44 MAG ZERO QUESTION?

[Rhinoron247]

Questions for you  44 mag guys? 

Recently acquired a 44 Super Black Hawk.  Am looking for some ideas as to the distance you would zero the gun.  I am taking it with me to Alaska for a back up on my spring bear hunt.  Also, from the bench what kind of goupings are you getting at 25, 50, 100 yards? 

Recipes and suggestions of your favorite loads?  I just purchased a box or 240 gr Hornady XTP bullets and will be loading them tonight.

 

[phishisgroovin]

i zeroed mine in at 25 yards, but it hits just above in the one inch area on center. i dont expect to shoot it any farther than that, alsaka may be different though.

started at 10,15-17 then out at 25 just to get used to it with downloaded ammo to special instead of magnums, then took and shot some standard magnum rounds and they hit in the same spot but hurt (kicked) more.

[bowelkin]

If your back-up reason is protection, 25 yards, if it is back-up is back up for your long gun then 50 yards.  If you have a scope then 50 - 75 yards.

I used to use mine on blacktails in Alaska with open sights and had it set at 50 yards, I rarely shot beyond that.

Bowelkin

[Jason]

I also zero my 44mag at 25yds.

[Rhinoron247]

Thanks for the info,  heading out to shot now.    No scope, open sights and I really don't see a need for longer shots than 20 - 30 yards.

[44 Flattop]

I've sighted my .44's in for 1 1/2" high at 25 yards, for 35 years now.  You are good from headshooting grouse range to 100-125 yards.

44

[Ray]

25 yards. I prefer cast bullets with the gas check at 320 grains and I prefer Alliant 2400. Those bullets should be able to handle anything I encounter out to 50 yards. Even crackheads. I have been able to get all my shots into an 8.5 x 11 target at 100 yards from a bench but I never plan on shooting like that in the woods. On the super blackhawk I removed the hand pieces and then removed on spring from the body to make the trigger sweet.

[carpsniperg2]

25 yards is about the sweet spot for most of the 44's and 45's

[Rhinoron247]

Got dialed it in  as best as I could with the massive wind today.  3" groups approx 1.5 high at 25 yards.  Pretty sure the wind moving the target was more of an impact than on the bullet.   

[MikeWalking]

For an Alaska back-up?  Forget the zero, you'll most likely be using it point blank if it comes to it.  I always took the 310 or 330gr loads from Buffalo Bore or Garrett up there.   Bone breaking penetration is what you want.

[44 Flattop]

Got dialed it in  as best as I could with the massive wind today.  3" groups approx 1.5 high at 25 yards. 

Perfect.  You may be 2" or 3" high at around 65 yards but that is no problem.  From the end of the gun barrel to a little over 100 yards you won't have to think about it.  You'll be 'around' 4" low at around 100-110 yards.

One thing to keep in mind about POI.  If you sight a revolver in with a rest and then shoot offhand you'll find the POI will be a bit high.  When you use a rest you are pressing downward on the gun a bit.  When you shoot offhand you are holding it upward, allowing the gun to recoil upward more moving the POI. 

I've taken deer and elk both with .44's since the late '70's and have fired a few hundred thousand rounds through them.  Over that time I've learned there are a few ways one can employ to change the POI without moving the sights after it is sighted in where you want it.

44

[Rhinoron247]

44.  Thanks for the input.  I  Will get a lot of freehand trigger time tomorrow.  Should be no wind.

[44 Flattop]

  Recipes and suggestions of your favorite loads?  I just purchased a box or 240 gr Hornady XTP bullets and will be loading them tonight.

What did you load your 240's with?  I personally favor 'about' 23.5grs of W296 with any of the 240's.  You can go a bit hotter but most 44's I've messed with prefer around 22.5 to 23.5grs. 

What sort of bear are you after?  I sure wouldn't be using an XTP or any other HP for bear, even as a backup.  A softnose would be best and if you are looking at the 240gr range, its tough to beat the old tried and true Remington 240 JSP.  For the price they hold togather very nicely.  They've always exited when shot through the ribs of an elk for me except for one time.  Make a purty mushroom!

You can mess with the 250's and 270's if you want, but for my money I'd jump right to 300's if you are thinking of a heavier bullet.  Speer makes a dandy 300gr JSP that would be the cats meow with about 19grs of AA#9 -OR- 20.5grs of W296. 

Personally I shoot about 99.9% cast bullets.  Great performance through .44's in either a rifle or pistol. My main elk load is a 260gr cast GC at 1740fps from a rifle and about 1300 from a revolver using 23.5gr W296.  My Marlin Cowboy will put this load into a 1 1/2" group at 100 yards. 

But my favorite 2 loads that I shoot thousands of per year is a 255gr SWC PB and 9 grs of Unique in a .44 mag case and the same bullet and 7 1/2grs Unique in a .44 special case.  I used the .44 special load last season to take a nice little 3 point from my Marlin Cowboy.

44

[Rhinoron247]

Flattop,  took your advise and picked up some 300 gr. JSP today. I am about to sit down and work up a load.  I will use the CCI 350 primers and use up what I have left  of my 2400.  Well see how it does. 

Thanks for the info. 

[JKEEN33]

23 W296 and a 240  JHP. Nice tight crimp is a great load.

[44 Flattop]

Can't wait to hear the results! 

2400 is a good powder and I like it for cast bullets quite a lot.  But I'm a bigger fan of W296 for jacketed bullets so if you got a chance to pick up some should the 2400 not give you the accuracy or velocity you are looking for. 

Like JKEEN33 mentions, don't leave off a nice tight crimp.  That is so very important.

44

[JackOfAllTrades]

I sure wouldn't be using an XTP or any other HP for bear, even as a backup. 
You can mess with the 250's and 270's if you want, but for my money I'd jump right to 300's if you are thinking of a heavier bullet.  Speer makes a dandy 300gr JSP that would be the cats meow with about 19grs of AA#9 -OR- 20.5grs of W296

44

Please note that the 19grns of AA#9 is a warm load. With 300gn Sierra SP, it is one of my Bear loads for a RSBH. Work up your loads safely. I equal that load with 21gns of Win296. Another pet load is a Sierra 250gn FPJ which is a lead exposed bullet that gives incredible bone busting penetration. I get great accuracy with 19.5gns of AA#9 or 23.5gns of Win296 for that bullet.

For thin skinned animals, (deer), the Sierra 240gn JHC is a great bullet pushed with 21.5gns of AA#9 or a 260gn hard lead cast SWC pushed with 8gns of 231. 

Remember to use a heavy crimp with these heavy jacketed bullets.

Oh... I zero at 50yds. Iron sights out to 75yds off hand, 100 with a rest.

-Steve