Going to use a .44 rifle this season for the first time. 1> what's the best round's for deer hunting ? How far of range will a .44 have to make a clean kill. Thanks for any info.
Charlie

Charlie - we have used the .44 for the past 6-7 years. Here is my opinion on your two questions:

1. We use Hornady Leverevolution 225 gr FTX exclusively. It flat puts a smack down on a deer

2. I would not hesitate to shoot or let Luke out to 125 yards.

1. With my 44 mag it just depended on the ammunition. We went through many brands before I found the perfect round. I use American Eagle Federals and it's heavy devastation and puts the smack down on a deer just like the hornadys.
2. 100-125 yrds

Thanks

100-125 yds for me. it is a hammer on deer. I use this round.

x2

Finished of a buddies buck that went over 100yds after a well placed Leverloution load with Winchesters.
No 44 round I have found is as devastating as a 12 ga slug, although I would like to find one.
If I am hunting around other hunters, near a property line or water my 44 doesn't get invited.

I will second that. Drilled a doe in the boiler room with this round last season. I watched her run about 150 to 200yds then tip over in an open field. This might have been disastrous is she went over the wrong property line or into a thicket.

A lightfield 12 ga slug would have anchored her in place....just saying... Accuracy is about the same in a rifled slug gun too.

Well I shot my first deer last year, which was a doe, and I shot her through one lung and sadly through the guts from how she was angling. But anyhow, with using my Rossi 44 magnum rifle and the American Eagle Federal bullets they dropped her after she ran about 50-70 yards. And I remember while gutting her ...Zeb asked me if I had lit a bomb off in the deer so yes they put the smack down no matter what!!

I drop them in their tracks with mine

My dad and I have dabbled with several. Had a couple issues with the leverolution rds and went to the buffalo bore ammo flatnose. A lot heavier and a lot more knock down, IMO. But they are expensive and harder to find.

Luke you don't always drop them in their tracks because didn't the buck you shot last year run a far ways into the woods??

h.h.

BUSTED.... I would say it did go 20 yards.

I shoot 225 gr LeveEevolution in my rifle and 210gr Win ballistic silver tips in my pistol and have killed deer with both. One doe at 108yds w rifle hit up under spine and dropped her on the spot, but most deer run about like they do with a ML. 40-80 yes w decent blood trails so far in my experience. Most factory loads are geared up for pistols and are limited to 100 yards give or take. You can hand load some geared for longer bbl slower burn powders and extend the range some, but if yourooking for long distance shooting a ML tweAked for it is a better choice.

Charlie hope you had good luck with your .44 Magnum.
I've been using a .44 magnum on deer since Indiana legalized handguns. At that time, I'd stocked up on 250 grain Winchester premium partition golds. It was a Nosler partition bullet that worked great on deer. For the past 5 years or so I've been using my hand loads, a 240 grain Hornady XTP bullet over 20 grains of 2400 powder. They work very well also.