Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Deer bullet for youth 44 mag rifle

I have mostly used 240 XTP’s on deer and never lost a deer. Most sailed right on through.
Around 2013-14, I couldn’t get any XTP’s and used some Sierra SJHC in 240 grain and although not quite as accurate in my rifle they killed very efficiently. They seemed to hold together a little better than the XTP’s.
In my Knight muzzleloader, I shoot the 44 caliber RCBS 250K wrapped up in a Harvester sabot and they have performed great.
They are just cast from WW’s and will shoot through a deer from one end to another. They leave some great blood trails too.
I would say your SWC’s will be fine.

Lead will work, so too will the j-bullets referenced above. If you go with lead use a flat point of the Keith style, BHN in the 9-12 range depending on how much velocity you want. BHN 9 does quite well in my 77/44 around 1000 fps.

One of my dreams came to life as a 320 grain soft alloy (9BHN).


It do OK...

If the kids might be sensitive to recoil, I'd load a 180 XTP ahead of a moderate load of my favorite powder.

Like many here, I have used the 240 XTP over h-110 very successfully. I use the same load in several revolvers, my (original style) Ruger carbine and my friend uses them in his 77/44. It seems to always result in dead deer without a lot of fanfare.

For a youth load I'd go with the 180gr. XTP, less recoil and yet very effective.

I've discovered that the 200 grain XTP bullet flattens out to about .75 inch upon impact and produces ghastly damage to the chest organs.

Sherwood

This.

I used to run Remington's 240gr. SJHP over 24 grs H110. It made about 1,600 fps from my Ruger carbine. That bullet turned out to be a little soft for rifle velocities at short/heavy cover ranges.

When the price of the Remingtons started climbing and components started getting scarce, I ended up buying what I could get, which turned out to be 500 Nosler .44 caliber 200 gr JHP's. They worked fairly well at the velocities my 7½ Redhawk could push them, holding together OK, but not exiting. If I was thinking about a slightly reduced load for kids, I'd feel pretty good about the Nosler HP.

My wife has used the 240 XTP and H110. It's a little much for her, and too much for the little kids. I started my boys at age 10 with the Hornady 225g FTX and a medium burning powder.

For practice, I loaded a 180g cast lead and a fast powder. I found a load that hit close enough to the hunting load that we could practice on steel targets with them.

I am sorry that I don't remember which powders I used. They were just picked out of the book based on what I had on hand.

I have four sons, three who are big enough to hunt with me. They all have different body shapes, sizes, strength, and recoil tolerance. Most do fine shooting as a group, one needed one on one time with me to enjoy shooting. In other words, every kid is different, and shouldn't be taught or judged the same as other kids, even siblings.

Picked up a few pounds of 2400 powder today. Going to try and find a load with the 200gr Noslers and some 225 gr Keith style bullets.

Had a neighbor that made excellent cast bullets. Kept me supplied for years with his 158gr Keith type SWCs w/gas checks, for my 357 magnum. He also made a similar bullet for 44 mags in 240gr. I never killed a deer with the 44 mag bullets, but a buddy did out of his M94 44 mag. Good performance. Alas, the old boy passed away some years ago, so lost that source for great cast bullets.

Got to liking the performance of the 200gr XTPs in both my M629 and the 444 Marlin I had. Per the comment above, the 444 was a first class deer de-lunger with that bullet.

My 44 mag loads shot very well in the 44 mag lever rifle I once had. 22 grains of 2400, with the 200gr XTP in the 44 mags.The rifle was a "Puma" variation M92 clone. 24" octagon barrel, so it had some heft. Little recoil with that load in the rifle.

I like your choices there. I hope it works out well for you. 2400 does just as well at 18-20k PSI as it does at 35k.

+1

Once we get through the dang snow storms every day I’m off we will try some out at range. I’ll update as we go along. Thanks for all the input.