Find something with a hornady xtp loaded in it. I have always had great luck with them expanding in every caliber I have tested. It's my go to in about everything handgun cartridge chambered.

Yes he was a sell out but he is dead. They now make 25 round factory mags for the 10 22 and even suppressors among other thing Bill would not have done. It's no longer the same company.

But I understand how you feel. I have refused to buy anything from Smith and Wesson since they were going to work with the Clinton administration on gun control crap back in the 90s. I think they have been bought and sold maybe more than once since then. But I still don't own one.

It would appear that you have some pretty high standards if that is the case.
Have you shot many deer with a 44 magnum carbine?
Granted, the practical range for whitetails is within 150 yards, but if you can do your part, that round will clearly do its part in my experience.

I have the Ruger .44 purchased in the mid 80's. I have only shot 1 deer and a bear with it, however my s-i-l has used it extensively. She has taken 6 very nice bucks with it along with 2 bear, one almost #300. We have always fed it Federal ammo in the 240 grain offering.

Are they a deer machine?, probably not. Then again all her shots were under 75 yards and nothing ever went over 100 yards after being shot. We put a red dot on it last year and she really likes that. She will be going after bear #3 this fall.

WS

I don’t feel a 30-30 is a deer rifle either. I heard hundreds of stories of deer and bear killed with marginal cartridges. They are popular stories !

The stories of the animals not recovered are just as plentiful. But seldom repeated !

So a 44 mag is bad medicine in a hunting revolver, but so-so in a rifle?....ok, sure...

If the .44 isn’t a deer rifle, then try it in the swamps on hogs. Granted, all my shots as a kid were all less than 100yds, most likely less than 75yds. If they didn’t drop on the spot, they left a great learning blood trail. That peep sight was the bomb! Someone mentioned a red dot and now you got me thinking that would’ve been the ticket back in the day!

Good close range gun.

Mine works good, hornady cartridges are way better than the old Remington shells. I have some reloads that Gerry made me I haven’t tried em yet. This gun works just as good as a cannon if you aim it.

Cool rifles. Known a couple friends and family who used them as their "swamp guns" where you couldn't shoot over 100 yds if you wanted to. The ones I handled and shot weren't tack drivers but definitely minute of deer. Peep or a low power scope they were bad news on deer.

All the ones I've been around were old and well used/abused and had cycling issues. From the guys who owned them, they said they functioned well new, but once they got worn they had issues. Otherwise, I agree with whoever up above said to use something loaded with XTP bullets. I've had excellent luck with 240 XTPS.

2poor, I would argue with you on the 30/30 being a good bear gun. I own and use a 45/70 but I've killed a few bear with the 30/30 and 32 special and have seen a ton shot with them. In my opinion they are an excellent bear rifle. Now bear in mind that I am dog hunting, all shots are at close range, the shots I usually take are under 10 feet. So a short, handy rifle that is easy to pack through the brush and quick and easy to operate is paramount. They are obviously not a long range rifle, but under the conditions I hunt they fit the bill nicely, and they are very effective.

I didn’t say the 30-30 wasn’t a Bear rifle. It’s fine in the conditions you mentioned. Over bait it would get you an exit wound a very important component.

I use a .243 on black bears, 200 yard max. A .30-30 is more than adequate under the same circumstances. I’ve even shot a few with 5.56/.223, more of a deer gun but if you focus on the first 2 vertebrae below the skull, they roll right over

Couldn't help but notice that you didn't answer my question.

52Carl , yes I shot deer with a .44. I personally felt the cartridge performance was dismal. Concept sounded good at the time.

I want my deer to spin 180 degrees and drop into a pile. True deer rifles perform like that in my opinion. I don’t want a blood trail, I want a puddle.

Anybody have the stock crack? I have my dad's carbine and the stock cracked the last time I shot it. Was told it was a common problem with them.

Yes - stock cracked on ours. We lost one deer with it out of dozens. Poor shot placement - gut shot. We got very good blood trails on most we shot - and short blood trails for the most part. Over the forty years we have used ours - me and my family, it has killed more deer than any other single weapon except my bow. If you are having difficulty killing deer with this rifle under 100 yards - you need to spend a little more time at the shooting bench and hone your shooting skills.

I had a master Woodsmith Repair the stock on mine

I use hollow points that open up to double the diameter of the bullet like a star. I do my part and they go in a pile right there. More times than not I find the bullet just under the skin on the opposite side which means that the deer received the entire energy of the round rather than just a portion of it like with a clean passthrough shot.

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