The flatter trajectory and slightly bigger hole from the 89 is attractive - and besides, a gun that pretty shouldn't remain a safe queen...!
It is shorter but a bit heavier than the 44 Mag, and would make a great bear/moose/bison rifle, but none of them in my neck of the woods, so I'll have to settle for whitetail.
A handloaded hard-cast 500 grain flat-point at about 1200 fps was the original plan, but no time was available for load development, so I plan on Grizzly Cartridge's 370 grain hard-cast. The reason for the lighter bullet is just figuring the 1700 fps or so from the rifle barrel should be 5" high at 100 yards and 5" low at 200 yards so combined with more diameter and energy, allow a bit more range than the 44 Mag (probably I'll allow myself 150 versus 100 max if range sessions prove the concept).
I will miss the EXTREME low-light clarity of the ACOG sight though...
The load you are talking about .....370 grainer @ 1700 is about the same as my elk load which has proven itself 3 times and it's smaller at 45 caliber. Mine is a 375 grainer at 1700.
