This .44 Magnum, a cartridge that has inscribed its name in the history book of firearms, continues to hold modern aficionados and professionals in its thrall. Initially designed in 1955 by the combined efforts of Smith & Wesson and Remington, the .44 magnum was the most powerful commercial handgun cartridge in those times. Popularized through the acting of Clint Eastwood as “Dirty Harry,” this made a Smith & Wesson revolver an object of culture.
Elmer Keith, one of the leading developers of the .44 Magnum, had a dream, to develop a cartridge that would provide, unequivocally, the most power and performance available. His work joined forces with other frontiersmen in the creation of a round that was an instant hit with hunters and competitive shooters. The .44 Magnum provided heavy stopping power, making it an instant favorite among big game hunters and those in need of self-defense.
One of the premier bullets for the .44 Magnum is the 240-grain Hornady XTP (eXtreme Terminal Performance). A bullet is exquisitely accurate in addition to being recognized for also penetrating and expanding in a highly controlled way. Many hunters favored this specific bullet, including Larry Weishuhn, who is a professional wildlife biologist and a long-time handgun hunter. In response to this, he notes, “When it comes to ammo, handguns are like most other firearms; they can be fickle and tend to prefer one load or bullet style over others. That said, one of the most forgiving ammo I have ever run through a great number of .44 Mag revolvers is Hornady’s 240-grain XTP Custom.”
The Hornady XTP bullet features proper serrations that allow for controlled expansion at low velocities. Its gilding metal jacket does an excellent job of protecting the bullet’s nose for proper functioning and feeding in semi-automatic firearms. The swaged core contributes to uniform expansion and stability in flight. A cannelure aids in ensuring a proper crimp. On average, at 1389 fps with a standard deviation of only 3 fps, the bullet turned in an excellent performance using 23.5 grains of H110 powder. Here are the penetration and expansion numbers from the XTP: diameter of .628″, penetrated 25″ into Clear Ballistics Gel, and retained 95% of the weight. All these numbers indicate deep penetration and controlled expansion of the bullet, which is quite important when considering ethical hunting.
Now, for those more on a budget to practice with, Berry’s 240-grain Target Hollow Point provides an alternative. Plated bullets, useful mainly for target shooting, come in at a lower cost. Berry’s bullets are electroplated with copper, so no lead is exposed, and therefore deliver a consistent round. These can safely be loaded to muzzle velocities of up to 1850 fps in both revolvers and lever-action rifles.
Loading Berry’s 240-grain bullets with 23.5 grains of H110 or 9.0 grains of Titegroup powder proved well worth the time and effort. The load with the H110 developed greater speeds and noticeably increased felt recoil, but the load with Titegroup treated the shooter kindly. Both loads shot equally well, but the one shown to be particularly nice is the one that allowed long practice sessions without undue stress.
The test platform for these loads was a Ruger Bisley Hunter, fitted with an Ultradot Gen2 red dot sight. This single-action revolver with a 7.5″ tube is executed well to handle full-power Magnum loads. With the tested ammunition, this combination of loads for the Ruger revolver gives high promise for hunting and possible target shooting.
While high-capacity semi-automatic pistols are all the rage, a lot of shooters still love the revolver—one with a rich history and great performance in the .44 Magnum class. Whether in field hunting, for personal protection, or even just at the range, the .44 Magnum is an icon of American innovation and excellence.