That’s what I was thinking since I already have a 30-30. How does a 44 mag rifle compare to let’s say a 223 in terms of ballistic damage?
Comparing a high velocity 40 to 65 grain .22 caliber to a slower 180 to 300 grain .429 bullet performance is almost apples and oranges to me.
The big .44 is great hunting in brush and, in my opinion, is limited to about 200 max range, and that is pushing it. The heavy bullets penetrate well and break bones as they punch a .429 hole through your game. The .44 is at its best with non-expanding heavier bullets (265 grain or bigger) that will penetrate deeply into medium to large game.
The .223 is, in my opinion, limited to small to medium game, but is really minimal when looking to hunt deer. Personally I would not use it. Yes, it will kill deer, but it will also grievously wound quite often and they will run for a long ways and finally die. If one is using a rifle capable of heavier bullets (higher twist/5.56) the rifle become much more useful for hunting with heavier bullets being an option. But, the .223 shoots those little pills at a high velocity and bullets expand rapidly or even fragment depending on the bullet, thus penetration is minimal through any tougher animal like a black bear and bones can detour the bullets path thus rendering a kill shot ineffective in deer.
