Recommendations for 44 Mag Load suitable for Cougar/Bear

[Westside88]

Hello everyone, I was wondering if anyone could recommend a suitable factory loaded round for 44 mag that would be good for hunting/defense. I would like something that I could carry while packing deer/elk and be able to shoot a black bear cougar etc. The gun is a S&W Mountain Gun with a 4" barrel so I understand its not the best for heavy loads. Any thoughts on a good solid bullet? Thanks

[PNW_Hunter]

Pretty much any full power, hard cast round will do the trick!

[hillbilli]

yes, you can use hard cast- but as most cougar are 200lbs or less, and most black bear 300 or less- it's not like you need the same penetration that yuo might need in grizzly country, so I would say any 240gr or heavier hollowpoint that your gun shoots decent..

[wildmanoutdoors]

 

If you look at Buffalo's read the warnings. Only a select few revovers suited to shoot some of those. And the S and W's arnt on the list.

[Jason]

I shoot the Hornady 240gr XTP bullets in my .44mag.

[Westside88]

Thanks guys

[Oldguy]

If you look at Buffalo's read the warnings. Only a select few revovers suited to shoot some of those. And the S and W's arnt on the list.

That restriction only applies to the 340gr +P+ load in the 44 magnum.

[Westside88]

I appreciate the warnings as well. I know a lightweight like the the 629 or in my case 629 mountain gun isn't safe for too heavy or stout loads. That's why I'm asking, to try to find something in the mid range with a bullet suitable for taking mid sized animals at reasonable ranges.  So many of the articles you find are tailored to,handgun hunting with larger/stronger guns (and rightly so if that's the primary use) Thanks again for pointing out safety concerns, it's always good to have all the information

[Hunt4ever]

best 44 rounds made are the 225 hornady lever revolution ballistic tip... I dropped a bear last year at 50 yrds and it left a softball size hole in him...