My most used .44 special is a 4 5/8 flat top blackhawk. Thus far all I've killed with it are various deer. My most used load uses the 255gr cast performance WFN plain base with 8.5gr of unique for 1070fps. The performance of this seemingly tame load has been quite impressive. Double lunged deer lurch off 10-50 yards before keeling over, leaving good blood trails to boot. The only poor blood trail I've had with this bullet is also one of it's most memorable performances.
I shot a doe square in the chest as she stood facing me about 30 yards out. I was on the ground so the angle was such it should have completely raked her. At the shot the deer took off like a scalded cat with a hind leg flailing madly. I was quite concerned and wondered how I pulled off such a horrible wounding shot. I need not have worried. The deer made it about 25 yards into the brush. The bullet completely penetrated the length of the body, breaking a femur on the way out before exiting one of the hams.
