.44 mag bullet that will handle 2000 fps

[z987k]

Well I have my 300 win mag for brown bear, 200 grain terminal ascent is my go to.
I'm more worried about emergency situations. I'd happily hunt black bear with 44 mag. My 44 is ust so weildy and fast I love it for deer, I'm just hoping to run a bullet that can do the job in a pinch if I have to on a prince william sound brownie.

Well good news is you've got a bunch of them on tap quickly. I really like the CE raptor at 200gr. https://cuttingedgebullets.com/products/44-200gr-handgun-raptor

This is worth a read to. https://handgunhuntingafield.blog/2024/03/13/mono-metal-bulletsa-multi-year-study/

 

[wartak]

Well good news is you've got a bunch of them on tap quickly. I really like the CE raptor at 200gr. https://cuttingedgebullets.com/products/44-200gr-handgun-raptor

This is worth a read to. https://handgunhuntingafield.blog/2024/03/13/mono-metal-bulletsa-multi-year-study/

If performance is that good out of a revolver I aught to pick up another 300 fps out of a rifle. He was claiming 1900 fps out of his revolver. Extrapolate a little and I gather I could get 200-2300 fps out of my rifle. That sounds like a very flat 200 yard deer round. I think this is exactly what I'm looking for.

 

[Smoke10]

I haven't been able to find any to try them, but I've heard Speer's 'deep curl' jacketed soft points are tough bullets.
They make them in 240 grain and 270 grain and are a bonded bullet.

I would also go with the Swift A-frames in 240 or 280 grain if a person could find them.

 

[wartak]

I haven't been able to find any to try them, but I've heard Speer's 'deep curl' jacketed soft points are tough bullets.
They make them in 240 grain and 270 grain and are a bonded bullet.

I would also go with the Swift A-frames in 240 or 280 grain if a person could find them.

Yeah finding them is the problem.

 

[BRobertson]

I have not used a 200 grain bullet (mono or otherwise) on a bear or moose.
I never would! Referring to handgun cartridge here.
The idea that it will out penetrate a properly alloyed 300 gr cast is not
at all believable!
I killed my first grizzly with a handgun over 50 years ago. It was a 240 grain jacketed bullet. I was very careful with the shot. The bullet went through the heart, from a front quartering shot,went all the way lengthwise and ended up in the rear leg muscle . The bullet was intact with no expansion . The bear made it about 20 yards on the run and collapsed.
Nowadays I expect complete pass through from any direction and it is possible if you use proper bullets.
We started using the heavy for caliber bullets about 40 years ago when JD Jones of SSK came out with his heavy bullet molds. Then Veral Smith of
LBT Molds came out with his designs.
I have never recovered a 300gr cast .44 from moose or grizzlies. That is several of each! Complete penetration.
I am referring to .44 in a handgun.
I am getting 1450fps in a 7 1/2 “ Revolver.
I cast my own bullets from custom molds
If you would like to try some I will send a batch .

Bob

 

[wartak]

I have not used a 200 grain bullet (mono or otherwise) on a bear or moose.
I never would! Referring to handgun cartridge here.
The idea that it will out penetrate a properly alloyed 300 gr cast is not
at all believable!
I killed my first grizzly with a handgun over 50 years ago. It was a 240 grain jacketed bullet. I was very careful with the shot. The bullet went through the heart, from a front quartering shot,went all the way lengthwise and ended up in the rear leg muscle . The bullet was intact with no expansion . The bear made it about 20 yards on the run and collapsed.
Nowadays I expect complete pass through from any direction and it is possible if you use proper bullets.
We started using the heavy for caliber bullets about 40 years ago when JD Jones of SSK came out with his heavy bullet molds. Then Veral Smith of
LBT Molds came out with his designs.
I have never recovered a 300gr cast .44 from moose or grizzlies. That is several of each! Complete penetration.
I am referring to .44 in a handgun.
I am getting 1450fps in a 7 1/2 “ Revolver.
I cast my own bullets from custom molds
If you would like to try some I will send a batch .

Bob

Do you suppose you could get close to 1800 fps out of a Henry 44? I have a 17.5" barel. The reason I am looking for faster speeds is so I can get a little flatter trajectory out to 150 yards on deer.
I don't want to sound like I'm arguing but my experience is that Moose die pretty easily if you put a bullet into their vitals. Bear on the other hand I'd agree are very tough. Heavy bullets make me feel much more comfortable than light ones in regards to bear.

 

[wartak]

I have not used a 200 grain bullet (mono or otherwise) on a bear or moose.
I never would! Referring to handgun cartridge here.
The idea that it will out penetrate a properly alloyed 300 gr cast is not
at all believable!
I killed my first grizzly with a handgun over 50 years ago. It was a 240 grain jacketed bullet. I was very careful with the shot. The bullet went through the heart, from a front quartering shot,went all the way lengthwise and ended up in the rear leg muscle . The bullet was intact with no expansion . The bear made it about 20 yards on the run and collapsed.
Nowadays I expect complete pass through from any direction and it is possible if you use proper bullets.
We started using the heavy for caliber bullets about 40 years ago when JD Jones of SSK came out with his heavy bullet molds. Then Veral Smith of
LBT Molds came out with his designs.
I have never recovered a 300gr cast .44 from moose or grizzlies. That is several of each! Complete penetration.
I am referring to .44 in a handgun.
I am getting 1450fps in a 7 1/2 “ Revolver.
I cast my own bullets from custom molds
If you would like to try some I will send a batch .

