180WFN VS 180XTP

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Bfh_auto

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Have any of you used both on deer?
I realize both will kill, but which does it faster? I have used hard cast 45s and had too track for a ways on a double lung shot. There was plenty of blood though.
I want to use a 158 xtp, but they won't shoot in my Blackhawk.
 
CraigC said:
For deer, expansion is a good thing. Not a big fan of XTP's but they often work fine for deer sized game. With cast bullets, I prefer to bust a shoulder over simply a double lung shot.
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I thought busting a shoulder was always the preferred method unless using a super high velocity cartridge.
What don't you like XTPs? Are they too hard or too soft?
I bought XTPs because that's what was available.
 
I can only comment on .44 240gr XTP bullets out of a muzzleloader but I am not impressed either.

NOW, 6 deer shot and 6 recovered and no bullets recovered so take that for what it’s worth but the deer ran far. 100+ yards on double lung hits for all of them. The blood trails were sparse and I was glad I was hunting over a bean field so tracking was easy and a few fell within eye shot.

Maybe my expectations are too high since I was used to shotgun slugs knocking them right down. I switched to .45 Barnes expanders after that and the results improved drastically. Now I use .45 250 Nosler Partitions or 300 gr A Frames in my muzzleloader. They work pretty well too.
 
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earlthegoat2 said:
I can only comment on .44 240gr XTP bullets out of a muzzleloader but I am not impressed either.

NOW, 6 deer shot and 6 recovered and no bullets recovered so take that for what it’s worth but the deer ran far. 100+ yards on double lung hits for all of them. The blood trails were sparse and I was glad I was hunting over a bean field so tracking was easy and a few fell within eye shot.

Maybe my expectations are too high since I was used to shotgun slugs knocking them right down. I switched to .45 Barnes expanders after that and the results improved drastically. Now I use .45 250 Nosler Partitions or 300 gr A Frames in my muzzleloader. They work pretty well too.
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My brother had the opposite results using them in his 44 mag. His were all bang flops.
I think some are programmed to run, others aren't.
I wonder if the higher velocity tore the pedals off, causing the poor blood trail.
 
Always shoulder shoot,unless the deer is close then maybe a neck shot. The xtp is ok for 44 mag from a pistal. From a rifle I don't recommend them. I like a flat point jacketed or a lead fp.
 
Bfh_auto said:
I thought busting a shoulder was always the preferred method unless using a super high velocity cartridge.
What don't you like XTPs? Are they too hard or too soft?
I bought XTPs because that's what was available.
Click to expand...
It is for some but many avoid the shoulder at all costs to avoid bloodshot meat, mostly rifle hunters.

I've seen way too much XTP failures to trust them for anything. There are much better bullets available.
 
CraigC said:
It is for some but many avoid the shoulder at all costs to avoid bloodshot meat, mostly rifle hunters.

I've seen way too much XTP failures to trust them for anything. There are much better bullets available.
Click to expand...
Does failure mean lack of pass through, or it not opening? I usually head or neck shoot with a rifle. I prefer not tracking, so a double lung is a last resort.
 
Bfh_auto said:
Does failure mean lack of pass through, or it not opening? I usually head or neck shoot with a rifle. I prefer not tracking, so a double lung is a last resort.
Click to expand...
If your shooting for the head and neck then the bullet don't matter to much. The xtp tends to open quick and with rifle fps tend to fragment. I don't like the saying bullet failure, if the animal is killed fast. The fp kill fast but don't damage to much meat.
 
I've seen the XTP fail to open and I've seen it come unglued. It's prone to jacket/core separation. Too unpredictable. Of course, I've also seen those who have never seen a failure defend it until the end as if it were designed by their own mother.

Whether or not the bullet fails and whether or not the critter is dead are mutually exclusive. You can have a complete and utter bullet failure and a critter that drops in its tracks. The question is, will you be so lucky next time?
 
CraigC said:
I've seen the XTP fail to open and I've seen it come unglued. It's prone to jacket/core separation. Too unpredictable. Of course, I've also seen those who have never seen a failure defend it until the end as if it were designed by their own mother.

Whether or not the bullet fails and whether or not the critter is dead are mutually exclusive. You can have a complete and utter bullet failure and a critter that drops in its tracks. The question is, will you be so lucky next time?
Click to expand...
I'm not worried about jacket and core separation on deer. I would be on larger animals. I really don't like pencil holes though. They make for terrible blood trails.
 
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