What .44mag loads do you prefer to hunt with?

T

The Mohican Sneak

New member
I shoot a S&W 629 Classic - 8 3/8ths barrel. I'm going to be hunting deer and possibly hogs with it. Mostly in thick cover with my maximum shot being 75 yards or so.

Currently I shoot the 240gr Winchester SP's and they seem to hold together pretty good. I've taken several from the dirt bank and all have mushroomed well, and held their weight.

What do you use and why?
 
A medium to heavy weight hard cast SWC will do the trick when placed well. A tough constructed JHP of the same weight level like Hornady's XTP will work, especially when dealing with hogs. Find one that shoots well in your particular revolver and practice for those needle threading shots found in heavy cover a lot of the times.
I cast and roll my own SWC loads, but have seen the XTPs do excellent work.
 
Following hunting loads shot in S&W M629 Classic, 6.5" bbl, 2X scope:
a. Full Power Load: W296 behind 250 gr cast bullet (H&G #503), chronographs at 1400-1425 fps in my two Smiths. Have taken two deer and one hog with this load. Typical 5 shot sighting in groups from rest at 75 yds are under 3 inches.
b. Field Load: AA#5 behind 210 gr cast bullet (shortened version of H&G #45), chronographs at 1100 fps. Have taken one hog with this load.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB
 
For hogs i use a 300 grain hardcast flatpoint loaded to about 1300 FPS out of my 6.5" 629...drops them like a brick every time. Deer, a 250 grain hardcast keith semi-wadcutter loaded to about 1150 FPS. Almost zero meat damage with a good shot. Those winchester 240 SP's are fantastic on deer, but your going to want a tougher bullet if you do any hog hunting.
 
IMO
Speer's 270 grain Gold Dot Flat Soft Point is a tremendous Whitetail bullet. Excellent penetration, holds together very well.

Take Care
 
There isn't any deer that needs more than a 240 gr bullet and I don't think that a steady diet of 300s is safe for the gun. A good 240 JHP will be fine for both deer and pigs.
 
240 gr Hornady XTP over 19.3 gr 2400 powder and a Federal magnum primer gets me 1350 fps from a 7.5" barrelled Redhawk. Probably more than neccessary for whitetail. I'd imagine hogs would best be taken with hardcast bullets, as I'm not sure what a gristle plate would do to a hollow point.
I have no personal experience there. Few wild hogs in PA yet, but I hear they're coming. :D
 
My 629 for whitetail deer hunting is loaded with Hornady XTP 240 grain. Only because it is slightly more accurate (in my gun) than the Winchester Silvertip 250 grain.
 
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