At 100 yards, which is amazing stopping power. Anyone who has used the .44 Special for hunting will know that one cannot expect large wounds at such low impact velocities. This is a generally good bullet design, behaving like so many other 240 grain projectiles. Hand it over to the Nathan Fosters of the world and all bets are off. In plain terms, higher velocity rifle cartridges tend to produce great hydraulic force and wide internal wound channels after impacting game. While we have went to great lengths to make sure that it's as accurate as possible this rendering should not be used to generate specs for casings. Both rifles can be coaxed to produce reasonable and sometimes outstanding accuracy. Current loads include the 200 grain XTP at 1500fps (7.5” test barrel) and 1900fps in carbine rifles, the new 200 grain MonoFlex (not available at this time of writing), the 225grain FTX producing 1400fps and 1800fps respectively, the 240 grain XTP at 1350fps and 1700fps, and finally the heavy 300 grain XTP at 1150fps and around 1400fps in carbine rifles. By the same token, the FTX produces full expansion without need of any great resistance. As a hunting bullet it is best suited to carbine rifles and impact velocities above 1400fps (including the .444 Marlin) if major wound trauma (expansion combined with good hydraulic action) is to be expected. Here again is another go to bullet for .44 Magnum users for general deer hunting. And the rim … This projectile has the same nickel plating as the 210 grain Silvertip and is also designed to produce extremely rapid expansion. If this impact velocity cannot be achieved (often as not), aim to break bone as a means to enhance energy transfer. Once again, the similar (but not the same) bullet … At higher velocities we can place some reliance on hydraulic force but as velocity falls away, bullet expansion helps to initiate mechanical wounding. The .44 is infinitely better in this role than the .30 caliber but it should also be noted that the .45 (ACP projectiles) tend to trump all. The XPB can therefore produce abysmal accuracy in various firearms. Having said this, internal wounding may be immensely broad and death follows in due course. For example, one could increase wounding potential by utilizing a weight shedding bullet, but penetration would be reduced. These offer just a touch more insurance (penetration) than the 200 grain bullets while still being light enough to be driven at high speeds. Changing ammunition can also change the POI by 9” or more at 50 yards. From 1600 to 1300fps the bullet may continue to shed some weight. Like the 200 grain XTP, the advantages of this general weight range should not be ignored. As time passed, the .44 Magnum became available in a variety of pistols and rifles while being supported by a wide selection of factory ammunition. In applying his methods, Keith discovered that the Smith & Wesson .44 Special could be souped up from its mild loading, normally consisting of a 246 grain bullet at 755fps, to a more potent 1200fps with a bullet design of his own making and of a similar weight. NB: This load will eventually be replaced by the Federal Syntech bullet, featuring a polymer jacket. *Casing image above is an artist rendering and not a real photo of .44 Remington Magnum (Pistol Data) Ballistics cartridge. This experimental work helped pave the way for development of the .357 S&W Magnum. The 180 grain XTP is devastating when used on light bodied game (under 60kg / 132lb) at close ranges. The 300 grain XTP can generally handle quartering shots on medium to large bodied deer but will not always overcome heavy ball joints, nor will it penetrate a long way through gut fiber. This load is designed primarily for defense against bear and or for hunting large bodied game but one should not simply aim at fur, pull the trigger and expect game to fly backwards as per a Dirty Harry action flick. There are many situations where a slow moving 240 grain bullet has too much momentum and while wounds may look great in gelatin, killing is slow along with almost nonexistent blood trails. Neither of these loads are structurally weakened and without skives in their ogives to help promote expansion at low impact velocities, both are designed as practice or utility loads. In dense and dark bush such as that found in New Zealand, open sighted rifles can be very difficult to use beyond 25 yards, especially at dusk and or with aging eyes. It can be used to take heavily raking shots on medium deer species, but with some reduction in wounding potential. The platinum bullet does not therefore produce superior penetration to common 