Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Moose and the 44?

Guyz/galz---if you were gonna take out a moose with a 44 mag handgun (Shiras) what bullets would make the top of your list?

Many thx

Dober

Dober, I have a 480 Raging Bull. I have been shooting 2 different types of bullets. First are the speer 325gr Gold Dot bullets. These bullets have preformed very well on deer sized game with pass throughs on all 5 deer shot with them. They hit like a hammer. The next was a Barnes 275gr Barnes XPB and these were also a very good bullet but the accuracy wasn't as good but very close so not really concerned. I had a chance to take 3 deer with this bullet and it performed very well also, with all three deer dropping in their spot. The 44 will definately be a moose killer and I would opt for the barnes if they shot well, also I have heard good things about the hornady pistol bullets. I would also consider if not using the barnes bullets to use a heavy 44 if possible. Are you going to be handloading or just buying some factory loads? Whatever you choose handgunning is a fun time that is for sure. Good luck HAPPY HUNTING

I've killed two bison with a .454 . One using 300 gr Swift A-frames and one using 300 gr Hornadys. The Swift's were notably better in terms of retained weight and penetration.

45-70 contender pistol -- 405 hard cast lead at 1500 ft/sec. Go big or stay at home.

500 S&W Performance Center with Barnes 375 gr XPB FB's.

Since your title states "44", I assume your asking for bullets for the .44 magnum.

You're going to want plenty of penetration, so I'd lean hard cast over jacket. Start this one at least 1200fps, and it should penetrate a freight train.

Cast Perfomance 300 WFNGC

Oops! I missed that part.

I'd use hard cast bullets of at least 270 grains or so. The 44 is never going to be too much for moose, but it might be on the small side. Penetration helps to overcome minimalism. (Hows that for gacking it?) I DLPed a small brownie this summer. After I finally decided to poke him with the 12, it was a 3" Brenneke "original" which I used, broadside. It stuck in the offside shoulder; incomplete penetration. I went back after a few minutes - after I put clothes on- and took the 45 Colt Trapper carbine which was loaded with 320 home, hard casts alternating with 300 Sierra SP which are very hard cored. Two shots running longitudinally from the front on the struggling animal. Both exitted.

I know Sierra makes a similar 300 for the 44 though it is a bit longer and more tapered up front. It would likely work as well as a hard cast if you were intent on using jacketed.

That'd be the one.

I'll put in another vote for the Cast Performance 300 WFNGC.

I carry these in my Titanium 329PD when in bear country (My hand hurts just TYPING that!) As did my last brown bear guide on the Alaska Pennisula. If you can't do it with that bullet pushed hard, you really need(ed) a rifle.

Thx for the comments so far guys and I did mean in the 44 mag.

Safariman--try getting a pair of grips from a 500 S&W and stick them on your 329, it'll help a bit.

Dober

Great idea. They will fit that grip frame, eh? Biggest problem is that the S&W grips, even aftermarket, leave that metal backstrap exposed to chew on one's hand. Sheesh, my hand is hurting AGAIN and the gun is in the SAFE!

Yepper rock on!

Dober

While unfortunately we don't have the option of handgun hunting in Canada, an acquaintence of mine used a Marlin 1894 .44 mag to take a good sized bull moose. He used 300 grain XTPs loaded to something around 1600 fps. When he caught up with it he was about 60 yards away in the brush. The first shot staggered the moose and it started to get wobbly. He levered in another round, fired, and dropped it within a few steps of where it was when the first shot was fired.

Dober: Hard cast is the way to go...never shot a moose with a .44 but tipped over a couple elk with one.
Get him in a double lung situation, be prepared to shoot him more than once..and off you go!!!
BTW: When are you leaving for WY??
Ingwe

Man that thing look's like a flying tomato juice can, effective I'm sure!!

Ingwe-we leave either the 29th or 30th of Sept and will be down there for a few days.

Presently I have Beartooth 250 Keiths in the old 44 for personal home protection...

The old Mashburn is as always the go to, but if the hunt became a paddle bull hunt I could maybe try to sneak up on one and give him the old Dirty Harry.


Dober

Double Tap Ammo has a ready-made load with 320gr WFN at 1300 fps. I've been meaning to try out some of these but haven't yet.

http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_35&products_id=118

Yep thats what the smart ones do.