Hey Folks,
I know there has to be a ton of opinions out there on this one! What is the nastiest .44 Magnum Self Defense round out there? I am personaly loaded up with Federals HYDRA-SHOK ammo. Anyone have any other suggestions? Thanks and Happy Hunting
Factory for now, I just got the gun not to long ago and haven't got the dies for the .44 yet. Once I get set up to hand load the .44 I will start playing with it. Just looking for opinions on the best/most effective chunk of lead to use I guess. Opinions on hunting rounds (whitetail) would be appreciated as well. Thanks again...................
I got a box of 44's that came from Superior Ammunition out Sturgis, SD 1-605-347-9192/1-800-67-super fax 1-605-347-9392. these have the Barnes "X" bullets. sorry I don't know much about them, but hope to shoot some soon. They will be great if they shoot 1/2 as good as they look. I really like the Fed. Hyda Shoks as well as the Win. silvertips for a defense round also don't forget about the .44 specials, there some nice home D round there, the glazers sp that come to mind.
Shooting a 7.5" Redhawk with pachmayre grips for factory loads I always preferred Federals 240 gr. Hydra-Shoks for reloads I use Hornady 240gr HP/XTP bullets with 23 gr. H110 and CCI 350 (large pistol magnum) primers. For hunting use the 240s have a sizable advantage in energy over the 180 or even 200 gr rounds even if you slow them down a tad for a recoil reduction, but for me I run mine a little over 1500fps at muzzle plus two feet and at 50yds I'm still pushing over 1300fps and close to 950ft-lbs of energy enough to knock the deer in my neck of the woods off their feet at up to 30yds (my longest shot yet with handgun).
ewmoose,
I hope you're talking about self defense against 4 legged beasts such as bears or mt. lions, because for 2 legged predators, .44 mags have WAY too much recoil for multiple hits or multi assailaints. If you feel the need to carry a large, heavy revlover on the streets, then load your .44 with a good .44 special round, 200 to 250 gr. hollow point, or semi-wadcutter bullet at 850 to 1000 feet per second. Most excellent manstopper and practice double taps and single hits on multiple targets at 10 yds. or less. And smooth, not necessarily fast, draws. Watch your front sight!!
Thanks for all the replies. I have been out in the woods the last several days, no computer. Looks like ya'll have given me a good variety to choose from. I did a little terget shooting with my current ammo and held a 1 1/2 inch group @ 30 yds. I am sure I can get it better with hand loads. Unfortunatly nothing got close enough for me to feel comforatable squeezing off on while hunting the past several days. A buddy of mine has some land overtaken with pigs perhaps I will let the air out of few of them in a few days. I will let ya'll know what I come up with as far as performance. If it performs well on a 300 + pound pig @ 30-40 yds a deer should be a cake walk.
ewmoose,
I hope you're talking about self defense against 4 legged beasts such as bears or mt. lions, because for 2 legged predators, .44 mags have WAY too much recoil for multiple hits or multi assailaints. If you feel the need to carry a large, heavy revlover on the streets, then load your .44 with a good .44 special round, 200 to 250 gr. hollow point, or semi-wadcutter bullet at 850 to 1000 feet per second. Most excellent manstopper and practice double taps and single hits on multiple targets at 10 yds. or less. And smooth, not necessarily fast, draws. Watch your front sight!!
Depends on how big ya are A sizeable fella handles recoil better
Fioochi makes a pretty consistant round, might want to give them a bang or two
__________________ Marlin & Calico Specialist
I'm not just Trigger Happy, I'm Trigger Ecstatic!!
anyone tried the new platinum tip hollow points yet. I bought some, but they look too good to shoot. Just left them in the loops on my 44 belt.
Sounds new to me. What is the material? Is it like the silver tips for name sake? Who makes them? How many rounds per box at what cost? Got pics? Thank Spurzmaker.
Got them over at wally world. (walmart) and the design I guess it looks like the silver tips with a blueish look inside the hollow point, and from what I am hearing from some shooters asked about them, is that they are designed for deep penetration on large game, and defense. WInchester made them and they are suppose to be a nasty.
I am tempted to try them on a couple wet Denver Yellow page books to see what happens. from what I read it is a mixed emotions on accurracy, and other variables
Spurzmaker, thanks...Winchester makes the silver tips too. wow a 250 grain on store bought .44 mags...that' s great. they really don't tell us what it's made of, I doubt that it's platinum. at $28 a box of 20, they may be platinum a bit more kick??? You've got to punch some holes into that ol phone book, purty pleeeease? Thanks for the answers! Got to get some...
I did get ahold of some really hot loads awhile back for a 44 mag. I think that they were PMC loads. I generally shoot factory winchester, remington, or what ever use to be on sale. Now with the prices of ammo, I went to reloading that caliber along with the other wildcat loads I generally just use to reload for only.
anyway, These PMC loads were frickin hot. My brother said that there was a foot long flame came out of the end of the gun, and the recoil on my end was definetely flinching when you pulled the trigger.
I generally load a 22.4 grains of 4227 powder with a 240 grain wad cutter, or a jacketed hollow point 240 grain. But not the same response as came out of these loads I bought. Made the steel on the knock down silohettes moan with displeasure.
I am with you spurzmaker those damn things are almost to pretty to shoot!You could roll out looking like the Lone Ranger with a belt full of those puppies.
Hi, new member here, but not new to shootong.
IMHO, a .44 M is a viable SD caliber IF using the right ammo.
I hate to keep 'plugging' them, but Cor-Bon in 165 grn either in .44 Spl or the same in the Mag version are designed for SD. I use the .44 Spl in the summer and switch to the Mag in the winter. May not make any difference but I just feel better. I think anything heavier might be a little more than needed for typical HD due to over penetration.
For hunting, any number of good rounds out there. I am in the process of deciding on Buffalo Bore or Double Tap. They both make a 'Keith' style SWC that should about handle anything I need to shoot on four legs.
Teach
A sizeable fella handles recoil better 
a bit more kick??? You've got to punch some holes into that ol phone book, purty pleeeease? Thanks for the answers! Got to get some...
You could roll out looking like the Lone Ranger with a belt full of those puppies.
