After hearing about the raw power of the 44 Mag for years, I was honestly a bit reluctant to fire a 44 Mag firearm. However, after testing a few rounds, it’s much more manageable than I once thought, and it has quickly become a top choice for many situations.
Created by Elmer Keith, the same man who created the 357 Magnum, the 44 Remington Magnum is known for its power and versatility. Wisely, you want to understand how to maximize both by purchasing the best 44 Mag ammo.
Below, you’ll find the top-performing 44 Mag ammo for hunting, defense, and lever-action plinking situations.
Best 44 Magnum Ammunition
| Best 44 Magnum Ammo | Federal 240gr JHP |
|---|---|
| Best 44 Mag Hunting Ammo | Black Hills 240gr JHP |
| Best 44 Mag Lever-Action Hunting Ammo | Hornady Leverevolution 225gr |
| Best Self-Defense 44 Mag Ammo | Buffalo Bore Anti-Personnel 180gr JHP |
| Budget-Friendly 44 Mag Ammo | Fiocchi 240gr JSP |
44 Mag Ammo Testing Procedure
After purchasing several of these brands with various bullet weights and designs, I headed to the gun range to see how they performed based on these factors:
- Intended Design
- Reliability
- Accuracy
- Price
Various projectiles will perform differently depending on their design. For instance, JHPs are great for hunting and self-defense but get pretty expensive for plinking at the range, unlike FMJs.
No matter the situation, I want ammo that will go bang when I pull the trigger. If it’s constantly jamming or failing to fire, I’ll know I have wasted my money and won’t buy that ammo again. So, all of the ammo on this list is produced by trusted brands that use quality components.
Ammunition also needs to be accurate. If I can’t hit the broad side of a barn with the rounds, then it’s no good to me while hunting or protecting my family. It also makes for a frustrating day at the range.
Lastly, price isn’t as much of a factor for hunting and personal defense ammo; however, when I’m headed to the range, I don’t feel like burning through a mortgage payment worth of ammo, so I compromise between a fair price and reliability.
Federal 240 grain JHP - Best .44 Magnum Ammo Overall
Specs
- Bullet Weight: 240 grain
- Muzzle Velocity: 1,210 fps
- Muzzle Energy: 780 ft-lbs
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Trusted Brand | Expensive |
| High-Quality Components | |
| Reliable | |
| Accurate |
Why I Chose It
Federal 240 grain JHP is the best 44 mag ammo because it’s produced by a trusted brand, uses high-quality components, and is very accurate.
I’ve shot Federal ammo at the gun range, while hunting, and carried it for personal protection for years because I know it’s going to get the job done when I need it. Federal is trusted by countless shooters and hunters because it consistently produces high-quality ammo.
This is because Federal Premium uses components like boxer primers, nickel-plated brass, and Hyrdra-Shok bullets in these rounds, which are known for getting the results every shooter needs.
The biggest drawback is how expensive these rounds are. I could feel my bank account flinching with each trigger pull, so I don’t recommend taking them to the gun range all the time unless you’re training with them. Barnes 225 Grain XPB HP is a tad less expensive than Federal 240 grain JHP and offers similar ballistics if you’re unwilling to spend that much money on ammo.
Overall, it’s tough to beat Federal 240 grain JHP 44 Mag ammo because of the reputation Federal has built over the years.
Continue reading Best 44 Magnum Ammo: Hunting, Self-Defense, and Lever Action