1860 henry in 44-40 good deer rifle ?

Delmonico · August 01, 2007, 06:24:55 PM

Jerry, don't let a Game Warden with out a sense of humor and fair play catch ya huntin' with one here, don't make it for KE.

Pitspitr · August 01, 2007, 06:34:38 PM

Delmonico · August 01, 2007, 06:42:46 PM

'Least they don't force us to use bird guns to hunt deer. Better to much power than not enough.

shovelhead · September 04, 2009, 02:05:19 PM

I just completed the Hunter Ed class in Washington state. Needless to say I was very disappointed about this:
2.15 Washington Laws and Regulations for Rifles
These rules and regulations apply to all individuals who hunt with a modern firearm:
Rifles used to hunt big game should be sufficiently powerful for the game being hunted. For example, the .30 carbine and the .44-40 are not adequate for big game hunting.

maybe my next rifle will be in the 45-70 range...

Pitspitr · September 05, 2009, 08:52:20 AM

Oh yeah! A 45/70's enough.

Jed Cooper · September 06, 2009, 08:57:22 AM

Preacher, I see you live in Indiana as do I. Yes 44-40 is legal here. I am going to use my 66 this year with full load of 3f goex topped off with springfield slim's 200 grain big lube boolit. Check out my picture on NCOWS forum under Jed Coopers muzzle blast. I dropped a 12 pointer 2 years ago with a 7 1/2 2nd. gen. colt in .357. Went down With out taking a step. IMHO your Henry will be plenty for Bambi. BTW that 12 pointer dressed out at 185 lbs. Hunt with it, and have fun. Just rember, as others have said Shot placement is the key. Regards Jed

Major 2 · September 19, 2009, 06:43:17 AM

I had a 44-40 I bought in 1980... sold it in 89

when we needed extra cash for our new baby girl...

For Christmas 99 my DEAR wife bought me a new Henry

in 45 Colt

It's my DEAR Rifle...

LONE GROUSE · September 26, 2009, 11:24:08 AM

Preacher Curt,

I have no experiance with a 44-40 Henry, but in 2004 I harvested a Doe in the Wisconsin early antlerless season using my 58 Rem with .45 Colt Conversion Cylinder. She was at 25 paces and broad side. She went about 15 yards and dropped. The 250 gr Winchester factory bullet went clean thru. When I dressed her out and recovered the the heart and liver the heart had a perfect hole thru it. I was lucky she was at my practice range of 25 yards. The huntin regs for deer in WI state that the caliber be center fire , .25 or larger with at least a 5" barrell. I was the talk of the early season deer camp that year.

As for the 44-40 Henry, Just practice,practice, practice. She should be a fine Deerslaying rifle

Regards
LoneGrouse

FriscoCounty · September 26, 2009, 02:05:23 PM

ShovelHead,
You might want to get a clarification from the DFW. While it makes sense to use an adequate cartridge for the game you are after. The regulations themselves only require that .24 cal / 6mm centerfire ammunition (or better) be used on big game (Cougars can be taken by .22 CF). The hunter safety course may be giving an example that isn't gospel.

Then again, if they say it is OK, I would get it in writing in case some game warden disagrees with you.