.44mag loads for deer?

[BEEFEATER]

I was just wondering what grain bullets etc would be best suited in a .44mag for whitetails? I would be using a mid 70s ruger carbine not a handgun. Any info into ammo brans grains etc would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[Tator2k]

Hornady 240 gr XTP HPs I use 24 gr H110 in my SBH.

[smalljaw]

I would agree with a 240 gr jacketed hollow point. It has performed well on bucks with either the Ruger carbine or handgun for a lung shot.

[NDL]

I have the same style Ruger carbine and have used 240 gr. HPs and 250 gr. partition HPs and both have worked well. Just a heads up, I would only used jacketed bullets in the Ruger carbine. Lead can build up in the the gas ports that cycle the action and cause problems. My dad had problems with his years ago and switched to jacketed bullets and no problems since.

[Matt Breuer]

240 gr. Fusion. I just took a bison with the stuff and it dropped like a cinder block...

[wildernessbob2063]

The Ruger 44 mag is probably one of the most underestimated rifles out there. What I've found is that the factory ammo uses powder for handgun loads which burns too quickly and you will get undesirable results from the carbine. If you or you know someone who reloads, you will have much better accuracy and less problems.

I use the hornady rifle powder with a 240gr hollow point loaded to 26.1grains. It's amazing what this gun can do once you find the sweet spot. I've got mine sighted in 2" high at 100 yards which puts it 2" low at 150 and 2" groups.

If you can make some loads and determine which one shoots best out of your gun, you will have far better results than the factory ammo. The same gun shooting the loads others mentioned put up a 7" group at 100 yards and dropped 8" at 150.