Here is the exit hole running at 100yds with my ranch rifle. One of four that AM.
I have shot hundreds of hogs with that rifle and see a ton of deer taken with a 223. You may have to shoot them in the neck but they usually don't go far. I am telling that Accu-Strut is the best thing since sliced bread. Some 1911 bufferd and a good trigger job that thing would be a gem!
What bullets were you shooting? I have used the Pointed Soft Point 55 grain Remington bullets, and with headshots, they go straight down, but I've never had an exit wound with them so I have no clue how they do after hitting bone. I really don't mind the accuracy of mine...at 50 yards, everything is within an .75"-1". If I keep it, I will strut it eventually, but just don't have the funds.
I love the Dirty Thirty, but if I'm going to get rid of this gun, it's going to be for exactly what I want....looking at the ballistics, the .30-30 is somewhat superior @ 100 yards but, I don't think a deer or a hog is going to feel the difference....get out much past 100 yards, then yes, the .44 looks worse and worse....but when I can't see 100 yards aside from two shooting lanes that we cut...that doesn't matter really. Again, in the very, very rare case in which I have an opportunity at a long range shot, I'll just take the Weatherby, it's a cheap rifle, and it shoots much better than I do...hold two inches further back than I normally would and let the 165 grain SST do it's job....bore a 3" hole through the sucker and yank it's lungs out the opposite side with the suction.
On the other hand, being able to head to the woods or camp with one type of ammo or being able to borrow ammo when 3 of the 5-6 guys I hunt with always have .44 mag ammo (they have Redhawks) with them will probably be more noticeable to me.
At some point, I do want to get a nice, flat shooting bolt/single shot rifle like a .25-06 or even a good ole' .270 like Nacho was talking about, but I think that my purposes would be better suited with a carbine/lever gun right now....and since I'm in no hurry, I can be picky.
Man, no love for the .44 mag round here huh? Another plus is that I get reloads for about a quarter a piece and can get bullets from 180 grain-300 grains (though, I know the carbines love the 240 grains and that's about it) so I can use diff bullets for different jobs.
I'm also trying to avoid selling this gun and buying a different one....I am too busy with school to deal with what's involved in such...I hate the wheeling/dealing crap, not a salesman at all....especially in today's economy because everyone lowballs you. Plus, if I sell this gun and get cash for it, I'm going to have a hard time not putting that cash in the bank and sitting on it, cause I'm broke....but if I never see or feel the cash in my hand, I won't feel guilty.
the 357 is completely adequate for hogs ( if loaded with a good quality bullet and wt ), just ask greybelly. they always tell you the part about the hog running off but never about the crap load it was shot with. it's the bullet that comes into contact with the animal and does the actual killing, that and shot placement. I wouldn't put too much stock in that hog running off story, probably a bad hit with a bad bullet, could happen with almost any caliber. as for speed of follow up shots, a halfway decently skilled person with a bolt can get plenty fast enough follow up shots. and besides you should be more concerned with making the first one count, instead of a spray and pray attitude, hunt like you're using a muzzle-loader or single shot and a follow up won't be necessary. I put two heart shots freehand into a running deer, with a mdl 7 rem bolt, that you could have covered with a quarter ( granted under 25 yd's )as fast if not faster than an autoloader. just like the single action ( cowboy ) pistols in the right hands can be fired faster than a autoloader. plus alot of ultra light bolts are actualy lighter and shorter than lever action and autos.plus simpler/stronger/more acurate and can handle more powerfull calibers. but I like em all and to me nothing feels better in the hands than a lever without a scope.
I love my 44 Mag Win 94 Trapper 16" Saddle Ring Carbine and wouldn't trade it for anything. It's perfect for what you describe, but get your wallet ready for one chief. There are a couple on gunbroker starting at $650 with a Reserve. Even the Marlin levers in 44 Mag are tough to get for less than $500. Figured a 30-30 would do the job you described, give you extended reach past a .44 Mags capability, and much more knock down power than a .44 Mag. at close range. My .44 mag looks worse and worse past 75 yards using heavy 275 or 280 grain bullets.... In a 30-30 with 240 grain performs much better as long as it's got a tad longer barrel on the gun, normally a 20-24" barrel is best. The carbine - 16" barrel 30-30 loses more FPS than a .44 mag shooting a 240 grain bullet with the 16" barrel, but it packs more punch and knock down than the .44 Mag. For $300 each it's hard to pass on those two, I might just buy the both of them and "put them in the closet", as we say.
Rob, our taxpayer $'s hard at work again paying you to cruise gun sites? lol, now get back to work.