240 grain loads, but it still produces excellent performance and is well suited to medium sized deer species and wild boar. One can easily make 125 yard shots using the FTX in a carbine, but game tend to run some distance before sitting down and then finally bleeding out. Winchester produce five loads for the .44 Magnum. But alas, handgun bullets tend to shed little weight at impact velocities below 1100fps, especially those designed to tackle large game. The overly long projectiles can completely ruin case capacity, raise pressures and may also produce terrible accuracy depending on twist rates. The 44 Magnum was the world’s most powerful handgun at one time. Sometimes the Dual Bond stays together, other times it comes apart, depending on impact velocity and target resistance. The .44 Magnum/.44 Rem Magnum is a cartridge based off an extended and maxed out 44 Special, and like the .357 magnum it was created by Elmer Keith but this time he was in his 50's and wanted an even bigger bang. The basic Sierra and Hornady .44 caliber bullets perform acceptably well in this role but where weaknesses are found, they must be addressed. Cartridge Type: HandgunHeight: 1.285"Width: 0.514"Average FPS: 1317Average Energy: 897Average Gr: 233Recoil: 1.45Power Rank: 6.14 of 7. Red Oak, White, or Chestnut for Deer Herd? This concludes the hand loading section for the .44 Magnum. In bullet making the copper needs to be of the highest grade and projectiles must be strategically weakened in order to promote expansion. These are basic fundamental principles of physics. The most recent leupold Tri MOA scope is extremely useful, providing some drop compensation for the more difficult shots (125 to 150 yards). The current single cannelure 300 grain bullet is harder to put a ring around. Hornady’s 225 grain pointed FTX bullet is designed to produce superior external ballistics in comparison to traditional flat or flat hollow point projectiles. A hot carbine load tends to produce faster kills but at the risk of more stress to the bullet should it strike heavy bone and therein lies the rub. Those few precious seconds trying to draw a bead can lead to lost opportunities. The Platinum projectile also sheds some weight but like other .44 pills, the low impact velocities help to ensure that weight loss is not dramatic. Like the 180 grain Hornady XTP, this bullet is best suited to very light framed game. Additional hollow point modifications can also be useful. The second is from Hornady’s XTP line, with 180-grain 10mm rounds and 200 grain.44 Magnum rounds. I thought it would be fun to see the differences between the old champ and the 500 Magnum which is now … The projectile features an outer copper jacket bonded to an inner jacket. The 200 grain is an excellent choice for lighter bodied medium game. The 240 grain bullet weight is considered standard for the .44 Magnum. The 200 grain Gold Dot is an excellent choice for hunting lighter medium game (e.g. This cartridge is best utilized for woods hunting, regardless of the many long shots that have been taken with it. You're looking for the best 44 magnum revolver on the market 2021? Loads can also be tweaked. Blood trails can be poor at these lower impact velocities, the blood draining to the lower chest - even though both entry and exit wounds are at least a caliber in size. The .44 Magnum is a potent little cartridge and a great deal of fun to shoot. Practice is the key to confidence in the .44 as a hunting cartridge. On the other hand, an expanding bullet cannot by itself magically make up for poor accuracy. As an aside, those who have experimented with the .44 Magnum will know all too well that one can neither download (due to safety issues), nor compress H110 powder. The 270 grain bonded soft point bullet is unfortunately not ideal with regards to the principles of fast expansion at low impact velocities. For example, some hand loaders drop too low, settling on muzzle velocities of around 900fps. In the 357 Magnum vs. 44 Magnum, it has been seen that a.44 Mag transfer greater energy into the target than a.357 Mag even when it is fired from a distance of 100 yards. But unfortunately, at these impact velocities (including those achieved in handguns), dead runs may be long with internal wounds ranging between 1 and 1.5” in diameter. Then in 1971, Hollywood brought the .44 Remington Magnum to the big screen via the movie Dirty Harry, staring Clint Eastwood. The 270 grain DCSP is designed for large animals and works well in this role. Along with the budget Powershok ammunition, Federal produce two 240 grain American Eagle loads featuring JSP and JHP