Bob

Also do you only cast 300 grain or do you have a cast for 250 or 260 grain?

 

[Smoke10]

Do you suppose you could get close to 1800 fps out of a Henry 44? I have a 17.5" barel. The reason I am looking for faster speeds is so I can get a little flatter trajectory out to 150 yards on deer.
I don't want to sound like I'm arguing but my experience is that Moose die pretty easily if you put a bullet into their vitals. Bear on the other hand I'd agree are very tough. Heavy bullets make me feel much more comfortable than light ones in regards to bear.

I have a winchester 1892 in .44 mag. It has a 20" barrel.
Don't remember my specific load right now but with 240 grain Nosler JSP and H110 powder, I was getting around 1700 FPS

 

[wartak]

I have a winchester 1892 in .44 mag. It has a 20" barrel.
Don't remember my specific load right now but with 240 grain Nosler JSP and H110 powder, I was getting around 1700 FPS

That's pretty good I'd say.

 

[BRobertson]

The lightest mold I have for .44 is 245 gr.
I have 260, 275, 285, etc. all the way up to 340gr.
The thing that limits the bullet choice in a lever action is the length of the bullet projecting from the case, the nose profile , and the cartridge overall
length.
Some rifles are more picky than others.
Marlins are somewhat adjustable , meaning modifications can be made to
accommodate longer overall length. Wild West Guns in Anchorage is
experienced in that. I don’t know if they modify Henry’s?

 

[wartak]

The lightest mold I have for .44 is 245 gr.
I have 260, 275, 285, etc. all the way up to 340gr.
The thing that limits the bullet choice in a lever action is the length of the bullet projecting from the case, the nose profile , and the cartridge overall
length.
Some rifles are more picky than others.
Marlins are somewhat adjustable , meaning modifications can be made to
accommodate longer overall length. Wild West Guns in Anchorage is
experienced in that. I don’t know if they modify Henry’s?

I can run 305 grain hard cast buffalo bore through my Henry but I have to run it fast or it likes to catch. That's the only reason I was curious about a lighter/shorter option.

 

[wartak]

The lightest mold I have for .44 is 245 gr.
I have 260, 275, 285, etc. all the way up to 340gr.
The thing that limits the bullet choice in a lever action is the length of the bullet projecting from the case, the nose profile , and the cartridge overall
length.
Some rifles are more picky than others.
Marlins are somewhat adjustable , meaning modifications can be made to
accommodate longer overall length. Wild West Guns in Anchorage is
experienced in that. I don’t know if they modify Henry’s?

285 might be just the ticket if I can get it to shoot reasonably fast

 

[GuyMontag42]

Hello all, if this has been posted already my apologies as I couldn't find anything.
I have a Henry lever X in 44 mag. I live in AK and often hunt the islands for Deer (sitka blacktail) some of the islands have black bear some have brown bear and others have both.
My question is does anyone know of if a 200 grain hard cast will hold together over 2000 fps? I'm new to reloading this caliber but the reason I wanted hard cast is for the odd chance I run into a big bear on my hunts..
Maybe I'd be better with the first 2 shots being a deer load and the remaining 6 being a slower 300 grain hard cast. Any recommendations on a hard cast load for big bear also? Thanks all!

The pictures are muzzle velocity with 180 grain jsp and 260 grain monolithic just for reference of speeds I'm already getting. Both were factory loads.

How are you liking the 44 carbine? This is my current plan exactly I’m just a few years behind you.

For context here part of my goal was keeping recoil minimal. Small brush gun ~150 yard shots, that can make big holes. Hornady makes dangerous game 44mag ammo now, I figured those would make up the last 5-6 shots of the tube if I can get a lower caliber bullet to fly good for blacktail. Basically comparable to a 30-30 but a bigger hole.

Every time I consider getting a “proper rifle caliber” for bear country I realize I’ll never shoot it due to the recoil. 44mag seems like a great sweet spot, with ubiquitous and “cheap” ammo. Works great in short barrels. Also read it’s one of the better cartridges to reload for with regards to cost savings. Cheap/varied bullets, no specialized gear, etc..

 

[BCsteve]

Hornady use to make a 265gr FP for the .444 Marlin, not sure if they still sell them. The Hornady 300gr XTP and Speer 270gr and 300gr UC are also often recommended for the .444 Marlin. If they are tough enough for the .444 they'll be fine in a .44. The 300gr XTP is really accurate in my .444 but I've never shot game with them only my own hardcast.

 

[limpet]

I’ve loaded the hammer bullets with the “444” hollow point in my Henry 44mag. I got good accuracy (2-3” groups at 100 yards) and 2000fps over a stiff load of h110. I haven’t shot anything with them sadly.