Stirring up a hornet nest

[tcrocker]

I picked up a 44 Ruger New Super Black Hawk now I'm looking for a rifle in 44 mag for hunting deer and hog up close 100 yds or less. I like the lever actions but was thinking a bolt gun might work better. I'm thinking a bolt gun would be lighter with less moving parts. I'm just not decided yet. What would be your thoughts on the subject?

[dh2]

Ruger does Make a bolt action in 44 Rem. Mag. If a bolt action is what you feel comfortable with why not, no matter what you are shooting at the first shoot is the one that counts , what it came out of is not important .

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I thought this thread was gonna be about a 22 Hornet :twisted:

anyway,
The marlin Leverguns (mod 1894) don't have that many more moving parts.
It is "my choice" for a big bore (pistol cartridge) rifle.

[bstone5]

I have one of the Ruger 44 mag rifles, fun to shoot and is accurate.

Purchased the rifle in the swap and selling on this site.

My wife shoots it more than I.

[tja6435]

While not a 44, I have a 77/357 and it is super fun (and cheap) to shoot. Cheaper than premium (non match) .22lr ammo for ~1000fps loads. The accuracy was pretty horrid until I shimmed the bolt, it made a world of difference---like not hitting the target at 100y to 5" groups with mid range velocity handloads. I'm sure I can bring in the groups once I have more time to dial in a load and find a couple bullets it really likes.

[altheating]

I have both, 77/357 and the 77/44. Love both of them. The 357 gets more shooting but only because it's easier on the shoulder. Both have taken deer. The 44 really hits em hard. I took one at 152 yards two years ago with it and was really impressed. You can't find a handier handling rifle than the 77/44 or 77/357. A LBT mold did the trick for accuracy in the 44. Lapping the barrel and the bolt shim helped too. Both Lyman Boolits I tried did not give me the accuracy I was looking for.

TJA6435, try the NOE 360-180 Boolit and you will be shooting golf balls at 100 and 150 yards all day long.

[wrench man]

Yep, MARLIN 1894.

[tcrocker]

I was looking at the NOE 432 265 RF 5 mold.

[EOD3]

I have one of the 77/44 rifles and like it a lot. It's short and light BUT, it doesn't like to cycle Semi-wadcutter bullets. YMMV

[Motor]

My brothers had 2, 44/77s (still have one) and they are very nice accurate rifles. My nephew has taken several whitetail with one of them. If I had to choose between the Ruger bolt or lever action it would be the 44/77 hands down.

A choice between the 44/77 and a Winchester, Marlin, or Puma etc. would be a tough choice but the 44/77 is a very nice bolt action 44 magnum.

Motor

[starmac]

Mine is winchester, but I would pick any lever over the bolt in any given caliber, I just prefer levers. I did have one of the original ruger carbines that was a fun gun. I bought it for hog hunting in Texas, but wound up through no fault of the gun never using it on hogs. At the time with factory ammo, I considered it an 80 Yd gun, just my self imposed limit, nothing really more.
If a 44 mag pump was readily available, I would have to try one, just for chits and grins.

[Moonie]

I really love the look of the Henry rifles, and they do make one in 44mag.

[3leggedturtle]

I see a lot of Rossi/Pumas 44 mag levers around for $400 or so, hard to go wrong with one of them especially if you put a peep sight on the bolt or d+t it for a side mount peep.

[El Bango]

I know a few folks are converting British SMLE's to 45ACP, don't see why the same conversion couldn't be done for a 44mag

[flint45]

I like leverguns for .44mag

[Jack Stanley]

CVA makes a nice single shot .

Jack

[Mk42gunner]

I have never held one of the Ruger 77/44's in my hands, but if they cycle smoothly and are accurate enough, that would be the way to go if you need a scope to hunt with. With practice a bolt doesn't give up much to a lever action in aimed rate of effective fire.

With lever actions, my personal opinion is the Browning B-92 is the best looking and slickest handling one. Unfortunately, they aren't made anymore, and the last one I saw sell went for well north of $700.00. If you want to put a scope on a lever, the Marlin is your best bet.

Robert

[rbuck351]

The new Pumas have scope mounts available and they weigh right at 5 lbs empty and in 44mag you should be able to find one for $400 to $500. However for under 100yds, I made a peep sight to replace the funky safety similar to the one made by Steve the Puma guy. Mine is in 454 Casull but the 44 is basically the same. The Brownings and Winchesters are prettier but they are more like $1000+

[Jack Stanley]

My Pal bought one of the blued steel and walnut Rugers last year . While it's very attractive and as accurate as it needs to be for killing deer . It does have magazine problems from time to time and has needed work to make it function right .

Jack

[Lloyd Smale]

44 belongs in a lever gun. If I want use a bolt action its going to be with something flatter shooting. 50-100yards there isn't much better (except maybe 3030) for a deer, bear, pig gun then a 94 marlin or Winchester 44 mag