projectiles. A full wadcutter target bullet (essentially no bullet taper / ogive) proved even more emphatic but this bullet design also produced a very steep trajectory. The only negative I have been able to find with such loads is the somewhat delayed killing that occurs on light or lean game in comparison to 180 to 200 grain bullets. It is no longer the most powerful handgun cartridge in the world, knocked off its pedestal by such cartridges as the .454 Casull, the .460 Ruger, the .475 Linebaugh and the .500 S&W. Although the Nosler bullets look very much like those produced by Sierra, the Nosler handgun projectiles lack skives to help promote expansion at low impact velocities. Sierra state that this bullet was designed for hunting dangerous game and there can be no doubt that this projectile produces very deep penetration. The tapered ogive terminates to produce a narrow frontal area and does nothing to promote hydraulic wounding while the heavy construction can greatly inhibit expansion and therefore mechanical wounding potential. So while I may state that the .44 can produce rather humble results at low impact velocities, wounding cannot be described as altogether narrow or in any way insufficient when hunting at woods ranges using either a rifle or handgun. From a 7.5” hunting revolver barrel typical working velocities for the .44 Magnum include 1900fps with the 180 grain XTP, 1750fps with 200 grain bullets, 1600fps with 225 grain bullets, 1500fps with 240 grain bullets, 1400fps with 265-270 grain bullets and up to 1300fps using 280 to 300 grain bullets. The 225 grain FTX is in some ways contradictory. One of Keith’s earlier discoveries was that a flat pointed semi-wadcutter target bullet delivered higher trauma on game than a round nosed bullet. During product testing, Elmer Keith described the model 29 as being pleasant to shoot but many hunters found that its recoil stung the hands, so much so that the .44 Remington Magnum was not immediately popular, even after loads were reduced to 1350fps. It should also be noted that impact velocities over 2100fps can place a great deal of stress on conventional cup and core bullet designs. Further to this, the hinged block which mates to the barrel is generally so solid as to act as a dampening force, enough to overcome the harmonic forces of the .44. Best .44 Magnum Ammo 1. As far as ballistics, when fired from a 6-inch barrel revolver, a heavy 240-grain .44 Magnum bullet can reach speeds of up to 1,380 feet per second, generating kinetic energy at … Designed and created for the purpose of optimizing the full capabilities of the 44 Magnum’s true power. Initially factory loads for the .44 Remington Magnum propelled a 240 grain .430” bullet at around 1450fps. In order to enhance the performance of this projectile it can be drilled down to its gold dot with a 9/16 drill bit. The tougher the bullet, the more we need to be mindful of narrow wounding at low impact velocities. The projectile features a soft rubber tip to prevent detonation in tube magazine rifles. I’m guessing that wouldn’t have made Dirty Harry’s lne cool. Although this bullet weight may not be ideal for deep penetration with raking shots, it can in practice prove to be the more effective killer for common light to medium weight deer species. For light to medium weight game the 240 grain DCHP produces best performance when drilled down to its central gold dot using a 9/16 drill bit. Further issues can occur when shooting across open country, such as occurs if we break out of the bush and onto river flats. But along with this, it is important to understand that when loading for reduced penetration, the bullet should be driven fast as a means to increase target resistance and not slow as some hand loaders tend to believe. The lever action rifles are certainly very handsome, handy and effective for hunting at very close ranges (including shooting over dogs). Whether loaded to handgun or rifle velocities some measure of expansion is assured out to and beyond 100 yards. It has been used to take scores of game across many countries and over many years with little fuss. But when hunting medium game weighing less than 80kg (180lb), this bullet weight while capable, does not always kill with style. The trigger can also be tuned without a great deal of fuss. Most .44 caliber projectiles are designed to expand at velocities as low as 800fps. Readers will note that I have given little mention to the various copper bullet designs. More on this topic is discussed in the hand loading section. The .45/70 is much the same in this regard. This load is however capable of deep penetration