.44 Magnum
Made famous as the powerful handgun of its day. Deer, hogs and black bear; backup against big bears.
Good for: Revolver, Hunting, Big game/bear
A typical factory load is a 240 gr JHP bullet at about 1,350 ft/s, with roughly 971 ft-lbs of energy at the muzzle.
Typical load
240 grJHP · 6" barrelMuzzle speed
1,350 ft/sMuzzle energy
971 ft-lbsTypical BC (G1)
≈ 0.17typical, varies by brandTwist rate
1:20Practical range
75 yd deerPoint-blank range
123 yd6" vital zoneRecommended platform
Large-frame revolver, 6"+Heavy recoil; practice with .44 SpecialsOn the Handgun Cartridges chart
Made for
Made famous as the powerful handgun of its day. Deer, hogs and black bear; backup against big bears.
Typical load
240 grJHP · 6" barrel
Typical muzzle fps
1,350ft/s
Typical muzzle energy
971ft-lbs
Typical BC (G1)
≈ 0.17typical, varies by brand
Twist rate for typical load
1:20
Practical range
75 yd deer
MPBR (iron sights)
123 yd6" vital zone · Near zero 5 yd · Far zero 104 yd · Min PBR 0 yd · Max PBR 123 yd · Sight-in @25 1.84" high
Recommended platform
Large-frame revolver, 6"+Heavy recoil; practice with .44 Specials
Open the full Handgun Cartridges chart →
Head-to-head comparisons
Similar cartridges
Browse more
Speed, energy and BC are typical figures for the listed load; real numbers vary by brand, lot and barrel length. Always check the ammo maker's data for your exact load.