Mountain Gun Load...240gr XTP HP .430 vs 240gr hard cast SWC

[Southern Shooter]

In a private purchase recently made, I had the chance to pick up more than 350 Hornady 240 gr .430 XTP bullets as part of the deal. My questions is this:

At 1,000 FPS, which bullet would you load your rounds up with? Which would be a more effective protection round...the hardcast SWC or the XTP? These would be used in a .44 Magnum revolver and carried in the mountains of Utah, Colorado and some in Wyoming.

Side note: I understand that I could and maybe should up the load both in bullet weight and powder charge. But, the person this gun ( an odd hybrid S&W 28 frame with S&W 629 cylinder and 4" barrel ) belongs to is NOT large...5'2" @ 125 lbs with petite hands. She can shoot stouter loads but wants something that she can shoot more rapidly.

Thanks

 

[Flintknapper]

If you intend to keep velocity modest, then hard-cast for sure.

 

[Blue68f100]

The hard cast should give you better performance at that velocity. If I recall the XTP needs around 1150fps for it to preform properly. These work best when load near max.

 

[hardluk1]

Go with the HC bullets for dangerous animal protection and loaded to a milder level around 1100fps still offer very good penitration.

 

[Certaindeaf]

I'd go with the hardish SWC. If the diameter is right, plain base lead can be driven to at least 1400 without leading.
Back in the old days, the jacketed 240's would not expand on anything but bone. A SWC will make a full caliber hole on anything you hit with it.. from a grouse to a moose. They work well.

 

[buck460XVR]

At 1000FPS I doubt if you'll find much expansion with the XTP so penetration should be similar to HC @ that velocity. In that case accuracy should be the deciding factor, so I'd go with the one that shoots the best outta her gun.

 

[tahoe2]

cast bullets

hardcast bullets at moderate velocities are best in my experience, lots of penetration. The XTP's like 1200fps and more! again just my experience, and that's from a 57-5 Mtn Gun in .41 mag

 

[ChefJeff1]

beartooth bullets.

Hardcast in the mountains.

Hp's in the city.

 

[Lloyd Smale]

Ive shot pigs, bear and deer with a 240 lead swc and 10 grains of power pistol. Its my go to load in the N frames. Im a big guy and have big hands and shoot 500 and 475 linebaughs all the time but an n frame with factory level loads just tears up the web of my hand between my thumb and pointing finger. As such i seldom load my n frames any hotter then this. That load has never left me feeling i needed more power. It kills as well as any handgun load ive used. Cant help you with the jacketed bullets though. I seldom use them and never hunt with them.