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.44 Bear Load

Discussion about what manufactured ammunition feeds your Henry or other firearms
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JayZuv
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.44 Bear Load

Post by JayZuv » Tue Apr 02, 2019 10:41 am

Does anybody else here use hsm ammo? I started using their stuff when I got my .41 mag, and it always shoots really well. Last week I saw a box of “Bear Load” 44 mag from them, and thought I’d give it a try. It’s a 300 grain xtp, and it shoots dead on. I’m thinking this might be my whitetail ammo from now on. Has anyone hunted with it?
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H006 .41
H006 .44
Win. 94 30-30
Weatherby Mark V .300 Wby
Ruger .44 Carbine

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North Country Gal
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Re: .44 Bear Load

Post by North Country Gal » Tue Apr 02, 2019 10:48 am

Haven't hunted with any of the HSM loads, but plus one on the accuracy I get with any of their bear loads. Those loads gave always done well for me in my revolvers.
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tractortad
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Re: .44 Bear Load

Post by tractortad » Tue Apr 02, 2019 11:18 am

You may want to check the OAL of that load from HSM - many of those hot 44Mag loads are made for revolvers and are too long to cycle in a Henry.
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markiver54
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Re: .44 Bear Load

Post by markiver54 » Tue Apr 02, 2019 11:49 am

tractortad wrote:You may want to check the OAL of that load from HSM - many of those hot 44Mag loads are made for revolvers and are too long to cycle in a Henry.
Gonna find out soon when I get up to the summer cabin. Bought a box in 357 180 gr. Have them in my revolver and intend to try in my BBS 357. We get a lot of bears up there. Strictly a defense load this time of year till bear season mid October. See one almost daily in the spring scavenging for food. I think a well placed round in 357 will do the job if I had to.
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JayZuv
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Re: .44 Bear Load

Post by JayZuv » Tue Apr 02, 2019 12:31 pm

tractortad wrote:You may want to check the OAL of that load from HSM - many of those hot 44Mag loads are made for revolvers and are too long to cycle in a Henry.
No worries on that I loaded up a full tube and no issues with cycling
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H006 .41
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markiver54
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Re: .44 Bear Load

Post by markiver54 » Tue Apr 02, 2019 12:35 pm

JayZuv wrote:
tractortad wrote:You may want to check the OAL of that load from HSM - many of those hot 44Mag loads are made for revolvers and are too long to cycle in a Henry.
No worries on that I loaded up a full tube and no issues with cycling
Thank you JayZuv!
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Rifletom
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Re: .44 Bear Load

Post by Rifletom » Tue Apr 02, 2019 8:13 pm

My bud up in Idaho uses 'em in his .357 or .44 mag handguns when he's fishing in Island Park, Idaho. That's Grizz country up there. Usually his .44. He's seen a couple and said it's a little un-nerving.
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JayZuv
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Re: .44 Bear Load

Post by JayZuv » Tue Apr 02, 2019 8:43 pm

Rifletom wrote:My bud up in Idaho uses 'em in his .357 or .44 mag handguns when he's fishing in Island Park, Idaho. That's Grizz country up there. Usually his .44. He's seen a couple and said it's a little un-nerving.

Wow, surely don't want to get caught empty handed up there!
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H006 .41
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Redthies
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Re: .44 Bear Load

Post by Redthies » Thu Apr 04, 2019 2:24 am

I’ve got their 180 grain bear loads for my .357, and tried unsuccessfully to find their cowboy loads for my .45-70. I honestly didn’t find my BBSC shot them all that well. It seemed to prefer the 158 grain American Eagle sjsp, but I’m going to give them another go this spring.

When I was looking at .357 loads for deer, a wise person (NCG) suggested that the hard cast bullets in HSMs bear loads wouldn’t be an ideal candidate on deer due to over penetration and little to no expansion. I’m pretty sure the same would go for .44 mag.
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John E Davies
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Re: .44 Bear Load

Post by John E Davies » Thu Apr 04, 2019 9:43 am

XTPs are fine for deer but a heavy hard-cast lead bullet with large flat nose is best for bear .... the HP will not penetrate deeply. Either will do way better than a rock or a stick.

Are you sure yours are XTPs? I haven’t heard of them being marketed this way. I have only seen the 305 gr hard cast. Which is a pretty hefty bullet for a .44....

https://hsmammunition.com/bear-load/

Thanks

John Davies
Spokane WA
Last edited by John E Davies on Thu Apr 04, 2019 9:52 am, edited 1 time in total.
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