Handgunning for elk

[bearhunter59]

I was thinking of using my Ruger RedHawk 44 Mag for elk hunting this year and was wondering what load I should be looking to use and an expected effective range?  I figure to use at least a 300gr for bearhunting, probably a 320gr, if I can find enough of them, but do I need to go that big for an elk as well?  I also figure to keep my shots between 50-75yds at the most, but I far could I expect to shoot and still have enough knockdown/kill shot energy?  I happen to catch the last part of some handgunning show on tv the other night, and just caught enough of it to hear the host say that with his handgun, (and I don't remember exactly what caliber it was), he was confident enough to shoot big game at 200-225yds.  I thought he might be able to accurately hit a target that far away, but would the bullet still have enough energy to do enough damage?

and secondly, geez....where the heck is a good place to pick up ammo these days?  The stores all look like russian grocery stores during their famines....bare as a bone...

[jdb]

I would say heavier is better!

[Ghost1941]

  I happen to catch the last part of some handgunning show on tv the other night, and just caught enough of it to hear the host say that with his handgun, (and I don't remember exactly what caliber it was), he was confident enough to shoot big game at 200-225yds. 

Probably a .460 Magnum by S&W.

[bugle-em]

used to be a minimum foot pounds of energy at 100 yards needed to be legal in WA. think for a 44 that means about a 300 grain bullet to meet the requirement. i did use my 44 with 240s years ago on a spike my dad shot and just wanted to get it down before it got out of sight. 60 yards went through both shoulders, perfect mushroom just under the hide.

[Huntbear]

Take a look at the Sierra 300 gr. Jacketed Soft Points.  Since you are shooting a Ruger, it has a longer cylinder and you can seat the bullets out where they belong.  I use H110 under mine, and they are whomper loads.  They were designed for elk, bear and boar.  My brother has a Blackhawk Hunter with a 10.5 in. barrel.  He gets 2.75 in. groups at 100 yards with a 2x scope.  I can shoot about 20 rounds of this load at one time, and my wrist is so sore, I can hardly use it the next day. 

[high country]

I shoot hardcast bullets with the biggest meplat I can find. they don't have to go really fast, but they drive deep and shock like lightning. I use expanding stuff for defense loads because there will likely be the accuracy by volume approach, but for hunting with big slow bullets........lead alloy and fat faces

[smdave]

used to be a minimum foot pounds of energy at 100 yards needed to be legal in WA. think for a 44 that means about a 300 grain bullet to meet the requirement. i did use my 44 with 240s years ago on a spike my dad shot and just wanted to get it down before it got out of sight. 60 yards went through both shoulders, perfect mushroom just under the hide.

Key words "used to be" the requirements now are

Handguns:
Big game, except cougar, may be hunted with
handguns with a minimum barrel length of 4 inches
per manufacturers specification, and fire a minimum
24 caliber centerfire cartridge. Cougar may be
hunted with 22 caliber centerfire handgun. Rimfire
handguns are not legal for big game.

The old 750ft pounds of energy at 100 yards for Elk was very hard to achieve without excessive pressure in a Ruger 44mag.

Just so you know I am all for hunting with a handgun.


Dave

[Skyvalhunter]

Just to let you know Dave it looks like you have some fine hardware there!!

[Ghost1941]

Very nice dave.

[high country]

Key words "used to be" the requirements now are

Handguns:
Big game, except cougar, may be hunted with
handguns with a minimum barrel length of 4 inches
per manufacturers specification, and fire a minimum
24 caliber centerfire cartridge. Cougar may be
hunted with 22 caliber centerfire handgun. Rimfire
handguns are not legal for big game.

The old 750ft pounds of energy at 100 yards for Elk was very hard to achieve without excessive pressure in a Ruger 44mag.

Just so you know I am all for hunting with a handgun.

that was good for me too when they changed up the verbage. it opend the door for the 45supers and rowlands.

nice pieces there dave

[ing]

I shoot 300 gr Hornady XTP's with 19 gr of H110 behind them out of both of my Super Blackhawk's.  I hav'nt killed anything with them yet, but the load is accurate.

[smdave]

For those of you that like the 300's try the Hornady 44cal 265gr rifle bullet, it is the most accurate bullet I have found in 44cal. I get it going around 1450fps. I shoot a 445 Supermag.

Dave

[ecnclan]

I would think a 240 grn bullet would be enough.  My S&W likes the sierras pushed by H110 at listed max in the Sierra Guide.  I have also loaded and shot the 300 grn soft point by sierra and it is accurate and would be more than enough for elk but the recoil may wear on you after a few practice sessions.