Hunting Deer with the Lyman 429244

[Mark]

Has anyone here had success hunting deer with the 429244? I stumbled onto an accurate load using this bullet without gas checks (clover leaf with 6 rounds, 25 yards, multiple times-sorry no pics as I am computer ignorant). The load is 22 grains of WC820 (slow lot), Remington brass, Winchester Large Pistol primer in my 629-3 with 8 3/8" barrel. I may have to try this load during this year's deer season. The surprise came because I have mostly relagated this gun to a 900-1000 fps load only gun. I now can't recall why I set that standard.
Thanks,
mark

[NHlever]

I haven't shot a deer with that boolit yet, but I'm trying. My go to hunting load is a heavy dose of H-110 using the Lyman 429244 cast from air cooled ww. No leading, and it is quite accurate in both my Super Blackhawk, and my 94 AE carbine.

[SierraWhiskeyMC]

I've never hunted deer with a .44 Magnum, however...
E. Keith came up with the 429421 boolit (which is very similar to the 429244, but w/o a gc) and used a charge of 22gr of 2400 powder, which is a pretty hot load. Actually, the Lyman 45th Edition Reloader's Guide shows 22gr of 2400 powder with a 429244 as a max load for .44 Mag, with a velocity of 1295 fps out of a 6-1/2" Model 29.
The guide also gives a load for IMR4227, 19gr=988fps, max=25gr for 1390fps. This latter load was also their suggested accuracy load. You'd get an impressive muzzle blast with it, too.

I've never used WC820. Have you chrono'ed your load?

S&W Model 29's are beautiful pistols, but I've heard that if you run heavy loads in them you'll shoot 'em loose after awhile. I'm in no hurry to shoot my Model 29 loose, but I'm usually just punching holes in paper or clanking silhouette targets anyway.

[BOOM BOOM]

HI,
If that is the 250 gr. gc. Kieth style SWC, yes I have killed 3 deer w/ it out of a SBH.
Also 2 deer w/ it out of a 444 marlin lever action.

[Bret4207]

The profile of the 244 is similar to the 421. I see no reason the 244 wouldn't work just as well given proper shot placement and adequate velocity.

[44man]

Do not worry about the .44, any boolit with a decent meplat will slam deer. You can even make them super hard or softer.
What you want to avoid are bullets that open too fast or slow too fast like those that are too light.
No matter how many new calibers appear, the .44 is still great and always will be.

[Shuz]

Mark--My son and I have killed over 10 whitetails with 429421 down thru the years. Velocity is in the 1050 to 1100 fps area. No reason why the 429244 won't do the same. As others have said, it is very similar in profile and weight.

[JDL]

My oldest Grandson killed a 6 point, his first, last November with boolit 244. Deer was maybe 50 yards and my handload was 19 grains of WC-820 for 1528 fps out of a Marlin 1894. One shot and then Popaw schooled him on dressing out game. I don't know who was the proudest, he, his dad, or me!
JDL

[T-Bird]

I have killed several deer with the 429244. I run it 1100fps from a 61/2" mod 29-6 with 12gr. AA#5. They have worked well. The 429244 actually has a slightly larger meplat than the 429421.For some reason I have both molds. Shoot Straight, T-Bird

[Mark]

My oldest Grandson killed a 6 point, his first, last November with boolit 244. Deer was maybe 50 yards and my handload was 19 grains of WC-820 for 1528 fps out of a Marlin 1894. One shot and then Popaw schooled him on dressing out game. I don't know who was the proudest, he, his dad, or me!
JDL

Nice Deer!

Thanks for the responses. I have not chronographed this load. For what it is worth, same bullet with a gas check and 23 grains of WC820 yields 1425 fps in my 7.5 inch Blackhawk. I will chrony this load soon and report.
Mark

[anachronism]

I thought that 44s bounced off deer, & that it takes at least a 454 to cleanly take one. I think the magazine writers are lying to me again.

[XWrench3]

Well, this is my first year both casting my own, and shooting the 44 magnum. I have done several makeshift penetration tests with 44 magnum loads with cast and jacketed bullets. I have no qualms about shooting a deer with a cast from ww lead boolit anymore. My limitation is distance, and my ability (or rather disability) to shoot accuratly over 40 yards. So unless i get a lot better by november, 40 yards will be my limit.

[MTWeatherman]

Two deer with the 429244...both powered by 23 gr. H110. Both taken at about 50 yds. One with a SBH the other with a Winchester 94 trapper. Both medium sized does and standing when hit...both bolted when hit and as I remember, the bullet left about a 1.5 inch exit hole.

SBH...alloy straight WW. Hit low in lungs. Deer made it 50 to 75 yds and collapsed.

Winchester...Quenched 50/50 alloy. Hit in upper portion of heart. Deer down in less than 100 feet with massive blood trail. Heart was shredded.

I consider that experience too limited for a credible testimonial. However, for medium sized game...and even larger due to the 260 gr. bullet weight (my mould) the 429244 in theory would be hard to significantly improve upon. It's got a good sized meplat as a hunting bullet and that gas check allows it to handle the higher velocities of a rifle. Some prefer heavier bullets and some of them do indeed have larger meplats. But trust me, that Lyman will provide all the penetration you need. Most of the energy from those two deer I shot was likely expended on the hillside.

[Glen]

I've got a buddy over on the westside of the state that has used the 429244 SWC extensively and has taken a couple dozen deer (blacktail) and about 10-12 elk with it. He is very pleased with its performance.