tip is rubber).
At ~$1/round it's like shooting .308. You can save a lot (or just shoot a lot more) by reloading for it if you're inclined to go that route. If it's a Winchester you should be able to shoot cast bullets too which can bring the cost of reloads down to maybe $.25/round. The Marlins have Micro Groove rifling which can be a huge pain to try to get to work with cast bullets without a lot of leading.
At ~$1/round it's like shooting .308. You can save a lot (or just shoot a lot more) by reloading for it if you're inclined to go that route. If it's a Winchester you should be able to shoot cast bullets too which can bring the cost of reloads down to maybe $.25/round. The Marlins have Micro Groove rifling which can be a huge pain to try to get to work with cast bullets without a lot of leading.
Roll your own or get a friend to do it for you . H110 for hot loads or Unique to plink with . pick up some lead bullets for plinking and some jacketed bullets for hunting if your going to use it for that . it's a nice caliber. have fun .
The only thing you need worry too much about and not for long is the round count in the boxes. 20 is rifle ammo. 50 is handgun. Not a big deal in any way. Don't recall ever seeing a .44 that would be unsafe in a tube mag.
If you're not reloading, you'll have to try a box of as may brands as you can to find the ammo your rifle shoots best.
If you're not reloading, you'll have to try a box of as may brands as you can to find the ammo your rifle shoots best.
Outlander, it's a miroku, yes.
Sunray, what's the difference between the rifle and pistol .44 ammo? Is what you're saying that I should be good to go either way?
I thought some fmj would be fine but apparently people say its risky. Do they have to be soft point and flat if I were going for reloads? Or would a hard cast be fine? I'm assuming JHP is good to go?
Would an 1892 rifle action be able to sustain the pressures of some hot revolver loads?
Sunray, what's the difference between the rifle and pistol .44 ammo? Is what you're saying that I should be good to go either way?
I thought some fmj would be fine but apparently people say its risky. Do they have to be soft point and flat if I were going for reloads? Or would a hard cast be fine? I'm assuming JHP is good to go?
Would an 1892 rifle action be able to sustain the pressures of some hot revolver loads?
The difference between 20 and 50 round boxes of ammo is how many are in the box. That's it, that's all. All of it is 44 mag ammo loaded to 44 mag specifications. All factory ammo is held within the limits set by SAAMI and enforced by company lawyers. If a company makes a gun and labels it as a 44 mag than it can shoot any 44 mag ammo within the SAAMI limits. It doesn't matter if it's a revolver, lever rifle, desert eagle, or anything else. Any ammo from any of the major manufacturers is going to conform to SAAMI specs.
Some companies (garret and buffalo bore come to mind) load slightly hotter loads but I have no idea what pressure these are loaded to. The vast majority of firearms manufacturers will tell you not to use this ammo as that is what their lawyers will advise them for liability. Most US made firearms will be able to handle it but it's up to you if you use it or not.
Whether hard cast, FMJ, soft point, hollow point, or anything else doesn't matter. All that matters is that it isn't pointed. I'd want the flat to be at least the size of the primer of the round in front of it but that's just me. I do shoot quite a few of the Hornady Leverevolution bullets which are pointed but have a rubber tip and are safe for levers.
Some bullets are a little too lightly constructed and can over expand or fracture at rifle velocities due to the longer barrel. That only really matters at very close range since 44 mag looses velocity so quickly and of course only matters if you're hunting. Targets wont tell the difference.
Some companies (garret and buffalo bore come to mind) load slightly hotter loads but I have no idea what pressure these are loaded to. The vast majority of firearms manufacturers will tell you not to use this ammo as that is what their lawyers will advise them for liability. Most US made firearms will be able to handle it but it's up to you if you use it or not.
Whether hard cast, FMJ, soft point, hollow point, or anything else doesn't matter. All that matters is that it isn't pointed. I'd want the flat to be at least the size of the primer of the round in front of it but that's just me. I do shoot quite a few of the Hornady Leverevolution bullets which are pointed but have a rubber tip and are safe for levers.
Some bullets are a little too lightly constructed and can over expand or fracture at rifle velocities due to the longer barrel. That only really matters at very close range since 44 mag looses velocity so quickly and of course only matters if you're hunting. Targets wont tell the difference.
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