Loads for small game - 44 Special

[am44mag]

The cottontail population in our area is starting to get a little too big, the darn things are everywhere. When rabbit season rolls around in October, I think I'm going to give hunting them a try. I had originally thought of using my 4" Colt Army Special in 38 Special to hunt them, but my 6" S&W 629 is far more accurate and has sights that are light years ahead of the old Colt's. I'm thinking a light 44 Special load would be ok for small game like that. Maybe a 200gr Lee RF, or a 214gr Lee SWC at about 650 FPS? What do you guys think?

[DougGuy]

650fps sounds like a lot of sooty cases. Shoot what groups well, I'd go for accuracy over velocity.

[Abert Rim]

I'm with Doug. I've had good results punching paper with that Lee 429-200 RF at 800-850.

[RED BEAR]

I really like the lee 200 you might try a round ball too. I size down a 440 round ball and they are surprising accurate.

[Duckiller]

I would hunt them with a 22LR, either rifle and/or hand gun. A lot less damaged meat and 22s are cheap again.

[brewer12345]

Accuracy matters far more than size of slug and the speed at which it is going. When you are punching a 43 caliber hole in a bunny, anything that can connect will do.

[Walks]

Lyman #429478/210gr RN over 3.8grs of TiteGroup. Worked for Cowboy Shooting. Tumbles Jack's very well.
Low Pressure/Low Recoil

Or for something a bit harder hitting a Saeco; #944/200gr W/C over 4.5grs of HP38. A bit more recoil & pressure. Head shots are advised with this one.

Both accurate .44Spl loads.

[DeputyDuke]

Having shot cottontails right through the chest with both .45 acp and 44 spl I can unequivocally recommend the classic 246 gr. round nose with 5 grains of Bullseye. I think mine is the 429383.
Duke

[am44mag]

.22 is an option, but this will be good practice for hunting with my 629. Plus, 44 special is just more fun to me.

The main thing I was worried about with the velocity was excessive meat damage. I'll see about trying some of the recommended loads. I have an old Lee 240gr RN lying around somewhere, so that might be a good substitute for the 429383. I'll play around with it and see what kind of accuracy I can get.

Thanks fellas.

[Tripplebeards]

Here’s a rabbit I dispatched at a 136 yards with my Ruger 77/44. I was a load of 21 grains of H110 along with a PC’d and GC’d Lyman devastator. Alloy was ac COWW and 2% pewter. Muzzle velocity was around 1750 FPS if I remember.

[brewer12345]

Tripplebeards photo is right with a full magnum load. I have shot various small game with 38 special in rifle and handgun and it is efficient and nowhere near as messy. Keep it under 1000 FPS and you get a non-expanding caliber sized hole straight through with minimal meat damage.

[1bluehorse]

If you want to "practice" with your 629 go shoot some targets at different distances. If you want to hunt rabbits to eat (which is why you should shoot them) then use a 22LR or a 410. If you just want to kill them, gut and skin at the same time then go ahead with your plans, just don't call it hunting, that's killing. Any game animal, and a cottontail rabbit is a game animal, it deserves more respect than the "hold my beer" attitude.

[brewer12345]

Like I said, keep it under 1000 fps and you get a clean kill and minimal meat loss.

[Silvercreek Farmer]

TB's favorite pic, lol! The saddle may have been lost, but the legs are still good! Eat right up to the hole!

Here’s a rabbit I dispatched at a 136 yards with my Ruger 77/44. I was a load of 21 grains of H110 along with a PC’d and GC’d Lyman devastator. Alloy was ac COWW and 2% pewter. Muzzle velocity was around 1750 FPS if I remember.

[iamdrglass]

That is not completely accurate. I have shot several jacks with 7.5 grns of unique and the 429421 lad. it clocks 950 out of my 4 5/8 sbh. It puts a .430-.431 hole in onside and barley bigger out the other. It does a lot less damage to the meat than most .22rf hollow points. In .22rf rn I will lose more than I find if not hit in the head.
The .357 rifle with lee 158rnfp loaded with 5gns of BE has the same affect. 30/30 loaded same way same affect. oh and jack rabbit makes really fine street tacos.

[brewer12345]

That is not completely accurate. I have shot several jacks with 7.5 grns of unique and the 429421 lad. it clocks 950 out of my 4 5/8 sbh. It puts a .430-.431 hole in onside and barley bigger out the other. It does a lot less damage to the meat than most .22rf hollow points. In .22rf rn I will lose more than I find if not hit in the head.
The .357 rifle with lee 158rnfp loaded with 5gns of BE has the same affect. 30/30 loaded same way same affect. oh and jack rabbit makes really fine street tacos.

357 rifle with a 158 grain rnfp in 38 brass over 4 grains of hp38 is a sweet small game load. .36 hole going in and going out. I have done far more damage to game with a 22 hp (even in short form). 44 special class load should be about the same. I may also try using my 50 cal muzzleloader with a round ball and a greatly reduced powder charge if I can get accuracy down there.

[Conditor22]

If you shoot harder boolits you're more likely to punch round holes through them

[megasupermagnum]

I'd be looking at a RN, like the Lee 240 grain round nose. No need to risk a stuck bullet looking for ultra slow velocity. 44 special load data shows starting loads in the 750 fps range, max in the 825 fps range. Pick the most accurate combo. A round nose at those speeds will just pencil through, little damage.

[dkf]

Pick up some 175gr Himmelwright WCs from Matts bullets and load them for accuracy with a faster pistol powder.

[bluejay75]

Make sure its a hard boolit. I near filleted a raccoon with a 240 XTP.