Ruger 77/44 Rotary Magazine Rifle

.44 Magnum On Deer


 

Q: A Ruger Model 77/44 Carbine has been offered to me as a deer rifle, and I am considering its purchase since it is very handy and fast to operate. The calibre is .44 Remington Magnum, which I understand to be more powerful than the .44-40. Would this be a good choice for the purpose? If so, can you suggest a good handload with a bullet suitable for pigs, goats and fallow deer.

The Ruger comes with a 4×32 scope. Can you tell me the best distance to zero this rifle and its likely trajectory?

 

Charles.J.Bradley

 

 

 

A: The .44 Magnum is not my idea of a deer rifle, but having said that, I remember seeing Peter Schubert drop a 12-point red stag in his tracks with one at a distance of 125 metres with a neck shot. The lever-action .44 Magnum sees widespread use as pig gun, being short and handy to carry in a scabbard on a 4-wheeler or trail bike. My best handload for the game you hunt is the Hornady 225gn FTX and 21gn of Lil’ Gun for about 1775fps. This is a pointed-soft-point bullet that holds up better than the blunt-nosed bullets normally used in leverguns and will shoot a bit flatter and extend the effective range to 150 metres. If you sight in 48mm high at 50 metres, the bullet will zero at 100 metres, drop 195mm at 150 metres and be 589mm low at 200 metres. By using a bit of Arkansas elevation you should be able to hit medium sized animals out to 150 metres.

 

 

 

 


Like it? Share with your friends!

What's Your Reaction?

super super
20
super
fail fail
14
fail
fun fun
12
fun
bad bad
10
bad
hate hate
8
hate
lol lol
6
lol
love love
4
love
omg omg
20
omg
Nick Harvey

The late Nick Harvey (1931-2024) was one of the world's most experienced and knowledgeable gun writers, a true legend of the business. He wrote about firearms and hunting for about 70 years, published many books and uncounted articles, and travelled the world to hunt and shoot. His reloading manuals are highly sought after, and his knowledge of the subject was unmatched. He was Sporting Shooter's Technical Editor for almost 50 years. His work lives on here as part of his legacy to us all.

0 Comments