comparing a couple options, in deer rifle carbines

[Grumpy]

I was asked if buying a ruger model 77 bolt action, in 44 mag for deer hunting was a good idea?
I looked up the rifles price and compared it to one of my favorite deer rifles

you calculate a rifles power with this formula
bullet weight in grains x velocity in fps x velocity in fps/ 450240.
your typical 44 mag carbine throws a 240 grain bullet at about 1650 fps from a carbine (1540 ft lbs at the muzzle)

Thread '358 win related (one of the more effective cartridge choices in my experience)'

Sep 10, 2022

two of the most effective cartridge choices I've used and two of the favorite cartridges,
used by several of the guys I've hunted with for decades use
are the browning BLR in 358 win, and the 35 Whelen , cartridge,
chambered in the Remington 7600 slide action and the Remington and Ruger bolt actions.
having a decent bi-pod and sling and quality scope on your hunting rifle so you can shoot accurately from a seated position helps a great deal.
ONE CRITICAL SKILL ALMOST ALL SUCCESSFUL HUNTERS MASTER.
IS UNDERSTANDING THE STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS OF THE WEAPONS THEY...

• Grumpy
• Replies: 1
• Forum: rifle related

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ruger.com

list price $1239 (this is at best about a 150 yard effective range rifle)

BLR - Lever-Action Centerfire Rifles - Browning

Accurate, quick-handling, easy carrying lever-action rifles in magnum calibers.

www.browning.com

list price about $1000-to-$1279 for stainless
(this is at least about a 300 yard effective range rifle)
your typical 358 win carbine throws a 225 grain bullet at about 2450 fps from a carbine (2999 ft lbs at the muzzle)

honestly for the price, vs performance I think the 358 win, or 308 win, BLR, in any configuration has a HUGE ADVANTAGE
yes there's hundreds of other options' but I was asked specifically about that ruger bolt action, in 44 mag,
while that ruger 44 mag bolt actions a nice carbine, it's basically a niche option, there are much more versatile options.

yes both the ruger bolt action rifles and the browning BLR are available in many other cartridge chamberings ,
as both are chambered in 300 win mag, 30/06, 270 win etc.

44 mag reload info

the 44 spc is over 115 years old its designed in 1907, to accurately throw a 240 grain bullet at about 760 fps from a 6"-7.5" original, barrel length revolver, with a max pressure level of 15,000 psi,thus its a bit less powerful in original factory loaded form that the more common originally...

garage.grumpysperformance.com

 

[Grumpy]

I found this video rather interesting, I've used a marlin 1894 lever action in 44 mag for decades,
loaded with the lee 310 grain hard cast bullet over 21 grains of H110 powder,
it's certainly accurate and lethal on hogs and deer out to about 150 yards.
I used to own a ruger 44 mag semi auto like in the video, but accuracy was very inconsistent,
at least in the carbie I owned! most of my friends own a marlin or winchester 30/30, I just never,
saw anything that impressed me or made me think it had any advantage over the 44 mag marlin lever guns
what I did see was that the marlin 1895 in 444 marlin or 45/70 had a very obvious advantage, so I eventually
bought and used both, but I found that the browning BLR in calibers like,
30/06, 358 win and 450 marlin were even better in my opinion, so if you care to skip a few decades of learning,
through trial and error and rifle swapping , grab a BLR in one of those calibers to start!
(which cartridge, you may want, depends mostly on the game and terrain you'll hunt)
one of my late hunting partners bought a BLR in 358 win and never saw any reason to swap
btw, a 250 grain speer bullet, over 44 grains of imr 4064 works in most 358 blr carbines

 

[rlphvac]

I have a Ruger 96 lever action carbine length 44 mag that I keep threatening to use and practice with it to get ready but have never gotten around to using it for one reason or another as far as range goes it wouldnt be a disadvantage using it in my stand I've never took a shot over 100 yards and I've got 9 deer in 12 years hunting there hopefully I will use it some day

 

[Grumpy]

those ruger lever action 44 mag carbines are rather RARE from what I've seen, I've only seen one in the last decade or so,
but they look like they were well built. (I probably would have bought one if I saw one)
I owned a ruger 44 mag semi auto for a few years,

but one of the guys I used to hunt with in FLORIDA, just had to have it,
enough that he paid a considerable sum over what I had paid for mine, so it went out the door!
there was not much wrong, it functioned ok, with factory ammo, but I never got it to shoot better than about a 3" 100 yard group.
now you can certainly fill your freezer with that rifle but its just not like a BLR, in some caliber like 257 roberts or 270 win, or 308 win.
so personally having developed an affinity for BLR rifles I sold mine and used it as a significant down payment on a 30/06 BLR.
(resulting in much longer range and much better average accuracy.. especially with 165 grain bullets)

 

[Grumpy]

 

[Grumpy]

BROWNING BLR

 

[rlphvac]

I got that 96 in a trade with my buddy who owned a gun store I traded a Colt AR =22 that I had nothing but problems with for it I let my buddy know about it but he still wanted it so we both were happy but I still think I got the better end of the deal

 

[rlphvac]

For a hunting rifle I would choose a 30/06 over a 44 mag every time

 

[Grumpy]

 

[Grumpy]