Best brush gun

[BR549]

A .44 mag factory load 240gr jacketed hollowpoint average velocity is around 1760fps. That equates to 1651 ft.lbs. of energy at the muzzle.

A 30-30 shooting Hornady's 160gr FTX bullet has a muzzle velocity of 2400fps. That equates to 2047 ft.lbs. of energy! Big difference!

One thing I've learned from handloading is this, thanks to your handloading info BR..is You can take a 125 g hollow point and shoot our peice of steel and it will rock it about 8 inches..then you can take a 158 grain hollow point and shoot the same steel and it will spin it 3 or 4 times completly and almost take it out of the ground. Even though the the 125 has more muzzle energy and is moving alot faster. if you hit a bone in a deer, you cant tell me it wouldnt make a big difference with the heavier slow moving bullet verses the faster lighter bullet

This data is out of my 357 loading..

Well that's somewhat true but in your loads you are only talking maybe a 100fps difference tops! In the 2 loads we were comparing here you talking nearly 700fps difference. Remember velocity x velocity x weight of bullet divided by 450240 = energy in foot pounds. At your pistol plinkin ranges you won't see the difference as much as you would in a hunting situation say at 70 to 80 yds. Your load will fall off so much faster. Heavier and slower is not always better in some situations. Sometimes it does have it's advantages though. Quite often you can overcome energy with velocity!

[DanP]

My favorite woods gun is a Ruger 44 carbine with 240 grain Keith semi-wad cutters. Not saying its the most deadly, just my favorite.

[BR549]

A .44 mag factory load 240gr jacketed hollowpoint average velocity is around 1760fps. That equates to 1651 ft.lbs. of energy at the muzzle.

A 30-30 shooting Hornady's 160gr FTX bullet has a muzzle velocity of 2400fps. That equates to 2047 ft.lbs. of energy! Big difference!

One thing I've learned from handloading is this, thanks to your handloading info BR..is You can take a 125 g hollow point and shoot our peice of steel and it will rock it about 8 inches..then you can take a 158 grain hollow point and shoot the same steel and it will spin it 3 or 4 times completly and almost take it out of the ground. Even though the the 125 has more muzzle energy and is moving alot faster. if you hit a bone in a deer, you cant tell me it wouldnt make a big difference with the heavier slow moving bullet verses the faster lighter bullet

This data is out of my 357 loading..

Well that's somewhat true but in your loads you are only talking maybe a 100fps difference tops! In the 2 loads we were comparing here you talking nearly 700fps difference. Remember velocity x velocity x weight of bullet divided by 450240 = energy in foot pounds. At your pistol plinkin ranges you won't see the difference as much as you would in a hunting situation say at 70 to 80 yds. Your load will fall off so much faster. Heavier and slower is not always better in some situations. Sometimes it does have it's advantages though. Quite often you can overcome energy with velocity!

You know Buckwabit it got me to thinking I had dug out my load data after we talked the other day. While the average load on .357 w/125gr. chunk is around 1500fps and 625ft.lbs. I had some 125 loads turning up in 1950 to 1960 range with an energy of 1055ft.lbs.
The best load I could ever come up with for the 158gr was M/V 1600 and energy of 900 ft.lbs. Showing some signs of pressure problems there too! But most 158 gr loads average around 1350 to 1400fps. Which is about 665 ft.lbs. Call me back sometimes and I will give you those loads.

While you are seeing what you think is a lot of difference on your tins it's really not that much. But you can really build a more powerful load for the .357 with a lighter bullet!

[MSDawg870]

.444 Marlin Lever Action

[uncleC]

Browning Auto 5 with fully rifled Hastings slug barrel topped with a Nikon Slughunter 1.5-5x32mm......

[Buckwabit]

Browning Auto 5 with fully rifled Hastings slug barrel topped with a Nikon Slughunter 1.5-5x32mm......

I thought about that too but when I checked the price I'll have to stick with the 30/30. I can buy a 30/30 for under $400. The rifles barrel for with my BPS or A5 is $475 or more

[uncleC]

Don't know if you're interested... there was a 12 guage, 24" fully rifled, cantilevered, Hastings barrel with a factory muzzle brake for a BPS listed in shotgun parts on Gunbroker.com yesterday....looked like new and the guy had the box...bid was $120 and "buy now" price of $165....

[chevy01234]

Haven't shot a deer with it yet but would not hesitate to shoot one out to 100yds! Ruger 44 mag Carbine like DanP mentioned. I shoot 240gr JHP though out of mine. Need to get some of those Keith Bullets loaded up!

[Buckwabit]

What does somthing like that Run Jody??? Pricewise....

[DanP]

$375 and up depending on condition.

What does somthing like that Run Jody??? Pricewise....

[chevy01234]

I have seen some sell online from $350 to well over $1000. I paid $400 for mine, I believe. Mine has the tubular magazine rather than the detachable rotary mag. They are somewhat rare but some folks get crazy with their pricing!

[Buckwabit]

Do they still make them new or do you have to find them used?

[chevy01234]

They do not make them anymore! I wish they would bring them back, awesome little rifles.

[Buckwabit]

I'll have to look this summer. I like that option the best so far

[chevy01234]

I believe Ruger still makes the Model 96 which is a lever action model of the carbine in 44 mag. May be another one to look into.