elnor Posted March 22, 2009 Report Share Posted March 22, 2009 I picked up a new shootin iron today and am looking for ammo recommendations for both pig/deer hunting and self defense applications. I'm planning to try Hornady LeverEvolution .44Mag as one possibility for a hunting load. Other suggestions? I'm also looking for a good .44 Special load for self defense. I've seen Jeff Quinn's Speer .44 Special 200 grain Gold Dot Hollowpoint recommendation; any others that you like or dislike? Can't wait to put some rounds through it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hangunnr Posted March 22, 2009 Report Share Posted March 22, 2009 Nice, should be a solid performer. I've been pretty happy with loads using the Hornady XTP bullets from 200gr up to 300gr. I'm interested in how the LeveRevolution ammo shoots. It looks like some good stuff. hangunnr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elnor Posted March 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2009 Found several boxes of Hornady LeverEvolution 44Mag locally, but no luck on Speer Gold Dot or Winchester Silvertips or any other 44 Special. I tried Cheaperthandirt, Midway, Bass Pro, Sportsman Guide. Still looking, any other ideas would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IowaDeerHunter Posted March 23, 2009 Report Share Posted March 23, 2009 Awesome gun. I just got the exact same thing except in a .357. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elnor Posted March 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2009 Congrats, Russell! Hope it's a shooter for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elnor Posted March 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2009 I found some Blazer .44 Special with Speer Gold Dot 200gr Hollowpoint bullets while out today. Given how short ammo supply is these days, I bought a couple of boxes ($29.99 per 50rds). I'm wondering how the Blazer performs versus Speer's own ammo loaded with 200gr Gold Dot bullets. Anyone have experience with both? Obviously the Blazer uses aluminum for the cartridge, but is there any difference in the powder used by each? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elnor Posted March 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2009 CheaperThanDirt got some of the Winchester 44Spec 200gr Silvertips in so I ordered some to try out, too. $21.26/20rd box. Any other suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted March 29, 2009 Report Share Posted March 29, 2009 Can't help ya with the ammo question since I'm a handgun novice, just wanted to tell you that is one of the guns I have been reviewing and man is it sweet looking! Please let us know how it shoots! Congratulations on a fine handgun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Born2Hunt Posted March 29, 2009 Report Share Posted March 29, 2009 I have the raging bull in 44mag. The Hornaday XTP's are the best shooters I have found yet. I have yet to try the new Hornadays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hangunnr Posted March 30, 2009 Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 elnor, Do you reload? hangunnr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elnor Posted March 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 I don't currently reload. I did some shotgun shell reloading years back (my father has a shotshell reloading setup), but haven't done any pistol or rifle ammo. I have been considering it, though, especially in the calibers I shoot a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elnor Posted April 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2009 An update on my new Taurus Tracker .44 Magnum revolver and the various ammunition options I've been able to try: I shot 35 rounds of Blazer .44 Special ammo, 16 of the Winchester Silvertips 44Spec, and 12 rds of Hornady LEVERevolution .44 Magnum through my new revolver this last week. Both .44 Special ammo brands were fun to shoot and accurate. The Blazers were harder to eject after firing, more "stickiness", which I'd expected based upon some things I'd read about their aluminum cases. For now I'll limit the cheaper Blazer to practice-only shooting but plan to practice with and carry Winchester Silvertips for first-through-third rounds for woods carry and all five rounds for two-legged critter defense. The Hornady LEVERevolution kicked like a mule! And then some! Let's put it this way, if the 44Spec loads are like shooting a .30-30 for ease of recoil management, the LEVERevolution 44Mag cartridges are analogous to a .300WSM! I found them accurate but real whompers in the Tracker, so I think I'll limit them to the fourth and fifth cylinders for woods carry and also for first shot on pig or deer. All in all, a handy little 44 that I carried a lot last week while turkey hunting and fishing. (Even made its first kill although it was "only" an armadillo.) I will probably shoot a lot more 44Spec through it than 44Mag, but all in all I like it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Straight Shooter Posted April 17, 2009 Report Share Posted April 17, 2009 I was wondering if those Leverevolution bullets could be shot through a pistol. I'll have to get some and load them up for my Super black Hawk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elnor Posted April 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2009 Haven't found any more 44 Special or Magnum ammo locally or online since the last purchase I mentioned above. Still hoping to find some of the Speer 44Spec to try out, plus more Winchester SilverTips and Blazer 44Spec to replenish what I've been shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elnor Posted May 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2009 FYI, CheaperThanDirt.com has Winchester .44 Special SilverTips back in stock (at least for now). Still $21.26 per box of 20 rounds. I bought several boxes to continue building up my supply. My Tracker loves them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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