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HAS ANYONE USED A 44SPL ON DEER? IF SO WHAT TYPE OF LOADS?

I have used a number of handgun cartridges on deer, but not the .44 Special. Lots of hunters have, particularly in years past before it was modified to become the .44 Magnum. In many revolvers the Special has marginal power for use on deer - what revolver do you have? A small, relatively weak revolver like the Charter Arms Bulldog or a top-break model can't be loaded too hot for several reasons, but a strong S&W, etc. can be loaded to decent power levels.

If it were me, I'd load a Hornady 200 or 240-grain XTP bullet over the maximum safe/practical charge and take only lung shots at well under 50 yards. The XTPs will expand some even at low .44 Spl velocities, yet they will still penetrate well. Some shooters will expouse the benefits of cast bullets and they are entitled to their opinions, but on a marginal caliber like the .44, expanding bullets simply help anchor the deer more quickly.

Accurate shot placement will help improve the killing power of this cartridge, but it sounds like you are a farily new handgun hunter and should practice as much as possible before hunting. I recommend lung shots because they offer a much larger target than the head or neck shots some "experts" recommend - these latter shots are probably beyond the ability of most new hunters....no offense intended. Still, I'd recommend a more suitable chambering. Even a .357 Mag will outperform many .44 loadings....with the right bullet selection.

THANKS FOR THE REPLY. I HAVE A SW 696 THAT I WAS HOPING TO USE IN THE TREE STAND(SHORT DISTANCE). IT SHOOTS MILD LEAD LOADS VERY WELL WILL HAVE TO TRY THE 200 XTP AND SEE HOW IT WORKS.

I don't think there's any great magic here. I've taken 9 deer (Texas Whitetails) with a Marlin .357 Carbine. Of the 9, 7 were actually shot with 38 Spl ammo! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

ALL of these deer were shot with cast bullets, 158 to 170 gr. All were shot thru the heart/lungs. All of the bullets went completely thru the animal and exited.

Only the largest of these deer, a prime 8 pt buck, managed to take a step after being shot. He managed about 15 yds before piling in and the only reason he did this is he was pumped full of adrenalin. The others never knew what hit them.

Personally, I prefer a fairly heavy cast bullet for pistol work. I think a cast bullet is going to retain its weight better and penetrate better. What little bit of expansion you may get from some of the jacketed bullets may not be worth the risks of the bullet coming apart or deflecting in the animal.

Killing things is all about shot placement. Too many shooters think "killing power" is something we buy in the store.

Put a good 215 gr SWC Cast bullet in your 44 and be sure you hit the deer where he needs to be hit and he'll go home with you that evening. Simple as that. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Good luck

In strong guns, the .44 special has been loaded up to 1200 fps with a 250gr cast bullet. Unfortunately, your 696 has neither the strength or the barrel length to get optimum performance out of the .44 special.

However, if you keep the distance short as you intend, I think either a 200gr XTP or a 215gr SWC will do the job. Sorry, I can't help with loads, but you may find the cast bullet gives you a little more velocity. At the velocity's you're likely to generate, neither bullet is going to expand much, but it's not really necessary with the .44 caliber.

Your lead bullet load will be fine, given proper bullet placement. Your load is really close in velocity to a .45 ACP, which kills a ton of critters and people a year. You only need to get through 1/16" of skin and "maybe" a small rib on deer. The organs are like shooting into water. That isn't much to ask of any caliber. A jacketed bullet will more than likely act just like your lead bullets (little expansion), but it won't matter. The .44 caliber bullets are more than enough to leave a good blood trai, if the deer doesn't drop on the spotl. I have shot deer with wimpy .357 magnum factory loads out of a 6 inch Smith. Out of 5 shots, all have gone clear through the animals with no recovered bullets. All have been broad side shoulder shots and the bullets did indeed go through both shoulders. These were all 158 grain jacketed soft points and they didn't expand, near as I can tell. My .44 magnum kills have been pretty dog gone spectacular with shoulder shots and plain vanilla Remington 240 grain jacketed hollow points. Shot what you are comfortable with and what your gun likes. Accuracy and being familiar with your pistol are far more important than a couple of hundred foot per second. Flinch