Hunting with the .44 Rem Mag?

[KFhunter]

My favorite brush gun is the .44 mag ruger carbine, later named deerslayer

Tube fed semi-auto

[boneaddict]

My 30 30 is semi auto….with lots of practice. Lol

[finnman]

I am looking at setting up some hunting trips this year around using the .44 Mag.
We will be doing some deer scouting and black bear hunting in September in NE WA. Then back in the area in November for late WT.
I have 2 - .44 Remington Mag in Ruger M77/44. I have 270 grain Buffalo Bore soft points and HSM 300 grain soft points. Should be plenty for bear and a bit of over kill on deer.
Does anyone have any performance experience on black bear or deer using the .44 mag? What ammo do you like?

Thanks!

I've seen numerous bear and a few cougar killed with 44 mag pistols and lever action rifles, the kills were all closer than 50 yards, bullets ranging from 180 to 240 were used, the .44 with any of those bullets was very effective at those close range shots. I don't think I would recommend pistols for over 50 yards or rifles for much more than 100 yards.

This article explains in great detail the ballistics and tendencies for various bullet weights in the .44: https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.44+Remington+Magnum.html

Wanted to add one more thought: Have you considered the .444 marlin, same caliber, higher velocity, just as effective for a little longer shots, so probably a better choice as a hunting rifle?

Thanks for the advice Bearpaw.
I have a .358 Win in a BLR that will do anything out to 300 yards with a statement.
So the 44 mag is reserved for under 125 yards. So while vary appropriate for almost everything, the .444 Marlin is not needed in my repertoire.
I still want one though! 🤣

[300rum]

I just spent an hour or so on the .358 Winchester because of this post.  Thinking of making it a regular saddle rifle.....

I have a .358 Win in a BLR that will do anything out to 300 yards with a statement.

[JWBINX]

My 30 30 is semi auto….with lots of practice. Lol

Lucas McCain had one!

[Ramster]

My 30 30 is semi auto….with lots of practice. Lol

Lucas McCain had one!

No. He had a 44-40.

[JWBINX]

My 30 30 is semi auto….with lots of practice. Lol

Lucas McCain had one!

No. He had a 44-40.

Got me
It was actually a test-- You win.

[wilywin]

I have killed several deer with my ruger m77/44.  Drops em everytime.

[jdb]

I have killed several deer with my ruger m77/44.  Drops em everytime.

ive hunted with my 77/44 but other than one coyote I’ve yet to make a kill

[okie john]

I am looking at setting up some hunting trips this year around using the .44 Mag.
We will be doing some deer scouting and black bear hunting in September in NE WA. Then back in the area in November for late WT.
I have 2 - .44 Remington Mag in Ruger M77/44. I have 270 grain Buffalo Bore soft points and HSM 300 grain soft points. Should be plenty for bear and a bit of over kill on deer.
Does anyone have any performance experience on black bear or deer using the .44 mag? What ammo do you like?

Years ago, I killed a little blacktail at about 30 yards with a 240-grain American Eagle JHP from a 20" Marlin 1984. That load clocked 1,200 fps in a 5" S&W Model 629 and 1,500 in the Marlin. The deer died quickly but that load tore up a lot of meat. The 44 definitely worked, and 240 grains is probably plenty of weight, but I'll use a stouter bullet next time. Pretty sure the AE load is meant for revolvers.


Okie John

[Drifterat]

250 gr Keith style hard cast from Cast Performance and 320 gr HCFN gas checked were my go to bullets. Full charge of H110. Took 4 BT's with them. DRT.