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Posted: 8/28/2023 1:45:23 PM EDT
I found a used marlin 1894 and 44 magnum that looks to be in great shape. I’m looking for a deer rifle for the south east US and wondering if 44 magnum would be appropriate to take Whitetail or other large game? I’m sure there are some limitations to that handgun, caliber round for taking deer at Cetera. I’d love to hear anyone’s feedback on the limitations and advantages of that caliber for a lever gun.
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Posted: 8/28/2023 1:53:32 PM EDT
[#1]
A 240gr .44 Mag out of a 20" barrel is pretty respectable and plenty powerful for whitetails.
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IA, USA
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Posted: 8/28/2023 1:57:37 PM EDT
[Last Edit: OmegamanX]
[#2]
I've used the 44 magnum using a 240gr. XTP bullet in a Colt Annaconda 8" for years to hunt deer in Iowa with great success. As with any caliber of firearm shot placement is key to that success. I have not used it on any other large game, so I cannot talk of any experience in that respect.
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GA, USA
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Posted: 8/28/2023 1:59:24 PM EDT
[#3]
I am a novice hunter so take my opinion for what it is worth. But i have put a lot of reaserch into 357 mag and 357 max from a rifle leantg barrel for southeat hunting. 44 mag from a carbine should be great with two limitations. Distance and sighting options for the rifle. The 44 mag carries OK energy out to about 150 yards if I remember right. Butthe tragectory drops like crazy past 100 yards. So you really have to know your distance after about 100 yards and then know your holds. Also some of the lever guns can be tricky to mount a good scope on. Some are easy.
I hunter northeast Ga public land (unsuccessful unfortunatly) 2 winters ago. My longest shot would have been 50 yards. A lot of it would have been 25 yards. I would have been very happy to have a 16" 44 mag with a 1-4 scope on it. But i do know some areas of middle and southern Ga you get on the edge of fields and can get over 100 yards pretty easily. I dont have much access to that kind of propperty but you might. But for woods that dont have big clearings or the north ga mountian like i was in i think a 44 mag would be hard to beat. One thing is that personly i would still want a scope. I personly just dont shoot iron sights as well under stress and i like the option the use a little magnification to see tree branches and stuff. I usa simple leupold 1-4 on my 357 rifle. A lot of people use something like that on a little lever gun. But also the fixed 2.5 or even a 2-7 if you can find one. But avoid a big scope if you can |
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Posted: 8/28/2023 2:18:23 PM EDT
[Last Edit: wingsnthings]
[#4]
I've longed for one of the Ruger Deer Slayer semi autos. Either the Deer Stalker 10/44 or the Deerfield Mini 14 variant.
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Posted: 8/28/2023 2:23:29 PM EDT
[#5]
perfect for deer out of a rifle
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Posted: 8/28/2023 2:35:37 PM EDT
[#6]
i’ve killed a lot of deer with a 44mag revolver
it works well |
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Posted: 8/28/2023 2:42:15 PM EDT
[#7]
Shot several does and bucks when I resumed hunting around 2010 after a long lapse. Started with a slug gun and that was only OK. Then I had an opportunity to switch over to .44 Magnum in a classic Ruger International. This worked very well, as most of our shots here in SW MI are from 20-50 yards. However, it began to get iffy, as mentioned above, out past 100 and I held off from shooting anything over 125-150 for these reasons. Switched to .350 Legend (in 2021) in my AR and since have taken deer at all ranges from 40-221 yards. The Ruger carbine is a sweet rifle in this caliber, however. Like others above, used Hornady 240gr. XTR on all my Ruger kills. I'm likely to carry my S&W 29 with me during the coming seasons if a really close shot comes by.
 2018  Attached File2019  Attached File |
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Posted: 8/28/2023 2:54:21 PM EDT
[#8]
Sure. I've seen it work on large bodied midwestern deer so it should work fine on the dog sized deer you have in the southeast.
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OK, USA
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Posted: 8/28/2023 3:01:44 PM EDT
[#9]
I’ve taken numerous OK whitetail and CO mule deer with a 8 3/8” .41 mag. Shot placement and the correct bullet is key. I limit myself to 50 yd shots, due to open sights and old age.
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Posted: 8/28/2023 3:31:47 PM EDT
[#10]
Absolutely good for whitetails.
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Posted: 8/28/2023 3:49:03 PM EDT
[Last Edit: TxRabbitBane]
[#11]
I wouldn’t try 200y shots, but up close it’ll knock a whitetail on its ass. A guy I know loves his .44 truck gun. He kills deer with it every year.
I’ve killed deer with a .357 lever gun - it works fine too. |
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NC, USA
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Posted: 8/28/2023 4:03:57 PM EDT
[#12]
I use 44 mag out of a Cva scout cut down to 18”. I haven’t shot it at distance but it has hammered every whitetail a hundred yards and in. I’ve taken eight with it in the past five years. Great brush gun
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WV, USA
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Posted: 8/28/2023 4:15:10 PM EDT
[#13]
I used a 44 mag Winchester to kill quite a few deer and bear. Handloaded 300 grainers
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Posted: 8/28/2023 5:17:26 PM EDT
[#14]
At 50-100 yards, no problem, at 350-600 yards, I wouldn't think it is very sporting. Most shooters at 350-600 yards are likely to miss or wound and loose the animal.