and one can apparently easily make up for any slow bleeding wounds by rapidly feeding an entire box of ammo through the lever gun. Without effort and attention to detail, animals will suffer. The bullet is otherwise almost identical to a Hornady XTP in its basic design. The .44 Remington Magnum is a massive revolver cartridge that is packed at up to 36,000 psi and has an average grain of 233 (they don't make a 233 gr its just the average. Although both the Speer and Swift A-Frame projectiles are bonded, the Swift pills feature deep hollow points. Federal’s premium loads include the 225 grain Barnes XPB at 1280fps and 1650fps respectively, the 240 grain Fusion at 1300 and 1800fps, the 270 grain Hammer Down for rifles at 1700fps, the 280 grain Swift at 1170 and 1550fps, and finally the 300 grain Cast Core large game hunting bullet loaded to 1160fps and 1550fps respectively from a carbine rifle. The lack of skives can help to aid penetration at higher impact velocities but can also limit wounding at low impact velocities. Hydraulic force is high at these impact velocities along with mechanical wounding as a result of bullet weight / mass shedding. The Magnum Research BFR Short Cylinder looks set to change that, with a range of large bore cartridge options and calibers that include 44 Magnum ammunition. The .44 certainly takes time to understand. While this bullet may not be ideal for large game, whether fired in a rifle or handgun, it is a good medium game hunting bullet due to its ability to produce high wound trauma. A 125 yard shot seems like an easy accomplishment in theory. The 240 grain bullet generally comes into its own when either A) expected game weights or species are unknown or B) when hunting medium to larger bodied deer species (Mule / Red deer / boar). The slightest change in quality can drastically alter results. Compare 44 magnum ammo from the top online retailers to find the lowest price. Compare all 44 Magnum … That is 2x as much energy as exerted by the 45 ACP/Auto. Since the 44 Magnum always beats … How to Sight in a Scope - Step by Step Guide. Of the two projectiles, the rubber tipped FTX has a weaker (hollow) ogive, making this somewhat better (rapid expansion) for those wishing to utilize a 265 grain bullet in the slower .44 Magnum. The pointed bullet tip should also in theory help flatten its trajectory. Both were designed for the more potent .444 Marlin. Readers who wish to learn more on this subject can find information in my article – The effects of the meplat on terminal performance. Due to its core bonding this weight shedding action can be classed as gradual fragmentation. Using either load, the handgun hunter should expect clean but delayed kills. Wounds are proportionate to the expanded caliber of the bullet though some minor evidence of hydraulic force may remain evident down to impact velocities of around 1200fps. One could on the other hand adopt a hard cast bullet but then wounding potential would be reduced, especially at impact velocities below 1300fps. A non-expanding bullet can produce outstanding penetration but at the expense of wounding (depending on the impact velocity), being the least forgiving of less than ideal shot placement. When used at close ranges the 180 grain bullet produces both wide wounding along with some measure of nervous trauma. Those who have used cheap PMC, American Eagle or Highland (PPU) .44 magnum cup and core ammunition will be familiar with the terminal performance of these bullet designs. Following this, the .44 Magnum became so well known that even non-gun owners learned (thanks to the script) that the .44 magnum was at that time the most powerful handgun in the world. Subsonic plinking may be fun but subsonic hunting is no sport for the casual shooter. Discuss this article or ask a question on the forum here, Copyright © 2007-2020 Terminal Ballistics Research, Ballisticstudies.com, Achieve success with the long range hunting book series & matchgrade bedding products, MatchGrade Synthetic Stock Stabilizer instructions, The Practical Guide to Long Range Hunting Rifles, The Practical Guide to Bolt Action Rifle Accurizing & Maintenance, The Practical Guide to Long Range Hunting Cartridges, The Practical Guide To Long Range Shooting. Subscribe To GUNS Magazine Purchase A PDF Download … In practice, the pointed ogive of the FTX tends to cause a slight delay in expansion which can help to enhance penetration. Bullet weight is another critical factor in the terminal performance equation. The first number is the value of this cartridge, and the last number is the value of the most powerful round in our bullet