300 gn XTP in 44mag

[trekker73]

Fellas anyone used these in revolver or carbines? I am trying to figure out the expansion characteristics for medium or large game. I dont tend to pay much attention to Hornadys published velocity recommendations, they are usually pretty gooned up. Wondered if its just a 'longer 240xtp' so to speak or tougher bullet all round. Thanks if any replies can relate to info on this bullet. Not after a hardcast vs jacketed argument.

 

[nick22]

I have hunted with the 300 grain XTP I was hunting with a 5" 629 Smith&Wesson. I was running a maximum charge of 19.0 grains of H110. I don't have any chrono information on that load. I was hunting on the edge of a hay field and long story short shot a mature doe in the front of the chest at 60 yards or so. At the shot she dropped to the ground quivered for a bit and was done. Unfortunately I never found the bullet during the gutting/butchering process, I do recall the bullet making it through the diaphragm so it had probably penetrated over 30" of flesh. It may not have ended any different if I were using the 240 grain XTP.

 

[Cfish]

I’ve been using them in my muzzleloader with a sabot and have had great results. Puts deer and big hogs down. Shot a buck at 110 yds and hit the spine at the base of the neck, he dropped like a stone. The recovered bullet had decent expansion and shed about 25% of its weight.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I shot two deer one year with factory 300 gr XTPs with my 44 rifle.

Shot both behind the shoulder and they both ran 50-60 yds pouring blood out the whole time.

I was satisfied with the results and I didn’t recover any bullets but the exit wound was nothing spectacular on either. It may have been slightly larger than bullet diameter.

I have used them in my ML as well years ago. Once again, I was satisfied but there didn’t seem to be much expansion then either.

The good thing about them is they are usually available and are decently accurate.

I would use them again but only if a few other choices were unavailable.

 

[MtnHiker]

Years ago I stopped using any 300 grain projectiles for 44 magnum. I just think it is pushing the envelope. First off I feel 270 is about optimal max weight for overall performance and 240-255 is just fine (not just external ballistics but terminal, recoil, accuracy, etc.) for .429 projectiles in 44 magnum. This is my opinion and I know guys who disagree.

I have several revolvers and lever guns in 44 magnum. I had feeding problems in one of my Marlins. . IFIRC the OAL case length was right at the limit but still at spec. Never could make them work in that gun. Wanted a hog gun so I bought a stainless Marlin 1894 20" and added the XS sight rail and ghost ring set up and added a forward mount scout scope. So after spending time and money I could not make it work with any 300 grain loads (roll your own or factory). For factory I tried Hornaday, Federal and some Buffalo Bore. My blued Marlin with thousands of rounds threw it ran them but if you short stroked at all it was finicky. After that I gave up not wanting to carry one load for revolvers and one for rifle.

 

[buck460XVR]

Fellas anyone used these in revolver or carbines? I am trying to figure out the expansion characteristics for medium or large game.

According to Hornady, the 300 grainer has a wider range of applicable velocities than their 240 grainer, but not enough to make a difference. That would tell me that construction is very similar. Like others, I have not had luck with heavy for caliber projectiles in my .44s. Accuracy was never as good as 240s. While Speer's 270 gr Deep Curls shot well enough, terminal performance on deer was not that much better to justify their cost.

 

[trekker73]

According to Hornady, the 300 grainer has a wider range of applicable velocities than their 240 grainer, but not enough to make a difference. That would tell me that construction is very similar. .

I dont think hornadys lower speed figures in these charts indicate expansion, I think they just indicate the cartridge is still effective. For example I did a lot of work using xtp in 357. I get 158 opening just subsonic, the 110 and 125 needing to have supersonic impact(they actually have much tougher noses than the 158). Hornady claims anywhere down to 300fps slower as the lower estimate. Not even remotely close. Again I think they put they low figure out there to say 'well the bullet still kills at 38 and 44 special speeds even if it doesnt open'

Similarly plenty of reports of 240xtp openining just supersonic and good expansion 1150-1250fps. The few tests I can find on 300 xtp show minimal expansion even at 1300fps impact. Hence why I was asking for real world experiences.

 

[Varminterror]

Hornady claims anywhere down to 300fps slower as the lower estimate.

This doesn’t align with Hornady’s published info for those bullets. Their published data, however, DOES promote that the lighter bullets have tougher construction to coincide with their inherently faster velocities.

 

[Varminterror]

I shoot the older 300grn XTP’s with 2 cannelures in 44mag which puts them right at the end of Ruger Super Blackhawk and Vaquero cylinders over loads of H110 exceeding book maximums - getting up over 1300fps, approaching 1400 in 7.5” barrels (all with less primer flattening than book max loads at book COAL). Killing performance on deer and hogs is fantastic, with my farthest harvests this far being just under 200yrds (impact velocity obviously less than muzzle velocity).

 

[trekker73]

This doesn’t align with Hornady’s published info for those bullets. Their published data, however, DOES promote that the lighter bullets have tougher construction to coincide with their inherently faster velocities.

View attachment 1099376

I havent seen any tests align with hornadys info is the point.

The 158 needs about 1000fps to expand, hornady says 700.
The 125 needs about 1100fps, Hornady says, 800.

As I said, Horndays claims are around 300fps slower...

As to a correlation for the lighter the tougher bullet, doesnt really hold as the 140xtp is tougher than the 110 and 125....

Luckygunners 38 vs 357 tests shows same thing I am saying.
38 Special and .357 Magnum Self-Defense Ammo Ballistics Test - LuckyGunner.com Labs