Thread: 44 Magnum loads

Originally Posted by NewbieZAR

Hello All

I am using a 20" Rossi lever gun in 44 mag (an old one), and I've been shooting 240gr JHP bullets in it, either PMCs or Sierras. and it groups great, 3 shots cut each other at 50 yards and 5 shots give me about 2" at 100 yards with a 5" drop. so its pretty well sorted.

Anyway i am in need of projectiles, and as a cost saving exercise I'm looking at cast bullets.

I've been looking at these ones https://www.deltamike.co.nz/product/...emi-wadcutter/

So i read everywhere that semi wadcutters are good on deer, but I've never used them. Would these go well on deer? Mostly reds and fallow. I don't reckon they will expand, but seems they don't need to due to the wadcutter design.

Anyone use them?

Any other readily available recommendations? I know about the robert fella who sells casts, but keen to see other recommendations as he seems to have supply issues

Ok in the absence of other replies (except Mickey), may I suggest yiu read up on Keith bullet designs for cast for hunting. He was an early proponent of flat point projectiles that cut the wound channel promoting bleeding rather than blunt round nose bullets that just separated the flesh and allowed it to close up somewhat after the bullet passed thru.

After reading about Keith and his ideas, all my 4 Rossi calibres have hunted goats with flat point bullets- and the HRBC powder coated ones from Delta Mike are a favourite. Mostly I use a 20in Rossi Puma in 357mag. I've lost count of the goats I've shot with it up to a bit out over 100m and an engine room hit always puts them down. If you opine deer are more durable then allow for that in your max range. 44mag adds projectile weight, a larger cutting dia for the wound channel and better range.

I have also been experimenting with the HRBC 240gn 44cal bullets from DM in my 44-40. I have used a drill bit to gently cup the flatpoint to emulate a 32-20 200gn Cup Point that Robert Walker used to make. With care its not hard to do this by hand with a battery drill and the bit should be just under the dia of the flat point. So you would expect a sharper cutting edge as well as some extra nose expansion. I have not shot an animal with these yet - just done the load dev to check accuracy. I found they are no less accurate than an unmolested one.

Hope this helps. I'm a big fan of the HRBC bullets.