database. This can sometimes prove to be a somewhat ho hum design but again with a few tricks it can be made to suit various hunting situations. Below 1300fps, wounds are proportionate to expanded caliber of the bullet. The 200 grain XTP fairs much better on light bodied game where raking shots may be encountered while still delivering broad, fast bleeding wounds. Our buddies over at The Firearm Blog shoot some 44 magnum Sig Sauer 240 grain V-Crown jacketed hollow point ammo into ballistic gel. In terms of kinetic energy the .44 Magnum cannot be touched by the other pistol rounds. As with lever actions, the forends of these rifles cannot be floated. Cartridge Type: Handgun Height: 1.285" Width: 0.514" Average FPS: 1317 Average Energy: 897 Average Gr: 233 Recoil: 1.45 Power Rank: 6.14 of 7 The .44 Magnum/.44 Rem Magnum is a cartridge based off an extended and maxed out 44 Special, and like the .357 magnum it was created by Elmer Keith but this time he was in his 50's and wanted an even bigger bang. The .44 Remington Magnum is a massive revolver cartridge that is packed at up to 36,000 psi and has a… On the one hand 225 grains is a good middle weight, meeting plenty of resistance when striking lighter weight game along with adequate penetration on larger medium game such as mature boar. Some mention should also be made here for those wishing to load to subsonic velocities. This combined with hard bedding at each end of the forend (in models with end caps) tends to help these rifles to shoot straight and maintain their zeros. The real size of the shots is smaller than I expected, which is about.429 inches in diameter. But when it comes to tough game such as mature wild boar, the 240 grain HP proves to be the more reliable bullet weight. New Zealand and Australian pig hunters should also take note that this bullet may be selected if one is trying to prevent over penetration. From a handgun these velocities are too low to expect high wound trauma. At impact velocities below 1300fps, the .44 caliber can produce slow kills. When the Dual Bond stays together, it produces fairly atypical .44 Magnum performance – a wide fast bleeding wound and relatively deep penetration. Swift currently produce 240, 280 and 300 grain .44 caliber A-Frame hollow point projectiles. This projectile is designed to expand at very low velocities, but due to its weight and therefore impact velocities (both handgun and rifles), wounding is proportionate rather than disproportionate to the expanded caliber of the bullet (around .75”). This projectile will often produce zero expansion in the .44 Magnum and is far better suited to the .444 Marlin. Having said this, mild impact velocities may still lead to relatively long dead runs, regardless of how well the bullet has been matched to the job at hand. This is a slow to expand, deep penetrating bullet design. Both 44 Rem Mag and 45 LC are viable self-defense rounds but in our testing, the performance of 44 Magnum gets the nod. The FTX borrows from the Hornady Critical defense and Critical Duty bullet designs. To this end I have spent some time experimenting with 300 grain projectiles seated longer than SAAMI length. Used by target shooters, the flat point punched a clean hole through target sheets which helped aid the scoring process. From left to right: 9mm, .45 ACP, .357, .44 Magnum … Hydraulic and mechanical forces are maximized via the major change in form after the bullet impacts its target, the bullet mushrooming back until its width exceeds its length. When used in a rifle the current iteration of this projectile can perhaps best be described as being suited to Red deer and boar, having a small measure of additional insurance in comparison to the 240 grain XTP. It would perhaps be much easier for customers if federal would stick to just one basic design (the Powershok) rather than confusing customers with all of these options. The 265 grain flat point (designed for the .444 Marlin) has now largely been replaced by the 265gr FTX. But like all cartridges, the .44 Magnum has its strengths and limitations. Having said this, the most minute change in projectile materials (batch quality) and target resistance will affect results. This bullet is light enough for Hornady to drive it at a velocity which promotes broad wounding but has sufficient sectional density to withstand jacket core separation when used on medium game. Those who think otherwise may be better off trying Federal’s ‘where there’s lead in the air there is hope’ Hammer Down ammo. But expansion of .44 projectiles can still be limited. Remington produce two 240 grain loadings under their High Terminal