Reeder Custom Guns - .44 Special Deer Load

Toying with the idea of using a .44 special load for deer this fall. I have been reading up on the .44 special and I always see bullet weight of 240 gr. being suggested and used. Why not a 300 gr.? Is 300 gr just simply too big for the velocity of the .44 special. Step up the velocity too much and you're into magnum territory, or so I think.

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Brian Pearce has multiple articles with these 300gr loads...it’s just most have found that the 250 gr SWC is a nice balance point and has all the Keith nostalgia behind it .... the 215 is a nice choice too but for a deer a 200-240 gr hp should anchor it fine with anything fast enough to open.

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During my early handgun hunting I carried a 44 Spec. in a converted Highway Patrolman and though I never took anything neither did I feel undergunned...

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OVER 500# AND ONE THAT WENT OVER #650--THE 250 KEITH DID JUST FINE.

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is that he was home soaking his hand in hot epsom salts water in between shootings.

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It's the 4.2" Target Model...

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I loaded then over 6.3, 6.8 and 7.2gr of 231 and 7.3, 7.6 and 8 gr of Unique. So far the 6.8 of 231 is a one hole group at 7 yards.

I asked for advice because I was wondering what you’ all with more experience use, so thank you!

I will say 8gr of Unique in a bulldog is like a 240grainer over 30gr of H110 in my 5” 429 GNR!!!

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I need to file the front sight. It’s too high, even with 250gr bullets. Shoots 4-5” low at 7 yards. I’m going to put a black line at the mid point and then see where it shoots with 200 and 240gr bullets. I’ll shoot it at 7 and 15 yards

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Heavy bullets shoot higher than light bullets. You can always fine tune it later.

.44 Special Deer Load

You need some space for powder

good one

I HAVE TAKEN FERAL PIGS WEIGHING

JT -what would be a good gen purpose load for a CA Bulldog?

The reason "Son of Sam" shot so few people with his CA 44

Mine tips the scale at 21.7 oz...

I ran a bunch of loads last Sunday. I used 200gr rnfp

I use 6.5 grn Unique under the GT 220 grn HP Bullets...

Thanks Huey! This is really helpful! Now

File that sight with heavy bullets only!!!

Got it!

I STAY WITH 6.0 UNIQUE