|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,369
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,369 |
i figure the Hornady 265 grain interlock flat point factory load is up to the task, but a 300 grain XTP or a 270 grain Speer handload might give more assurances...
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 998
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 998 |
Under what circumstances are you going to hunt? In the dog hair exclusively you are well armed, if you need to stretch out over an open meadow or band open bowl there are better choices.
Experience is what you get, when you don't get what you want!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 19,086
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 19,086 |
I'm no expert for the 444 ,but figure it should work just about as good as a 45-70.
If God wanted you to walk and carry things on your back, He would not have invented stirrups and pack saddles
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,350
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,350 |
I have never hunted elk with mine but I can tell you that it will bang flop a moose with off the shelf 240 gr Remington's.
Music washes away the dust of everyday life Some people wait a lifetime to meet their favorite hunting and shooting buddy. Mine calls me dad
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 7,750
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 7,750 |
I have hunted with the 444. Never took a shot. Range limiting for sure due to trajectory. Sectional density limited due to microgroove barrel, the dogma is under 300 grains for accuracy. The 270 grain Speer gold dot is highly touted for penetration. I have a personal stash of Barnes original 300 grains. I think my 45 70 would be a better choice, but if you are hunting an any weapon hunt and want to use a lever, there are way more cartridges that could double or even triple your maximum effective range.
"Shoot low sheriff, I think he's riding a shetland!" B. Wills
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,396 Likes: 4
Campfire Kahuna
|
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,396 Likes: 4 |
Within it's range, it's bang flop specialist. You just have to find out what that range is.
βIn a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.β β George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,505
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,505 |
I do not, but I have 3 friends that do. All use hard cast 300 and 320 grain gas-checked LBT bullets and they love them. Super good performance on elk.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 3,760
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 3,760 |
elk are pretty rare in the part of east Texas where i hunt, but everything else i've shot with the .444 has expired pretty fast. i use the hornady #4300 bullet and H4198 powder. really good load for sweet gum saplings and mature sasquatches too.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 6,519
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 6,519 |
444 doesn't kill elk like a .270, but it'll work.
"And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,651
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,651 |
Killed a 6x6 bull with my Marlin 1895 .45-70. Range was 213 lasered yards, full broadside. Would have taken the shot out to 300, the extent of my practice at the time (-22" the way it was sighted in).
The bullet was a 350g North Fork launched at 2181fps. It obliterated a section of the left front leg bone and a near side rib, shattered a far side rib and came to rest under the hide. The bullet or a piece of bone nicked the heart pretty good.
The bull just stood there for a few seconds so I readied another shot. Before I could get it off the bull toppled over.
I was actually looking for a .444 when I found the .45-70 at a price I could not refuse. Under the same circumstances I would use a .444 without hesitation.
The same trip I shot a mulie buck at 197 lasered yards, quartering away. The 350g North Fork passed through leaving buckets of blood in the fresh snow. Didn't need the blood to track as the buck made a tight circle and went down.
Lots to be said for fat, heavy bullets.
Coyote Hunter - NRA Patriot Life, NRA Whittington Center Life, GOA, DAD - and I VOTE!
No, I'm not a Ruger bigot - just an unabashed fan of their revolvers, M77's and #1's.
A good .30-06 is a 99% solution.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,606
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,606 |
No elk yet but did kill 2 whitetail does with one shot, bullet was lodged in far side rib cage of second deer. Bullet was factory flex tip.
Ken
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 7,750
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 7,750 |
I agree totally ......under 300 yards the 444 should be golden.
"Shoot low sheriff, I think he's riding a shetland!" B. Wills
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 7,263
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 7,263 |
Friend use one on several Moose with no complaints I think with 265 grain loads. I would fill slightly handicapped in open country as many elk are shot at 300+ yards. In the timber where most elk seem to be in daylight hours the 444 would shine.
"When you disarm the people, you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred." Niccolo Machiavelli
|
|
|
|
80 members (007FJ, 35, 444Matt, 7mm_Loco, 6mmCreedmoor, 12 invisible),
1,488
guests, and
858
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,192,370
Posts18,488,308
Members73,970
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|