Performance (HTP) banner, a semi jacketed hollow point and a deeper penetrating jacketed soft point. All other loads set at sight height of 1.6” (scope use). This is no fault of the bullet and instead, merely an indication of the limitations of this cartridge. Although very basic in design, the old Super X JSP can be used on relatively large animals, handling heavily shielded mature wild boar without issues. Again, and not taking direct CNS strikes into account, the impact velocity of a .44 caliber bullet determines whether the kill is fast or slow. Today on Kentucky Ballistics we shoot some ballistics gel with our Smith and Wesson 500 Magnum Revolver and our Ruger Super Redhawk 44 Magnum Revolver! In plain terms, the wider the expanded bullet, the faster the kill. The first is the 210 grain Silvertip hollow point which achieves around 1250fps in handguns and around 1650fps in rifles. Unfortunately, subsonic hunting is a fad, popular among this comfort seeking, instant gratification generation. .44 Remington Magnum (Pistol Data)-Federal JHP, .44 Remington Magnum (Pistol Data)-Hornady Flex Tip Expanding, .44 Remington Magnum (Pistol Data)-Hornady JHP/XTP, .44 Remington Magnum (Pistol Data)-CCI Shotshell, .44 Remington Magnum (Pistol Data)-Winchester Silvertip Hollow Point, .44 Remington Magnum (Pistol Data)-Magtech FMJ Flat, .44 Remington Magnum (Pistol Data)-Federal Barnes Expander, .44 Remington Magnum (Pistol Data)-American Eagle (Federal) Jacketed Soft Point, .44 Remington Magnum (Pistol Data)-Cor-Bon JSP, .44 Remington Magnum (Pistol Data)-Federal Hi-Shok JHP, .44 Remington Magnum (Pistol Data)-PMC Jacketed Hollow Point, .44 Remington Magnum (Pistol Data)-Winchester Partition Gold, .44 Remington Magnum (Pistol Data)-Speer GDHP - Short Barrel, .44 Remington Magnum (Pistol Data)-Sellier & Bellot SP, .44 Remington Magnum (Pistol Data)-PMC Starfire Hollow Point. The gear-head in me would suggest that the best way to put this bullet to use is to load it hot (I could be accused of saying this about many cartridges) in order to enhance terminal performance. Utilizing the newly available heavy framed hand guns with long cylinders, Keith was able to seat his .38 caliber cast bullets out long and develop very fast loads. These mechanical aspects aside, the FTX does not by its pointed form, turn the .44 into a flat shooter or enhance its terminal ballistics effects at extended ranges. Longer loads (44.5mm / 1.750”) can break 1600fps with relative ease. Between impact velocities of 2100 and 1700fps and in the absence of hydrostatic shock, medium game struck squarely through the chest will generally try and run but will often appear as if they are running downhill, such is the speed of blood loss. Bullet weight loss may run as high as 50% which can inhibit penetration to some extent if the bullet weight is not optimally matched to game species. Loaded to full speeds the .44 generates a good measure of harmonic force. Yet the 210 grain weight and SD cannot be classed as being ideal for defense against heavy game. Two of the very best powders for reloading the .44 Magnum include Winchester 296 and Hodgdon H110, which if I am not mistaken, have for some years been the same powder. A soft conventional cup and core bullet like the Hornady 180 grain XTP will expand to a diameter of around a half an inch at an impact velocity of 1000fps, producing a wound of about the same diameter. These projectiles don’t break up on heavy bone (including ball joints) and especially at carbine rifle speeds (and or saboted muzzle loaders). Although this bullet has not been designed for the .44, the 265 grain FTX offers a means for the handloader (carbines) to increase one’s bullet weight while (provided one does not shoot too far) avoiding impact velocities lower than 1300fps. While we have went to great lengths to make sure that it's as accurate as possible this rendering should not be used to generate specs for casings. This projectile does however produce limited penetration averaging around 12” when driven at carbine speeds into flesh and bone at close ranges. But with a drilled hollow point, the DCHP opens up quickly, produces more violent wounding and with only a minor decrease in penetration. As a hunting cartridge the .44 Magnum produces varied results depending on whether it is fired in a rifle or pistol.
Mandy Hansen Deadliest Catch Instagram, Budget Busters Answer Key Safiya, El Cartel 2 Netflix, Suspiros Significado Emocionalneon Bar Signs For Sale, Wiffle Ball Fence Amazon, Shostakovich Prelude And Fugue Imslp, Real Steam Locomotive For Sale, Ugg Sherpa Throw Blanket, Steven Plofker Age,