44 Magnum Pistol and Boar Hunting

[Dirtlaw]

Considering a .44 Magnum Pistol as a backup, what rounds are preferred? I have Speer Gold Dot 210 GR hollow points and Black Hills 160 GR Honey Badger rounds. What if those were my only choices? Pretty big difference in weight. Any other thoughts or recommendations? This is backup so getting the right round by trial and error is not something I want to do. The more information I can obtain from the experienced hunters in this group the better my decisions will be.



Thanks in advance.

[edgerly779]

240 gr jsp's. no hollowpoints. Do not trust penetration. I still have some 265 gr conical silhoutte reloads. They have a small lead tip. Kills hogs and bears just fine.

[Dirtlaw]

Good thing I asked. Hollow point seemed the way to go and, besides, that's all I've seen at the stores I've visited (Turner's, Fowler's and Ammo Bros.). In fact I was surprised at the low availability for the .44 magnum. If necessary I will get the appropriate dies, etc., but for now commercial makes sense so I can move forward with my bucket list. Thanks for the input edgerly779!

[elk hunter]

I carry a handgun when I don't carry a rifle or shotgun but if I "did" carry a handgun while I was hunting with either I would load my Ruger Redhawk with either my 300 gr. Sierra SP or my 255 gr. Keith hand loads. As edgerly has said you want penetration but even more important than that you want placement. Ya got to hit them in the right place then penetrate. I never depend on any handgun while I have a working loaded long gun.

[edgerly779]

If you hunt in condpor area only choice is hollowpoints. I have some barnes x hpb's

[Dirtlaw]

Black Hills .44 Magnum HoneyBadger

I found this researching a bit further. Still, I am mindful of what others have said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HsVYrzrrOQ

[Dirtlaw]

Shot placement

I carry a handgun when I don't carry a rifle or shotgun but if I "did" carry a handgun while I was hunting with either I would load my Ruger Redhawk with either my 300 gr. Sierra SP or my 255 gr. Keith hand loads. As edgerly has said you want penetration but even more important than that you want placement. Ya got to hit them in the right place then penetrate. I never depend on any handgun while I have a working loaded long gun.

Maybe a dumb question, but this has been on my research list as well. Where should the shots be placed? Is there a silhouette image somewhere that shows where the shot should be?? If not, a good sticky idea.

[Divernhunter]

Just remember that come 2019 you will need non-lead bullets. Barnes 200gr XPR HP is what I use but you could use the 225gr ones also.
Aim for the shoulder or just behind it. I always aim to break one shoulder at what ever angle I am presented. Has worked well for many years.

[edgerly779]

***. Just remember come july 2019 non lead for all hunting.

[Dirtlaw]

Thanks

Just remember that come 2019 you will need non-lead bullets. Barnes 200gr XPR HP is what I use but you could use the 225gr ones also.
Aim for the shoulder or just behind it. I always aim to break one shoulder at what ever angle I am presented. Has worked well for many years.

Thanks for the information Divernhunter. I have much to learn and kind people like you are so helpful.



I am so tired of over regulation. I want to do what's right. But still, the regulations are like weights of lead that stop all progress.

[200Apples]

I hear you. I have good 250 and 255 grain Keith LSWC loads in Special brass for my .44 Special Ruger flat top Blackhawks... would pass right through elk and perhaps right through some boar. But July 2019 is around the corner and I'm looking at the 225 grain Barnes XPB and then looking for some load data.

I've just ordered what I think is the most recent Barnes' reloading manual. Should be here Monday.

I'm looking to assemble this 225 grain Barnes solid copper HP for both my .44 Special flat top and again in .44 Mag brass for my recently-acquired Marlin 1894 SBL. I'll more than likely use AA9 and/or 2400 in the Magnum brass then see what the Manual suggests for the Special loads where with lead slugs I use Unique and to 1000 fps.

The issue with the solid copper projectiles is that they're longer, taking more room inside the case, where we'd rather have that space for powder, depending on the load. Looking forward to seeing what the Barnes' book says.

[Divernhunter]

200Apples---Barnes does not list the 225gr bullet for use in the 44Sp and for good reason. The barnes bullets need speed to work well. The 225gr bullet is also long for the shorter 44sp case. They also act like a lead core bullet 30% heavier. So their 200gr bullet acts like a 260gr lead core bullet. I have used the 200gr bullet in my 44mag pistol to great effect. I also have H-110 data that is not in the barnes book or website. Mine came in the form of a small piece of paper that was packed in each box of bullets that I bought when they 1st came out with them.

You can look at the website for load data.

[200Apples]

Barnes does not list the 225gr bullet for use in the 44Sp and for good reason.

I wasn't paying attention when I typed that...

I was just out at the ammunition cabinet, looking at three 20-round boxes of Barnes 225 grain XPB .44 Magnum cartridges (while I do handload, I also believe in also having a commercial representation in stock here at home). The neck tension reveals how long that 225-grain really is. Holy Toledo, there's not much room left over. Can't wait for that Barnes manual. This will be interesting. I know these copper bullets are longer in the same weight and caliber due to the density difference between lead and copper, but I had to see it firsthand.

Right after I posted two hours ago I placed an order for 100 rds of each of the 200 grain and 225 grain XPBs...

You can look at the website for load data.

I did, yesterday, and didn't see much addressed specifically to the XPB and and what there for a .429" pill was data for the .444 cartridge.

They also act like a lead core bullet 30% heavier. So their 200gr bullet acts like a 260gr lead core bullet. I have used the 200gr bullet in my 44mag pistol to great effect.

While I have heard alluded to the properties of a solid copper HP, your post is the first real interesting bit of info I have read. Thank you!

That is remarkable, to think a 200 grain copper slug might deliver terminal ballistics similar to a 260 grain lead slug... I can't quite wrap my head around that. Gimme a minute.

Ok. I'm good!

[stonefly-2]

Is the choice of a hollow point bullet really a disadvantage to penetration in a copper bullet the way it is with a lead bullet?

If we know to run a lighter bullet at a higher velocity can't we in effect get the best of both worlds with a copper hp?

[200Apples]

Is the choice of a hollow point bullet really a disadvantage to penetration in a copper bullet the way it is with a lead bullet?

I think I hear what you're saying, but in this case I don't see a Barners solid copper in a .44 RNFP or WFN -shaped bullet. There may be other bulletmakers doing this but tbh I haven't looked beyond Barnes.

If we know to run a lighter bullet at a higher velocity can't we in effect get the best of both worlds with a copper hp?

We can consider the claim made above that these can act like a lead core bullet 30% heavier. Is this the silver lining in the lead ban dark cloud? I don't know how an expanding bullet can penetrate the same way a WFN can, but I am kinda green on this particular subject.