The iconic .44 Magnum cartridge will never go obsolete.
This great cartridge just improves with age.
The .44 Magnum was born when the late great Elmer Keith needed more power from a revolver. When loaded hot, this cartridge will take down any big-game animal in North America with a well-placed shot.
While big-bore cartridges keep getting bigger, the .44 Magnum holds its place as the Goldilocks of hunting calibers.
1. It offers hunting rifles knockdown power and accuracy.
In the past, rifles chambered for the .44 Magnum cartridge often produced poor groups. Modern rifles such as the above Henry Arms Color Case Hardened Big Boy Lever-Action Rifle in the iconic .44 Magnum caliber have proven this notion false. What could be a better deer or hog rifle? The speed and accuracy the .44 Magnum cartridge has from a long barrel length is quite impressive.
2. Modern ammunition is more accurate and powerful than ever before.
Whether you're hiking in bear country or hunting other big game, ammunition selection is impressive. With many manufacturers trying to outdo each other, serious power has emerged. Better hollow-point, self-defense ammunition and stronger meplat bullets will take care of just about any threatening animal. Hornady offers polymer-tipped cartridges with better downrange ballistics that the traditional soft-point or hollow-point designs, perfect for deer hunting.
3. You have a lot of options to pick from.
Whether it's a Magnum Research Desert Eagle Mark XIX semi-automatic pistol, Magnum Research BFR, Ruger Redhawk, Taurus Tracker or a vintage Smith & Wesson Model 29 revolver, the choices are great. My current favorite is the lightweight Smith & Wesson Model 329 revolver. Pick a rifle from such brands like Henry Arms, Marlin or Winchester to round out your .44 magnum firearm inventory.
4. Who else loves the little brother .44 Special?
The .44 Special might be the predecessor of the mighty .44 Magnum, but it still works great in most .44 Magnum weapons. It offers softer shooting for target work. Save the magnum load for defense or hunting. With many manufacturers loading "cowboy loads" for the .44 Special, this is a great load for smaller work. This is similar to the use of .38 Special cartridges in a .357 Magnum revolver.
5. Reloading this big beautiful cartridge is easier than ever.
Reloading supplies for the .44 Magnum are just about everywhere. A quick online search and all of the components you could ever dream of are in your hands quickly. Case life is extremely long and this non-bottleneck, straight-wall cartridge is easy to load.
6. It's a hard-hitting cartridge that's still fun to shoot.
Face it, either you love the thrill of recoil or you don't. The big X-frame S&W revolvers might be a lot of fun to shoot at the gun range. When accuracy counts, can you put six rounds into a bear's head in just a couple seconds while firing double-action? Remember, this isn't like shooting single-action in the controlled environment of a gun range.
Not many shooters can deal with the punishing recoil of calibers like the .500 S&W Magnum cartridge. The modern .44 Magnum revolvers are easier to carry and shoot.
Dirty Harry wasn't wrong to pack his .44 Magnum six-shooter. Why reinvent the wheel when it isn't broken? You'll never go wrong with a .44 Magnum.
Do you like articles about the outdoors? Click hereto view more articles by Eric Nestor. You can follow him@ericthewoodsmanon Twitter,The Classic Woodsmanon Facebook, and@theclassicwoodsmanon Instagram. You can view more Nestor Photography photos atNestor Photography.
NEXT: BIG-GAME RIFLE REVIEW: HENRY ARMS SINGLE-SHOT .45-70 RIFLE
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