wrenchman wrote:i am getting great results with spear 158 flat point and h110 powder from my lever action henry if you choose to go with the 44 you will like it but you will miss the 357 lots of fun with the 38s and cheeper to shoot if you go factory round
Blr243 wrote:I tried lighter loads initially in 300 blk but it didn’t work so I tried lighter loads in a 450 bushmaster but it still did not work ( useing 300 grain pistol bullets on pigs ). I realised that without decent speed it was unethical no matter how good my shot placement was ...The muzzle energy simply wasn’t there now I’m useing a 4570 with 500 grains but not yet tested In The field. I home cast for the 4570 to ensure expansion with my soft lead mix but I was having accuracy and leading issues so I will have to start powder coating to see if I can solve the problem. I don’t want to start useing hard cast
animalpest wrote:I have had a long term love affair with the .44 mag. Have taken plenty of buff and scrub bulls with it. The Winchester 240gr worked well.
My favourite rifle was a Ruger Deerslayer.
straightshooter wrote:I have 2 Marlins in 44 mag and I am familiar with their foibles. But in my opinion they are superior to a Win 94 based on the one example in 44 mag that I once owned.
My son owns a 77/44 and I have to admit that on paper it looks the goods. Having played with it a little I don't think I would swap it for the lesser of my Marlins.
bigrich wrote:yes the winchester 94 in 44 mag is problematic . the 94 was designed for the 30-30, 38-55 cartridge . the short 44 mag does not function well in 94's. the other thing to consider at the moment is the pistol powder and projectile shortage if you handload. my three main centrefire bolt guns run well with 2208 and 2209 . i have a 22 hornet and 2205 and 2400 can't be found for this . i use what i have sparingly . lil gun was my prefered powder until it stopped being imported . i wonder if i can't get a importer to bring this in for me
straightshooter wrote:I have 2 Marlins in 44 mag and I am familiar with their foibles. But in my opinion they are superior to a Win 94 based on the one example in 44 mag that I once owned.
My son owns a 77/44 and I have to admit that on paper it looks the goods. Having played with it a little I don't think I would swap it for the lesser of my Marlins.
mickb wrote:Well I put money down on the roughest and toughest of the bunch. Rossi Stainless 20" in 44mag. Some of these are good shooters out of the box. . Bore on these is big, .432 from my research thanks to the dumb ass SAAMI rule that 44 mag in a revolver has a nice tight bullet matching .429 , but in a rifle its " Anywhere between .430 and .435 will do ". 1:30 twist on these, bit slow for heavy cast but will try some 300 grains at speed.
mickb wrote:Well I put money down on the roughest and toughest of the bunch. Rossi Stainless 20" in 44mag. Some of these are good shooters out of the box. . Bore on these is big, .432 from my research thanks to the dumb ass SAAMI rule that 44 mag in a revolver has a nice tight bullet matching .429 , but in a rifle its " Anywhere between .430 and .435 will do ". 1:30 twist on these, bit slow for heavy cast but will try some 300 grains at speed.
mickb wrote:Yes that brazilian rubber wood can be a bit hit and miss. Good to know on the accuracy possibilities fellas. I will find a mild power load, like a '44 Special +P' level load that can serve on pigs feeding at night, usually shot from a parked tractor under red light at a distance of 30 yards or so. And a full power load, or heavy factory ammo it likes.
mickb wrote:nice mate is that your gun?
bigrich wrote:mickb wrote:Yes that brazilian rubber wood can be a bit hit and miss. Good to know on the accuracy possibilities fellas. I will find a mild power load, like a '44 Special +P' level load that can serve on pigs feeding at night, usually shot from a parked tractor under red light at a distance of 30 yards or so. And a full power load, or heavy factory ammo it likes.
From memory, lots of fellas reckon Winchester 240 sp factory ammo works really good on pigs with regards to expansion. Lots of buffaloes got culled with the 44-40 from horseback in times past . Depending on range,and your eyesight, 44 mag will be very capable. The trick is to find the right projectiles for the game. Get onto American forums like “paco Kelly” that are lever gun specific. Lots of good advice for Rossi owners there too. The Rossi is very popular in cowboy action shoots in the US apparently