.44 Magnum for Deer Hunting

Some time back, somewhere, I posted a rather long and general discussion about firearms suitable for homestead use.  The idea behind that post assumed general use for food gathering, family and livestock protection, and pest elimination / control.

This is the time of year serious deer hunters begin to plot out how they will spend their hunting season.  This includes early scouting, food plot observations, bait stations, and firearm selection and scope and ammo checks and developments.  Well for me the last four years have been very ho hum and rushed affairs with no time for anything beyond a few quick walks through the woods.  So this year I am making early scouting trips, observing doe and fawn travel patterns, and evaluating my firearm choices and their suitability to the terrain where the deer are currently located. (Here's a clue; Bucks move from their home territory to find the Doe's.  If you are scouting for Bucks this time of year you will be very disappointed when the season opens and the rut begins.)

So I was looking through my firearms, and considering the benefits and draw backs of each.  I finally settled on two.  My Super Redhawk revolver, and my Handi Rifle.  The Revolver was used for 9 years exclusively, and harvested well over a ton of venison during that period.  The Handi Rifle ( a single shot with a few barrels that are interchangeable. ) while wearing the 45-70 barrel has harvested a couple deer, but the .44 barrel has yet to return with meat.  Time to try to remedy that.  Load development was done a couple years ago.  There are three acceptable loads, two are not commonly published, one of which is expressly not recommended for most guns, so I will not share them here.

(Rohn, they are safe in contender, Ruger #1, and similar strength guns so you may already be aware of them)

The one load I will share is simply a slightly lighter loading that was developed by the cartridges designer and greatest promoter, Elmer Keith.  ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmer_Keith )

Starline Brass, standard large pistol primer, and a cast lead keith style bullet weighing 240 grains (nominal).  The powder charge is 21 grains of Alliant 2400. (Please note, this is a hot full power MAGNUM loading, if you choose to try this start with a reduced powder charge of 18 grains, and work slowly up to the full 21 grains only if there are no pressure signs when firing this load in your gun)  This load launches that bullet at a measured 1,590 fps average from my revolver, and should yield over 1,800 fps from the longer rifle barrel with the sealed breech.  I have used this load in this rifle, with great results...on targets found at the range.







New this year, for this rifle, is a low power scope...I am waiting for the big brown santa sleigh to deliver the new scope and mounting rings, so more to come.

Interesting post Keith. I am now considering purchasing a .223 barrel for my Encore pistol or buying a rifle for that caliber. I am planing to do some fox & coyote hunting this fall. I believe the .223 will reach out and do the job with minimal fur damage. I plan to hand-load all the rounds for this new caliber. With custom loads that I will put together and test at the range, I believe this will perform the way I need it to.

I have actually considered purchasing a .44 mag. barrel for the Encore to use in deer season, but I have limited funds and my muzzle-loader fills the need at this time. The .44 mag. is a really good deer cartridge in my opinion. My son-in-law uses this caliber and has had great success with it.

.223 on a Contender is a great choice for small to medium fur bearers and predators...I have witnessed 500 yard shots taking coyotes with the .223 from a Ruger mini 14 aka ranch rifle. Win 748 looks to be a good powder for the .223, covering all bullet weights (up to 69 grain weight) Varget looks like a good general use powder as well...

http://handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=223%20Remington&Weight=All&type=Rifle&Or

Keith, I have some 748 Win powder on hand and that is what I will at least start out using. I will probably be using bullet weight of around 50-55 grains. I think that will be about right. Of course as time goes on I'll be trying the heaver bullet weights too. Thanks for the link, it has some good info there.

You are welcome Rohn. Just thinking...50 - 55 grain bullet and long(ish) range...what range are you considering? The T/C Encore / Contender platform in handgun guise is good for about 200 to 250 yards with a steady rest and ample hold over. From a longer carbine and rifle barrel that range becomes more like 350 or in the case of an exceptional rifle shot out to 550 yards, again with ample holdover.

In shooting any gun a person has to be able to shoot it enough to know its limits and where to hold for certain distances. I will be doing a lot of shooting before it it goes hunting. I realize that the shorter barrel does make some difference in the distance accuracy but the Encore/Contender type gun is a very strong chambered gun that can take a pretty good load. There have been some who have documented shots with such a gun that would amaze you with the distance and accuracy they achieved. I know from experience that my Encore in .308 is as accurate any rifle I have used.
To answer you question I will probably be shooting between 200 - 300 hundred yards or closer. It all depends on how close Mr. Fox or Wiley Coyote comes to the calls. Hopefully closer and always with a rest of some sort. With a pistol of this size you just don't shoot it accurately off hand.

Well at that range either rifle or new barrel will be great. Have fun deciding, and picking up which ever you choose

Meat in the freezer...

That is great.

Thanks Brother Rohn...are your going to be able to hunt this year?

I am hoping to be able to get out for deer. I could sure use some venison for the winter. Our season doesn't start until December 1. Archery season has been on I think, but so far, I don't hunt archery. I haven't even been out for small game this year. Just been too busy and living in the city it is harder for me to get out in the woods.

Well, here's a teaser of what is going on in Ky...
I decided to go for a stroll through my woods last night (evening) not really hunting, but carrying the rifle and wearing the Hunter Safety Orange. A Fox Squirrel came down a tree 5 feet from me and proceeded to dig around in the leaves for missed or hidden nuts...

sorry about the poor quality video, it was taken with my cell phone. The squirrel never got more than 10 feet from me. (click to full screen to see him better)