Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Ammo recommendation in 44 Mag?

I have an S&W Model 69 with the 4.25" bbl in 44 Mag. Can someone recommend a factory round that would perform well on wild pigs or white tail deer out to 30 or 40 yards?

240gr XTP

While it is a Magnum, you may want to look at the hotter loads that many of the specialty companies have in .44 Special. Several have loads that run 1000-1200 fps that will be a lot easier on you and the gun but the hog or deer probably won't know the difference.

Dick, who posts here, has stots lots of game with a .41 Magnum only running 1100-1200 fps with 210 to 230 grain bullets...lest one he took was a deer at 88 yards... A nice 240 .44 Keith bullet going the same will do just as well...

Bob

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_list&c=17

https://www.underwoodammo.com/collections/handgun-ammo/cartridge_44-special

I would expect these to work well
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1001469969?pid=775501

No need to go all 300 grain Dragon's Breath or re-invent the wheel for medium game in the Model 69.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1001551111?pid=155139

For what ever it’s worth , my model 69 shot the buffalo bore “reduced recoil “ 255 Keith at 1350 FPS really really well

Too bad that the M69 doesnt come chambered in 9MM.
If it did one would be prepared for anything that crawls, walks or slithers. With the new Hornady Handgun Hunter ammo and the Buffalo Bore Grizzly bear load all one would need is an Elephant, Rhino and Buffalo load. I predict the load for the last three species will be out soon.
I am waiting for S&W to wake up and chamber the M69 in 9MM so we would be prepared.
I would run fastly to the SG store and trade my M69 popgun 44 Mags for a couple. I would get two. One to fondle and one to use.
I would carry it cavalry carry so I could get it with either hand in case I drop one my Cold Steel extra large Espada's I carry in each pocket.

Deer & most hogs aren't hard to kill with good shot placement. About any good 44 load over 1000-1200 fps from your dandy model 69 will fill your tag for you. What kind of fish you getting with that nice looking six gun! I always try to shoot the load that is the most accurate & above 240 grs. If I shoot it well I can kill with it.

Dick

See above post.

Also, stay away from 44 Special cases; no need to exacerbate the jump from case mouth to forcing cone. 44 Special level loads in the full length cases are really all that's needed for hogs or deer. It's not the velocity that does the work, primarily its the bullet choice for these sized critters.

Unfortunately, the 240 hollow points (or better the 240 JSPs) that Ethan posted might be the best factory loaded options. I only think it's unfortunate because the noise, racket and recoil aren't needed.

I run 8.5 grs of CFE pistol with 270's in magnum cases or 7.5 of the same in 44 Specials and stuff keels over.

I’ve killed several deer at those ranges with a 44 handloaded to 45 ACP ballistics. Factory loads are hotter so any of them in any weight should be fine for deer—bullet designs and velocity tend to be ideal for that. Hogs are a bit tougher, so I’d prefer 240-grain bullets for them, ideally something stouter like the XTP. I see no need for hotter loads or heavier bullets on either species, especially in a revolver as light as a Model 69.

From there, it depends on your tolerance for recoil and muzzle blast. Most jacketed 240-grain factory loads run from 1,200 fps to 1,400 fps. Adding velocity flattens trajectory, but that only matters once you get past about 50 yards plus it increases recoil and muzzle blast quickly. The American Eagle 240-grain JHP chronographs 1,257 fps in my 4” Model 29 and is very accurate out to 100 yards, but recoil is snappy in my revolver, which weighs 42 ounces. Your revolver is 4 ounces lighter than mine and that can make a big difference. Fiocchi’s 44D load also shoots well in my revolver. It’s advertised at 1,330 fps but I haven’t chronographed it. Recoil seems about the same as the American Eagle load.

My first choice for the 44 is a 240-grain true Keith at 1,100 fps. HSM’s 240-grain cowboy load (https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1018135629?pid=552914) is close to that. It chronographs 1,143 fps in my 4” Model 29 and shoots as well as the American Eagle with what seems like significantly less recoil. The HSM 200-grain cowboy load (https://www.midwayusa.com/product/101813524?pid=460152) runs 861 fps in my 4” Model 29 but doesn’t group well at 50 yards. I recently had that revolver Taylor throated and I’ll reshoot those tests in a few days. If I can get it to shoot well, that could be a very useful tool to have in the toolbox.

The 44 Magnum is a lot like the 30-06 are a lot alike in that it’s hard to go wrong using factory ammo for deer. Find one that’s accurate in your revolver and you’ll be fine.


Okie John

^^^This^^^

The Buffalo Bore .44 special Factory loading will work well.
I’ve killed several deer and a bunch of hogs here at the Ranch with a very similar hand load.

Not to mention the fact that Elmer Keith himself killed a ton of game over the years with a similar handload.

Remington 240 gr XTP semi jacketed hollow point. This was shot out of a Ruger carbine. 40 yards thru the skull of a bear and ended up at the base of the neck. Around 16” of penetration. The jacket was found next to the core. I think this round out of a handgun will be more than enough for your use.

Thanks all. I just picked up some Hornady 240XTP, Lever Revolution 225 and Federal American Eagle 240 JHP. When the weather allows I'll give them each a try and see what they do. I also came across a new round from Hornady, the 200 gr MonoFlex Handgun Hunter and I backordered a box to try. This is going to be fun!