Larry Gibson
posted this
27 September 2019
2frogs
"how do I determin which bullet to use in my 44 revolver..i know a 22 cal will
work so why is a heavy bullet always said to be the best for deer in the revolver.
this is my firt year hunting with it and was thinking of even trying the special loads,but do not
want a wounded animal running away..not to brag but I am a fair shot and use a red dot
on it..So do you really need a 255 or 300 grain bullet??? thanks..i wish I had more information on this..even a round ball from a muzzle loader works great..this I know."
The aforementioned "Keith" bullets were considered the optimal heavy weights in the 44 SPL and Magnum and 240 was the "standard" weight" until the advent of a G & A article written by Ross Seifried back in the '80s. He used a customized Ruger Vaquero (the old model with large frame) chambered in 45 Colt with swaged down 45-70 bullets (around 400 gr as I recall) with a heavy dose of H110 to take a water buffalo in Australia.
Immediately thereafter is seems the deer were issued body armor by PETA and hogs became armor plated. Seems all of a sudden those Keith bullets and the standard 240 gr bullets (talking cast bullets here) would not longer have enough "penetration" to effectively kill game anymore......... That heralded in the 300 + gr bullets for the 44 magnum and 45 Colt. Of course the 357 and 41 magnums had to get in on the act and we see 180+ gr bullets and 240+ gr bullet in the 41 magnum as now "needed" to effectively kill deer, pigs, etc. and Lord knows a 240 - 255 gr SWC in the 44 magnum will no longer kill elk........ . Those lessor bullets are now regulated to paper, tin cans and small non-dangerous vermin....... they just no longer have enough "penetration" for serious game........gotta have them "heavies".....
If you believe all that then here in Lake Havasu city I've got a bridge for sale........
The result of this heavy bullet fad has resulted in larger revolver cartridges too...... I've not gotten into any of those because if I need more than my 41 or 44 magnums with 240 - 270 gr magnum loads I pull my large bore rifles out of the safe....... Truth is many if not most "hand gunners" can really handle true magnum loads in the 41 or 44 magnum let alone the big bruisers.....probably why we see many requests for "reduced loads" for those .......
The heaviest bullet I use for serious handgun hunting is the 270 gr "Devastator" (Lyman's 429650HP) cast of 16-1 alloy and pushed at 1350-1400 fps out of my 6 1/2" Ruger 44 Magnum. Since I've not recovered any from deer and 2 elk because they've all been through and through so I don't have a "penetration" problem. Not worried about "stern to stem" penetration because I don't do Texas heart shots. Before the Devastator I used a Lee C429-240-SWC and a Lyman 429244 cast soft (both are GC'd) and mildly HP'd with the 1/8" Forster HP tool. I pushed those to 1450 fps out of the Ruger and a Hawes 44 Magnum. Never recovered any of those bullets because the deer were dead and the bullets passed through and through.
Should mention the standard weight RCBS 41-210-SWC and the Lyman 429421 or RCBS 44-250-K also werform quite well on game. Years ago I converted a S&W M28 to 44 SPL and used the 429421 over 16.5 gr 2400 for 1050 fps..... it down a couple nice mulie bucks ..... never recover either of the bullets because of through and through......
Yes I have shot some 300+ gr cast in my 44s but as to accuracy I never found them to be more accurate that the 240 - 270 gr bullet mentioned at the ranges I use my handguns at. I've no problem with those who want to use heavy bullets or even the bigger cartridge revolvers but I've not found them necessary for my needs. Just my thoughts and opinion.....
LMG
Concealment is not cover.........