Well over the years I have taken several deer with the 44 magnum from both rifles and pistols. More than several using various 30-30 carbines. Difference being I usually used cast Kieth style semi wadcutters from the 44 Magnum and Jacketed 150 grain bullets from the 30-30 rifles. Both worked just fine with deer traveling a bit farther when hit with the cast bullets from the 44 unless I hit bone. This said it seemed to me the 44 left a more reliable blood trail but I had to follow the blood trail more often and farther. MY 30-30's were almost always loaded with 32.2 grains of 3031 under either the Sierra or Speer 150 grain bullets. Seemed to me the 30-30 was the faster killer using those two contrasting loads. I also recovered very few bullets getting exits more than most of the time. Maybe if I had used jacketed bullets in the 44 I would feel differently but if I had to chose one over the other for deer it would be the 30-30.

Dog I rescued in January

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