200xtp in 44 mag

[mickbr]

Just wondering if anyone has used this bullet on game in revolver or carbine? Any idea if it will be suitable for medium game at carbine speeds?

[wvfarrier]

I have used the 158/180 grain (357 mag) and the 300 grain in 45 colt pushed to magnum power. All held together quite well and performed supremely well on deer and black bear.

All fired from leverguns.

[OldWin]

I have used that bullet on deer. I had it loaded in a 44-40 ahead of 10gr. of Unique for about 1500fps in a 20" carbine.
I shot a couple deer with this load with excellent results. One was a nice 185lb 8pt at about 70 yards. I recovered the bullet from a small hemlock behind the deer. In retrospect, I could actually lighten this load and still have an effective stopper.
While the XTP is now an older bullet, I really like them. I use them in .357, 44 magnum, and 45acp. I always get good accuracy and performance from them.

[piller]

I have used the XTP bullets in .480 Ruger and had satisfactory results. They have opened up nicely the only 3 times I recovered a bullet. Usually do not recover the bullet. They seem to hold together well even when going through bone. I have not pushed them beyond 1500 to 1700 fps, so I cannot tell you what they might do faster than that. Pistol velocity is about 1300 fps.

[samsi]

I've aspired to try it on deer since it really shoots in my 44 Special Flattop at around 1200 f/s (close, but not quite). I have heard two firsthand reports from the field, the first an experienced handgun hunter who recommends it for broadside lung shots on deer (and he's not known for full full throttle loads). The second was a deer taken at about 40 yards with a 44 mag carbine, said it made quite a mess of things and he wouldn't do it again.

I think the key is a moderate load and judicious shot placement. I do know that the full tilt H110 load in the Lyman book is too much of a good thing.

[44shooter]

Hornady, in their manuals, recommend their 265 and 300 grain bullets for deer and black bear at carbine velocities and 200 and 240 grain for smaller game

[Scott Tschirhart]

I really like the XTP bullet. But the only one I have used in the .44 mag is the 240 gr version. Lynn Thompson used the 300 grain version to great effect on small antelope and goats up to water buffalo. If the camera angle is right, you can see the bullet in flight. But they seem to do the trick from a 7.5 inch Redhawk.

[.45colt]

In the New (july) American Rifleman there is a good article on page 60 (Rifle loads for the .44 Remington magnum). A lot of information. The 200gr XTP is included.

[mickbr]

I really like the XTP bullet. But the only one I have used in the .44 mag is the 240 gr version. Lynn Thompson used the 300 grain version to great effect on small antelope and goats up to water buffalo. If the camera angle is right, you can see the bullet in flight. But they seem to do the trick from a 7.5 inch Redhawk.

Impressed about the buffalo, is there an article about that anywhere?

[mickbr]

I have used that bullet on deer. I had it loaded in a 44-40 ahead of 10gr. of Unique for about 1500fps in a 20" carbine.
I shot a couple deer with this load with excellent results. One was a nice 185lb 8pt at about 70 yards. I recovered the bullet from a small hemlock behind the deer. In retrospect, I could actually lighten this load and still have an effective stopper.
While the XTP is now an older bullet, I really like them. I use them in .357, 44 magnum, and 45acp. I always get good accuracy and performance from them.

Oldwin thats the sort of load I am considering. I'll start with 44-40 original power levels to where I find a good accuracy load and thump for 80-90 yard shots.

[OldWin]

I have used that bullet on deer. I had it loaded in a 44-40 ahead of 10gr. of Unique for about 1500fps in a 20" carbine.
I shot a couple deer with this load with excellent results. One was a nice 185lb 8pt at about 70 yards. I recovered the bullet from a small hemlock behind the deer. In retrospect, I could actually lighten this load and still have an effective stopper.
While the XTP is now an older bullet, I really like them. I use them in .357, 44 magnum, and 45acp. I always get good accuracy and performance from them.

Oldwin thats the sort of load I am considering. I'll start with 44-40 original power levels to where I find a good accuracy load and thump for 80-90 yard shots.

Another powder I have had good luck with is IMR4227. I use it almost exclusively with this bullet in a 240gr 44 magnum. I'm not sure how it would work with a 200gr, but I have used it in a 44-40 over IMR4227 with good results. I will say, I think the slight bottle neck of the 44-40 helps, but it may still work well in the magnum case where there is less volume.
This was a 240 XTP over 22.5gr of IMR4227 in a 16" barrel 44 magnum. This was only 50 yards, but without a bench. I was just leaning against the door of my truck.

P.S.
Oh, I forgot to mention.....
All the above is done with the addition of a Lee factory crimp die. IMO, it does make a slight difference in the consistency of these loads in a straight case.

[Scott Tschirhart]

I really like the XTP bullet. But the only one I have used in the .44 mag is the 240 gr version. Lynn Thompson used the 300 grain version to great effect on small antelope and goats up to water buffalo. If the camera angle is right, you can see the bullet in flight. But they seem to do the trick from a 7.5 inch Redhawk.

Impressed about the buffalo, is there an article about that anywhere?

He made videos about it. You might be able to find a part of one on youtube

[4t5]

https://lynncthompson.com/lynn-thompson ... 4ec054e60e

[JB]

I like the XTP bullets, but find most of my 44's shoot the heavier grained XTP's better at 100 yards. I like the idea of a flat shooting light bullet, but my guns geneally favor the heavier not flat shooting bullets

[horsesoldier03]

It has been a quite a few years ago, but my youngest daughter shot a 9 pt buck with a Marlin 1894 .44 mag. The load was a reduced power handload that was a 200 grain XTP running what I estimated to be 1500 fps and was about a 50 yard shot. He was DRT and never knew what hit him.

[Bryan Austin]

Just wondering if anyone has used this bullet on game in revolver or carbine? Any idea if it will be suitable for medium game at carbine speeds?

Reduced to 44 WHV velocities, it works great!

Not Mine!

44/40 - 200gr Hornady XTP @ 1500fps. Bullet entered just in front of the right hind leg, angled forward through the liver, broke 2nd-to-last rib on left side, lodging under the skin. Deer walked (didn't run) ~130 yards before expiring. Recovered bullet weight is 186gr and frontal area measures .630"

44-40 Bullet Small.JPG

I never shot any of these in my rifle but this target is from the 20" 44-40 MGM barrel from 100 yards @ 1,429fps, 10 shots inside 4".
22gr IMR4227 (44-40) @ 15,022psi or close to 17,757cup (18,000cup service load 44 WHV)

Untitled.png

[mickbr]

Thanks Bryan, great pics!