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Posted: 8/28/2023 5:21:34 PM EDT
[#15]
Originally Posted By jharpphoto: I found a used marlin 1894 and 44 magnum that looks to be in great shape. I’m looking for a deer rifle for the south east US and wondering if 44 magnum would be appropriate to take Whitetail or other large game? I’m sure there are some limitations to that handgun, caliber round for taking deer at Cetera. I’d love to hear anyone’s feedback on the limitations and advantages of that caliber for a lever gun. I would definitely limit my range. I’ve taken deer with a Ruger but only in woods type situations. If my shots are going to be longer than 75-100 yards, I would choose something else. There are tons of better calibers. |
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Posted: 8/28/2023 7:58:34 PM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By osprey21: A 240gr .44 Mag out of a 20" barrel is pretty respectable and plenty powerful for whitetails.  Attached File |
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Posted: 8/28/2023 8:00:18 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Merlin]
[#17]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By wingsnthings: I've longed for one of the Ruger Deer Slayer semi autos. Either the Deer Stalker 10/44 or the Deerfield Mini 14 variant.  I do't think it had even been shot before. The bolt release paint was still pristine.   |
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Posted: 10/5/2023 8:52:15 AM EDT
[#18]
I carry a S&W 629 44 mag revolver loaded with 300 grain hardcasts. I've never used it since I always have a rifle or slug gun with me that I shoot first and they finish the job, usually Ricky-tick. I carry the 44 mag in case I need a "coup de grace" shot or in case something walks directly beneath my stand.
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Posted: 10/5/2023 12:08:24 PM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By wingsnthings: I've longed for one of the Ruger Deer Slayer semi autos. Either the Deer Stalker 10/44 or the Deerfield Mini 14 variant. My late Grandpa had a pair of the 10/44's. One for him and one for my Grandma. He shot a lot of deer with that gun. He got buck fever really bad so it didn't matter if a buck was 20 yards away or 150 yards away it was getting shot at until the gun was empty  . My two Uncle's have them now and will hopefully leave them to me (they don't have any sons) when they unfortunately pass away. I'll gladly wait a long, long time for that just so they're still around. Good guys.In short, 44 mag is a great 100 yard deer cartridge. Use with confidence. |
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Posted: 10/5/2023 12:46:17 PM EDT
[#20]
It should work well for deer 100yds or closer. I have had good luck with a 20" .357 magnum with 158gr soft points on deer in OK. It's forest land and most shots are 75 yds or less.
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Posted: 10/5/2023 12:49:22 PM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By osprey21: A 240gr .44 Mag out of a 20" barrel is pretty respectable and plenty powerful for whitetails. This. 44mag out of a carbine really does a great job on deer & hogs. Bigger_Hammer 
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USA
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Posted: 10/10/2023 5:31:21 PM EDT
[#22]
My area has a wild life "preserve" that gets over populated with whitetail. They use 22LR to thin the herd because the preserve is in the middle of a dense residential area. It is all about shot placement.
With a 44Mag (at a reasonable distance) shot placement is slightly less critical. 240gr out of 6" is serious, but out of a carbine as you describe it has plenty of juice if you know how to squeeze. |
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TUN
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Posted: 10/10/2023 5:33:52 PM EDT
[#23]
It's a great choice within 100m
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Posted: 11/3/2023 2:03:35 PM EDT
[#24]
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WV, USA
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Posted: 11/3/2023 2:26:16 PM EDT
[#25]
I used marlin 44 mag with 300gr hard cast for bear and deer with flawless.results
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Posted: 11/3/2023 2:38:22 PM EDT
[#26]
I can vouch for the 444
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Posted: 11/3/2023 2:44:20 PM EDT
[#27]
I have killed a pickup load of deer, including my biggest buck with a .44 Marlin carbine.
Tip....install a "Happy Trigger". It will make a difference. |
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USA
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Posted: 11/5/2023 12:37:52 PM EDT
[#28]
I've killed deer with a 10mm Glock 20, so I wouldn't hesitate to shot one with a 44 rifle. Just be realistic on your range.
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Posted: 11/5/2023 1:00:34 PM EDT
[#29]
Keep your max range to 100 yards and shouldn't have placement problems.
DRT with proper loads. My experience. Then I moved up to the .45-70 master race.
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Posted: 11/5/2023 1:04:39 PM EDT
[#30]
Should be good to go.
I've killed an elk with my 1894 in black timber. |
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Posted: 11/5/2023 6:48:41 PM EDT
[#31]
I have never shot anything other than paper with a .44 mag carbine. But a friend bought one of the Rugers and she let me shoot it. Holy cow, that thing has just about zero recoil for generating close to 1800ft/lbs at the muzzle. Very sweet shooting rifle.
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Posted: 11/7/2023 9:54:20 PM EDT
[#32]
I bought a Ruger 77/44 for my boys. It recoils like a .223, and ours is super accurate to 100 yards. Haven’t bothered with it past there, since almost all shots are under 100.
225 grn Barnes GR XPB HP have knocked two big whitetails stiff! Light gun to carry, little recoil, and very lethal. |
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OK, USA
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Posted: 11/14/2023 10:36:27 AM EDT
[#33]
While I haven't used a 44 mag to kill a whitetail, I killed a lot of them with 100 gr. of Triple 7 or Pyrodex and 240gr Hrdy/XTP out of a muzzle loader. Their performance is about the same.
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