44 mag lever action hunting bullet

Which hunting bullet for 44 mag lever action

  • 240gr Nosler JSP

    Votes: 12 48.0%

  • 240gr Swift A-Frame

    Votes: 3 12.0%

  • 265gr Hornady Interlock

    Votes: 10 40.0%
  • Total voters
    25
  • Poll closed .
S

Scrumbag

New member
Hi folks,

Am looking for a new hunting bullet for my .44 mag, 20" bbl 1:20" twist lever action.

I think it will be one of the following:

240gr Nosler JSP (Jacketed soft point)
240gr Swift A - Frame
265gr Hornady Interlock (I have been offered some to try and nearly 400 more if I want them)


My powder will probably be Hodgdon H110 or Vihtavouri N110 with a decent crimp and a magnum pistol primer.

Any advice appreciated.

Scrummy
 
Those are all good bullets, and I would ad the Hornady XTP 240 grain. I also hope they don't discontinue the 265 because it is a great 444 bullet.
 
44caliberkid said:
Those are all good bullets, and I would ad the Hornady XTP 240 grain. I also hope they don't discontinue the 265 because it is a great 444 bullet.
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Hi @44caliberkid

That might not be a bad idea though because of hunting regs where I am I need to have a muzzle energy of 1,700 ftlbs and therefore a minimum of MV of 1,786fps with a 240gr bullet. I worry a bit that the XTP and the Sierra JHC being hollow point / cavity might struggle a bit with the impact velocities that leads to.

Scrummy
 
This is the exact 265gr bullet Remington loaded in their factory rounds years ago.
I pulled a bulletined sectioned it, it was indeed an Interlock.
They sure did not advertise it as such though.
 
Three or Four years ago my first born bought a new Ruger short rifle in 44 Mag .
He gave it to me to sight in for deer hunting . i mounted a scope and started with 240gr. XTP and Win 296 . ( a full load) The Rifle shot very well at 50 yards at 100 yards it shot 2.5 inches lower . Then i loaded 300gr. XTP and a full load of Win 296 it shot just 2 inches lower at 50 yards but it shot 7 inches low at 100 yards . This was going to be a walking gun in heave brush maybe out to 150 yards . The 240gr. loads just work better for a walking gun .
 
If you are looking at a do it all bullet (deer AND boar) I would 100% go with the A-frame. the HP will open and work well on deer. On the Boar the back portion will retain its weight and drive through to the vitals.
 
1700 fr pounds??? Where in the heck is that and what is that req for??

My 77/44 w/ Nosler 240s and 296/110 work great out to about 150 yrds. Kinda hard to see any farther than that most places around here.
 
zxcvbob said:
What about 240 grain or a little heavier cast bullets? Either RNFP or a wide flat-nosed meplat.
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That might not be a bad idea but being in the UK I have rather less choice in cast bullets than you guys in the US. I like the theory, I just think I will have a hard time sourcing such a bullet
 
World of difference between the 444 marlin and 44 mag IMO. My 44 mag lever guns always seemed to do best with 240 gr xtp's and Nosler's sporting bullets, I consider the 44 mag for medium/large game strictly a 100 yd on in proposition.
 
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Shadow9mm said:
If you are looking at a do it all bullet (deer AND boar) I would 100% go with the A-frame. the HP will open and work well on deer. On the Boar the back portion will retain its weight and drive through to the vitals.
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That's an interesting take. I will see how obtainable the Swifts are.

Currently Brownells.co.uk have them listed at £80.75 = $113.11 for 50. Swift's website is charging $61.00 / 50.

I know the UK is a smaller market than the US and there are costs associated with import but frankly that is just not a funny joke. I wonder if there is a "grey" import route...

Scrummy
 
langenc said:
1700 fr pounds??? Where in the heck is that and what is that req for??

My 77/44 w/ Nosler 240s and 296/110 work great out to about 150 yrds. Kinda hard to see any farther than that most places around here.
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The UK has some interesting firearms laws my friend.

The powder I am thinking of is H110 (~W296?) and Viht N110.

Scrummy
 
H110/W296 are great choices for the 240 gr 44 mag bullets in my experience, especially H110 for pyrotechnics for night shooting.:D
 
stagpanther said:
H110/W296 are great choices for the 240 gr 44 mag bullets in my experience, especially H110 for pyrotechnics for night shooting.:D
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Well, let's hope with a 20" barrel I can get most of the powder burned. (Especially with a magnum primer and a fairly heavy crimp).

I might end of transferring to N110 as it is about 1/2 the price of H110 currently. And still kinda available.

Scrummy
 
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