What is a realistic effective range for a .44mag rifle on average AL deer? Assume it has a scope, so we're talking capabilities of the round itself on a deer.

I know other calibers are a lot more ideal so we dont have to have that discussion, but I killed my first one with with a scoped 44mag lever action and have wanted one of my own ever since.

I'd say 150.

100 yards maybe. There are much better lever gun calibers .

Probably 80 to 100 yards for a clean kill. I have a .444 and its probably good to 225, haven't used it much I use the 45/70.

You could kill one at 200 if you got the drop and windage right. That's the problem. Realistically,I would say inside 100 is where I would want to be.

I’m gonna “assume” by realistic you mean a decent MPBR, I’d say about 125 yards.

Of course it kills just fine to the limits of your capability

240's 100,300's 150.

I really want a Henry Big Boy in 44 mag.
I keep telling myself that I just don't need one, and there's other things that I need to spent money on.
But my will power is fleeting.

If one buys a revolver caliber lever gun having a revolver in that caliber I feel like would just be a must.

I have a 444 Marlin and it is deadly at 150. BUT, will not shoot AT one at any greater distance. Just my 2 cents.

Elmer Keith killed an elk at 600 yards with a 44 magnum revolver.

Jus sayin.

I'm not calling BS but I used to be a fine pistol marksman and I'd have to say that's BS or some extraordinary luck.

Yeah that seems a bit much to me too....

This article says it was a mule deer. Either way, mule deer or elk really doesn't matter.

https://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/gun-nuts/2014/02/ol-elmers-600-yard-shot-handgun

If you gave me a model 29 and a box of ammo I couldn't scare a deer at 600 yards. I've always thought he was stretching the truth on this one.

Dang.....and I thought I was bad when I hit a hog at 130yds with a Glock 23 last year...

Eveyone just doesn’t need a big bore. Most folk using excuse and limitations really are limited by their cognitive ability, they just aren’t good shots and are too lazy to mentally make it work. The “444 & 150 yard” comment for instance.

These folk should stick to a regular rifle cartridge, ballistic plex, and paper ballistic chart religious views

FIFY

Henry Big Boy Steel or Winchester 92

love my .44 mag lever, don't hunt with it , I just like seeing on the wall !!

Hunt with a model 94 44mag open sight's a pretty good bit killed a bunch of animals with it furthest shot I can remember was probably 75-80yds maybe. I only use it as a woods gun/brush gun but I wouldn't hesitate to put one down range up to 150yds at all and all I shoot out mine is 240gr

100 yards is what I would say. In hardwoods or a pine thicket that could be a pretty long way. The real draw to me in a pistol caliber lever gun was always the Trapper models they use to make with a 16" barrel. That was handy in a thick spot or made a good tracking gun. I have never had a lot of interest in a 20 inch pistol caliber gun for deer hunting purposes. They made the same 16" guns in .30-30 so I would still rather have that over the .44 as well.

Ol' Elmer was a heckuva self promoter. I am sure he was actually a heck of a shot, but when he wrote about some of his exploits, his witnesses were no longer around. Convenient.

44 mag is just fine for Alabama deer. 240 grains moving at magnum velocity slightly enhanced with a longer barrel will do the job if placed properly up to 150 yards and I would be using as heavy a bullet that would shoot accurately in my gun. Most of the other factors are out of your control.

My good friend Chris uses one for deer and has been for years. His buddy hand loads the bullets for him.