Hunting w/ 44 Mag cast bullets

[mbradst]

Anyone here hunt deer or similar sized game with cast? I just got a 44 to hopefully hunt with in the fall if time allows. Does anyone here hunt with cast? I know people do, but most of what I see are those hunting with gaschecked bullets that cost as much as jacketed. I would like to be able to practice a lot with what I am going to hunt with. Besides, have you tried to find JHP's for the 44? Darn near impossible.

[Crazy4nitro]

Dude I shoot Cast WW's with Full Charges of H110 and I get no Leading.
I Imagine that a .44Mag with a SWC Screaming at Full Power would Take the will out of Most anything you want....within reason.

'Nitro

[cohutt]

browse over at cast boolits - they have a dedicated forum to hunting with cb's.

the short answer is "yes"

[mbradst]

I didn't even think to look over there. Thanks guys.

[craig110]

..

[zdogk9]

I use a .45 Colt, 250 gr. SWC @ about 900-1000 fps. Deer seem to just fall over when hit with this, can't imagine that the same in a .44 Mag would act otherwise.

[Mogollon]

I can confirm that a 300 grain hardcast swc wil shut down a 200 lb hog at about 35 yards, when shot in the shoulder. Nose down, plowed dirt about 15 feet, and stopped. A full charge of 2400.

[mbradst]

Thanks guys. I got everything together tonight and started working up some loads in 10 round batches. I am using 240 grain Smashers from Missouri Bullet Company, they are the round nose flat point design. They look like they could really break some bones. I am loading them up with some 2400 starting at 18.5 and working up in .5 increments up to 21 grains, maybe farther depending on leading, accuracy, and any pressure signs I may find. Published data I have shows an average around 20.8-21. I have seen many loads higher than this that are only for Rugers, BFR's, FA's, and T/C. I am not sure that I would gain anything by going above these levels as I only plan on hunting whitetail.

I will be looking at accuracy at 25 yards with iron sights and when I find what may be a sweet spot I will try out my red dot on it. If I can hold good groups with the red dot, I will back it up and see what I can do at farther distances. Hopefully the weather will hold out for the next few weeks so I can get out and stretch the Redhawk's legs.

I just bought a front rifle rest/pistol rest for sighting in. I have never used one before because all I have ever hunted with was shotgun/bow and never felt the need to use one. Any pointers?

[JLarsson]

Thanks guys. I got everything together tonight and started working up some loads in 10 round batches. I am using 240 grain Smashers from Missouri Bullet Company, they are the round nose flat point design. They look like they could really break some bones. I am loading them up with some 2400 starting at 18.5 and working up in .5 increments up to 21 grains, maybe farther depending on leading, accuracy, and any pressure signs I may find. Published data I have shows an average around 20.8-21. I have seen many loads higher than this that are only for Rugers, BFR's, FA's, and T/C. I am not sure that I would gain anything by going above these levels as I only plan on hunting whitetail.

I will be looking at accuracy at 25 yards with iron sights and when I find what may be a sweet spot I will try out my red dot on it. If I can hold good groups with the red dot, I will back it up and see what I can do at farther distances. Hopefully the weather will hold out for the next few weeks so I can get out and stretch the Redhawk's legs.

I just bought a front rifle rest/pistol rest for sighting in. I have never used one before because all I have ever hunted with was shotgun/bow and never felt the need to use one. Any pointers?

I wouldn't rest the barrel on the rest, but I would rest the front of the frame on it. Whatever you do, make sure everything there can hold up to the escaping gases from the barrel/cylinder gap. There's a lot of energy being directed out there and it can do things like rip out seams in your sand bag if you use one. DAMHIKT

[mbradst]

I wouldn't rest the barrel on the rest, but I would rest the front of the frame on it. Whatever you do, make sure everything there can hold up to the escaping gases from the barrel/cylinder gap. There's a lot of energy being directed out there and it can do things like rip out seams in your sand bag if you use one. DAMHIKT

This is what I got.

http://www.mtmcase-gard.com/products/shooting/front_rifle_rest.html

I was actually thinking about that while I was putting it together tonight. It is one of the cheap MTM's. Cabela's had it for 19.99. It was cheap but I think it will work well, I have read lots of good reviews on it. You can raise the cradle on it and I am able to rest my hand on the rubber padding begind it.I was trying different rest points on it and found that I could get it pretty consistent with sort of wedging the barrel lug into the crease on the rest. I figure I will have to mess around a bit to get a repeatable rest.

[JLarsson]

That ought to work. If you use the rest to sight in, and not just for checking group sizes, I wouldn't assume that POI from the rest is the same as from field positions. It may be, but I would verify for sure. What kind of .44 do you have, or did I miss that somewhere?

[mbradst]

I just got a 7 1/2" Redhawk. It is hitting a little left for me right now with the factory loads I got in the trade, but grouping pretty well for me off-hand. I am really just wanting to get a decent load that will group decently with the iron sights and then try the red dot in different situations/angles. I was planning on taking my climbing tree stand out when I get the sights where I want them. I may take a small pop-up blind to try out as well.

If I do some stalking or blind hunting, do you have a preference on shooting sticks? I have never handgun hunted before so any tips are welcome.

[JLarsson]

I do like the Stony Point shooting sticks. They make sizes that work for sitting/kneeling or for standing. Improvising a rest in the field can be half the fun, but before I used the shooting sticks I'd take a short length of denim pant leg, sew one end shut, fill it with corncob media (it's light!) and then sew the other end shut. It would hold up for awhile, it's cheap, and you don't blow holes in your pack that way. :)

[mbradst]

Great suggestions. Thanks.

[Blackdog]

I also have a 7.5" Super Redhawk in 44mag. First time I shot it on a cordura bag, it gas-cut some 3" holes like a hot knife. After that, I shoot it with only the grip butt supported, and I get good accuracy out to 100 yds (the extreme limit for this caliber on deer sized game IMHO). I have been shooting Hornady XTP's, but have some cast gas checked 240 gr SWC's I'm gonna try real soon.

BD