Slackdaddy
My pronouns: Iva/Bigun
- Jan 1, 2019
- 5,964
Thanks for your reply.@ Slackdaddy,
IIRC, the 44 mag out of a carbine barrel should be doing about 1,700-1,800 fps. Since the Ruger 44 mag of decades ago it has been a proven performer in deer sized game.
Now, you seem to be working with loads on the LOW side, and there are more than a few wonderful reasons to do it, but it does open the question of reliable, ethical, game taking capability. So, let me give you a few ideas:
1.- If you are working with loads that will produce less than 1,300 fps at the muzzle, FX airguns makes a radar operated chrono that works well with large base projectiles. It does not pick up well 0.172-0.177 bullets/pellets at longer ranges than 30-40 yards, but larger based projectiles (0.25 and up) do get picked up well at 100 yards.
These chronos sell for about $200, so for a RADAR operated chrono, it is not that expensive.
2.- I am not a believer in the "hydraulic shock", I do believe that wound cavities (both temporary and permanent) are an important indication of the "killing" ability of a projectile under a VERY specific set of conditions. In this context, I often create the "poor man's Syndaver" by using waterlogged newsprint. It is cheaper than ballistics gel and if you are organized and let the whole block dry, you can cut it with a fine saw and use the cross sections to determine if the projectile/velocity combination works.
A thick (0.004" to 0.015") works well as a "skin" substitute, and lamb/goat bones work well to imitate deer's.
So, you can create the specific scenario you are expecting in the field as far as distance, size & presentation of target, and behaviour of the live composite (skin, muscle, and bones) that the projectile will have to go through to get to the vitals. Once you are past the skin/bones/muscle, the rest is Jell-O.
3.- After many years I have come to the conclusion that accuracy is more important than impressive terminal ballistics. SOME performance in the TB category is necessary, but shot placement is more important, and a 0.44" cal. hole is a a 44 caliber hole.
4.- In MANY of my tests, the terminal performance has depended more on the impact speed than on the impact energy, so your intention of finding what is happening at range, is the correct one.
5.- Also from experience, pure lead projectiles with hollow points can start expanding upon impact at between 500 and 700 fps. Where exactly they will begin to expand RELIABLY depends on the shapes (internal & external) used. Harder lead may need double that, so if you are shooting cast or swaged bullet at low speeds, use pure lead and use the shape of the bullet to guarantee the internal and the terminal ballistics you want. Pure lead is a VERY viable material for bullets that are exiting the muzzle under the 1,300 fps level, and current lubes do a wonderful job of preventing leading in the barrel. There is also the possibility of using powder coated bullets if you want to operate in the 1,000 to 1,700 fps window.
I LOVE the subsonic realm, shooting at 1,050 fps or thereabouts can yield wonderful accuracy with long for caliber (but still stable), lead bullets out to some pretty impressive ranges. These will also give you sufficient penetration to get to where you need to. Just tailor the nose shape / point to the prey.
HTH, keep well, shoot straight, and keep us posted!
HM
To clarify,, I have yet to start shooting the 44 mag carbine.
But much experience with .45 saboted out of a 50 cal ML.
And with a 385-400 gr lead out of a 20 ga rifled barrel.
These 2 are running in the neighborhood of 1600-1700 at the barrel,, again I have not verified that with a chronograph.
Anyhow,, I am not interested in "hydraulic" shock, but "Hydrostatic" shock, or the momentary shock to the nervous system. This has nothing to do with lethality, but only the momentary shock/disabling of the nervous system.
I have witnessed it on a few neck shots that ended up not being lethal.
I was neck shooting a group of does (deer management) and had one go down that I thought was dead, she was down for 30-40 seconds, then put her head up and was looking around, then ran off to be shot by another member 10 minutes later.
From my reading on the 44 mag,, I would need an impact speed of ~2000 fps and above for reliable nervous system shock.
I am interested in nervous system shock so I don't have a dead deer running 100 yards.
The reason I am focusing on that point is,, I have shot MANY deer that I put a perfect fatal shot on the lungs and the deer ran 50-100 yards before collapsing. I have some hunting situations where that death run could lead to an unpleasant situation.
And yes, I agree, The main aspect is hitting your aim point,, without that all the planning is for nothing.