bamaranger
New member
I've had an itch this year to hunt my Ruger .44 carbines again, after putting the little rifles on vacation for several seasons. I've described my accuracy and zero issues in other posts. The other day I unearthed a box of factory Rem 180 gr JSP ammo and since the chrono was out and running well, I shot a 3 round string............avg velocity 2160 fps.....yeow!
I was astounded! For a number of years, I ran the carbines with modest 180 gr XTP reloads that came in around 1800 fps or so. This was purposely not a max load, 1) so as to reduce wear and tear on a valuable vintage rifle and 2) to reduce the light for caliber XTP tendency to fragment on close range shots. Eventually I went to the 200 gr XTP, still running them around 1800 fps (sorry no notes handy).
But I had no idea that one could exceed 2000 fps...handily....from a .44 carbine, and with factory ammo. A quick online search indicates that Remington still loads this screamer. I can't say if the Rem JSP would hold together any better than the XTP at carbine velocities, might make an interesting gel test for somebody. But for the average 150 lb whitetail, I'd think it would be devastating. My 180 XTP's certainly were, but I did not like their tendency to come unglued up close. I would also speculate that thes 180gr factory JSP equals or exceeds real world, 20" bbl velocities for the 170 gr thirty-thirty.
I was astounded! For a number of years, I ran the carbines with modest 180 gr XTP reloads that came in around 1800 fps or so. This was purposely not a max load, 1) so as to reduce wear and tear on a valuable vintage rifle and 2) to reduce the light for caliber XTP tendency to fragment on close range shots. Eventually I went to the 200 gr XTP, still running them around 1800 fps (sorry no notes handy).
But I had no idea that one could exceed 2000 fps...handily....from a .44 carbine, and with factory ammo. A quick online search indicates that Remington still loads this screamer. I can't say if the Rem JSP would hold together any better than the XTP at carbine velocities, might make an interesting gel test for somebody. But for the average 150 lb whitetail, I'd think it would be devastating. My 180 XTP's certainly were, but I did not like their tendency to come unglued up close. I would also speculate that thes 180gr factory JSP equals or exceeds real world, 20" bbl velocities for the 170 gr thirty-thirty.