In most cases and for most shooters, the 44mag for deer is a 100 yard or less rifle. Past 100 yards the energy and accuracy decrease rather quickly. It is a lever-action brush gun, not a long range sniper rifle.
What really hurts is the wind drift at distance, especially past 100 yards. As I said in the video, the 44 mag is a 100-125 yards deer hunting cartridge. I will say that the 44 mag is very successful in metallic silhouette matches where it is shot to 200 yards. Hey, thanks for watching!
Hey John, it’s colder here in Pennsylvania today (14 degrees)then when you went to the range. I liked your video. I liked your presentation. And great reactions catching the extracted brass at the range. Wish you all the best and keep making enjoyable content.
240gn XTP at 1659fps = 1467 ft/lbs of muzzle energy! 1-1/4” at 50 yards and 3” at 100 yards with a pistol caliber is pretty darned good! I’d be happy with that load.
@@30-06johnI'm getting an honest 1,900 fps with Lil' Gun at .5 below max, a 240 jacketed and an 18.5 inch barrel. Looks like I found my new hunting load.
Great information. I've been wondering about the 300-mp. I think I'll stay with the H110. I used the RPP rail and Warne low quick detach rings to mount the scope on my Henry. I added one layer of Scotch (4"x6") furniture pad and a leather ammo cuff and it's the perfect height for me when mounting the rifle. I wish you the best with continued load development.
I will probably set up this rifleimilar to yours. The 300-mp works really well in some applications for me. I have not found that load yet for 44 magnum. Hey, thanks for the info and watching!
I use the same bullet, but use Vv N-105, 1,800 fps. With buckhorn sights, I can get 3 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards off of a rest. That is the best my 73 year old eyes can do.
Good video, I’ve got a Henry Big BoyX and also load the Horn. 240gr Xtp. I have a Swampfox 1-4 on mine. One thing that really made my gun better was installing a Ranger Point Precision sear. My stock trigger was 6 lbs, ugh. With the sear it’s a much smoother 4 lbs. The best I’ve been able to get is 2” groups at 100yds.
What you may want to check is your crimp on your rounds try shooting three rounds at a time then load four more and shoot them and then check your group size , lever actions require a heave roll crimp.
H110 is the propellant of choice for all of my big bore revolvers. AA #7&9 are also a favorite, along with IMR-4227. It's a good time for powder and handloading choices. Just wish they all weren't so darned expensive. 😕 I've got a Henry Big Boy in .45 Colt. I chose that over .44 Mag because I also carry a .460 S&W XVR during deer season. That allows for the interchange of full H110 stoked .45 loads with 335 grain CPWNFPGC lead bullets. I also carry a S&W Governor which also shoots the same hot .45 Colt handloads.
Great powders, but yes, getting expensive. Especially Alliant powders for some reason. Having ammo commonality is great for firearms, you have a nice setup!
No , I will shoot 300gr loads in the near future. I have a few other things planned for this rifle. Leupold still has the fixed 4 on their website, but seems that there is not many of any Leupolds at the stores. Hey, thanks for your comments and watching!
3" or so is good for that type of rifle. The forend, and mag tube hanging off the barrel does not help. Also, spring tension on mag tube changing with every shot is no fun, either. It is what it is. A fun gun, though devastating on medium game at close range, is a pleasure to shoot with lighter loads.
Yeah, if you look at the Hodgdon reloading magazine, every load for H-110 and W296 have the same charge. Now that Hodgdon owns Winchester powder, they say that they are the same powder. The differences in other reloading manuals are from normal production lot differences. Hey thanks for watching!
Me and my sons have taken dozens of deer with our H&R 44. Great on deer out to 100yds. Anything further is questionable. Ive also found the slower the round the tighter it shoots out of my gun.
I’m loading 21.5 of Australian ADI 2205 with the Hornady 240gr XTP bullets in a Winchester Model 94 Legacy 24 inch barrel length with a 1in 26inch twist rate ( I believe that this twist rate won’t handle the heavier 260gr to 300gr bullets , is this true ). I have no idea what velocities I’m getting with that long barrel length as I haven’t clocked the velocity yet. If anyone has any idea what speeds the bullets are going please let me know. I have heard that I might not be getting any faster velocities because the long barrel actually slows the bullets down.
I do not know what that powder is equivalent too so it is hard to estimate velocity. That twist is a bit slow for heavier bullets but one never knows. Some slow twist 44 mags shoot heavy bullets fine. As to losing velocity because the barrel is long, I think with the slower powders you will see an increase but not as much. Hope that helps and thanks for watching.
So are you loading rifle loads?Because there is a difference There is 44 magnum rifle data you can jack that cartridge up quite a bit, but not designed for handguns
Per published load data, the rifle and handgun 44 magnum loads are virtually the same. There is a large velocity increase due to the longer rifle barrel. Thanks for watching.
You won't believe me , but acting a longer barrel won't give you more speed....adding a shorter barrel would give you MORE speed. Why? Because H110 burns sooo fast 9-13 inches in the whole powered is burned off. Beyond 13in, the barrel is just adding friction slowing bullet down and adding heat.
Well, with longer barrels and H-110, velocity gains are minimal after a point. Also, rifles don't have the cylinder gap that revolvers do, which increases velocity. Thanks for watching!
I have a sightmark wraith on my 44 henry. Works fine on hogs at night. I also use ut on deer during day time so I can record the hunt. Works with a scope just fine.
