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Henry .44 magnum big boy carbine loads for hunting
Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2023 10:03 pm
by shooter1
Since PA allows straight walled case rifles for deer in shotgun areas, I worked up a very cool load for my .44 Magnum.I tried several powders but settled on 23.5 gr of IMR 4227 in Hornady cases ,cci LP primers ,240 GR xtp bullets, oal 1.61 with a light crimp in the cannelure. 3 shot groups at 50 yds are all touching. MV 1650 FPS. 2.58 drop at 100 yds . I'll see how they perform on deer in a couple of months.I spoke with the folks at Henry and they recomended no heavier than the 240 gr bullet in my rifle. Sounds like I have a winner. Using Bushnell 1 1/2- 4 power scope.
Re: Henry .44 magnum big boy carbine loads for hunting
Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2023 8:16 am
by Vaquero
Sounds like a winner, hope you get to connect with a nice one.
I shoot some heavy 300+ grain cast through my BBB and I haven't done enough testing to settle on a load just yet.
Waiting on a little cooler weather.
RP
Re: Henry .44 magnum big boy carbine loads for hunting
Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2023 6:45 pm
by Bill.68
Might I inquire as to why Henry cautioned against any bullets heavier than 240gr? Do you have a 1:38 tube? Even so when I had the old 1:38 on mine I reqularly used 270's and they shot as well as anything else, which is to say not good, but they definitely stabalised fine, as good as 240's. That barrel wouldnt shoot ANYTHING well which is why I finally had it replaced with a 1:20. No, I dont mean a 1:38 wont shoot well, just that the barrel on mine, which happened to be a 1:38, wouldnt. Im sure for other reasons unbeknownst to me
Re: Henry .44 magnum big boy carbine loads for hunting
Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2023 8:25 pm
by Vaquero
The 1:20 twist is to help stabilize the heavier bullets. Henry replaced my ⁴ barrel a couple years ago and I haven't shot it much.
But, I was messing around a few weeks ago with some of those 310s.

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RP
Re: Henry .44 magnum big boy carbine loads for hunting
Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2023 4:01 pm
by Pitchman1968
Vaquero,
Mighty fine shooting, especially with factory installed iron sights.
Re: Henry .44 magnum big boy carbine loads for hunting
Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2023 6:44 pm
by Vaquero
Pitchman1968 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 04, 2023 4:01 pm
Vaquero,
Mighty fine shooting, especially with factory installed iron sights.
Thank you.
RP