.44 Magnum for Elk

[dbfoerster]

Thinking of using my .44 this year for elk. The place I go is mostly close range shooting, 100 yards or less. I have a Ruger Super Red Hawk with a 7.5" barrel and a Burris 2x-7x scope. Loading some rounds with 1500+ fps 240gr hp. I will probable bring another gun with me, 30-06, but like the idea of carrying a lighter and smaller gun. Ok, let me know what you think. Good experiances, bad experiances.

[theGinsue]

Moe power to you if you can pull it off, just remember that it's all about taking the ethical shot. If you don't feel that you can get a kill shot with the handgun, I wouldn't take it.

Plus, When I'm big game hunting I have enough to carry already without carrying a handgun too.

[CapLock]

I have the same gun with a different scope. If I were going after elk I'd want to step up to a 300 grain bullet. You can load them almost 1,400 fps range in the super red hawk. Faster if its a cast bullet with gas check.
I'd save the 240 jhp for deer hunting.

[SA Friday]

300gr XTP or 250 gr Nosler Partition. I would take the 300gr as first choice though. 2-7x is ok, but you are really limited to aprx 100 yds for acceptable killing range with that pistol. I doubt you will need any mag past 4x.

H110 and Win 296 (2 of the more commonly used for 44 mag, so I'm doing a little assuming here) can be temp sensitive and lose some power with colder temps, so make sure to chrono and group check the ammo in colder weather too.

[dbfoerster]

Thanks for the info. I am using H110 and I will look up recipes with 300 gr. Not worried about the wieght, because I have a nice holster that hangs right in front and actually offsets some of the backpack weight.

[Sixgun]

I carry a 45LC with me, along with my 45/70. If I'm with-in 25yrds and my gun is in my hand, I'm using it. I would never go onto the woods with a pistol only. If I did, that's the day the herd bull is 200yrds away. You know it will happen to you also.

[cowboykjohnson]

Certainly do able, just make sure you can place a good shot!

[dbfoerster]

Looked up several recipes and couldn't find any that had the velocity of the 300 gr more than 1325 fps. Is it better to have higher velocity or heavier projectile or somewhere in the middle?

I don't think I will carry both rifle and pistol at the same time, but have them both during the trip. The area I hunt is pretty wooded so long shots are rare. If it doesn't work out, it wouldn't be the first time I came home empty handed. I'm ok with that. Just wanting to try something different. And if I am not confident about a shot (too far, ect.) then I won't take it.

[SA Friday]

OK, have a seat and prepare for some general algebra and physics .

Ke= M(V)2/450435 ft/lbs
300gr bullet at 1325fps is 1169.3 ft/lbs of Ke
240gr bullet at 1500fps is 1198.8 ft/lbs of Ke

Momentum is different.

M=M(V)/1000

300gr bullet at 1325fps is 397.5 power factor.
240gr bullet at 1500fps is 360.0 power factor.

Now, bullet drop:

300gr Hornady XTP bullet at 1325fps at 100yds (I fudged the rest of the variables for a cold day in the mountains) is aprx 3.7"
240gr XTP bullet at 1500fps at 100yds is 3.2"
(ballistics courtsey of http://www.jbmballistics.com/ballist...culators.shtml)

So, you gain half an inch of drop over 100 yds and about 30 ft/lbs of Ke with the 240gr bullet, but you lose 37.5 pf of momentum. FWIW, take the momentum in the trade off in this one. The other two are virtually nothing in comparison. Momentum is going to get that bullet deep into or through the elk. Not a ton of difference overall, but I would still go with the 300gr for the extra punch.

[spencerhenry]

redhawk, over 1200 fps with a 300gr????
not sure what manual you are looking in, but sierra lists 1100 as max, hornady i think is 1200. remember, if you are looking at ballistics for a barrel longer than what you shoot, the numbers will not be the same. i loaded some 300gr hard cast a few years ago and was getting 1300fps out of them, according to all my manuals i was over max by velocity. i would also think that 100yds with that bullet or even a 240 would be OK only if the shot was perfectly in the rib cage and did NOT hit a shoulder or other large bone. i killed a cow elk several years ago with my 475 wildey. 400gr bullet at around 900 or so fps, at 25 yds in the rib cage, it did NOT exit. it did the job but only minimally. if i were after elk with a 44mag, i personally would keep the range to about 50yds or less.