Sistema1927
Member
This is akin to asking a pilot which is more important, altitude or airspeed. Hopefully you never run out of altitude, airspeed, and ideas all at the same time.
I don’t have or load 44 mag... But your point is clear... so then for 44mag. Why would one use a 180g XTP over a 300gr XTP or vice versa? Distance?
It depends on the penetration needed to reach vital organs of the game hunted. The requirements for cape buffalo and white tails are vastly different.
To add to @.38 Special, a bullet shedding large chunks is also called fragmenting.
If a bullet fragments, a higher weight bullet to start with is an advantage , albeit a theoretical one, because the fragments and what is left will have more mass and be able to carry on with more damage done after the fragmentation takes place.
Monometal bullets and to a lesser extent, bonded core bullets, resist fragmenting because they are of a soldid piece of material in the former and an adhered bi-metal material in the latter. These are designs that would be known as “premium” bullets. Non bonded bi metal bullets would generically be called “cup and core” bullets.
I have deer hunted with both sizes XTP , and found differences mentioned by MCB. The sectional density of the 300 is greater, however velocity of the 250 is more reactive on impact, ie. bigger wound channel. The 300 doesn't mushroom as well unless it hits a bone on impact. Your sight picture, aiming to achieve same trajectory and recoil will be different and the 300 velocity is relative only over a short distance. If you are talking 50 yards or so, it's horse a piece. Greater distance than that, I prefer the 250 in most hunting situations.
I don't have a .44, either. The point I was trying to make, with what I was assuming was a theoretical question, is the example of the .45 Colt, because of the limits of the cartridge, winds up almost being an either-or, where, with the .44, you have a wider loading range and more appropriate range of bullets. If you are looking for a Jack of all trades, using the .44 as an example, is the generic 240grn bullet... splitting the difference between the extremes.
That... ^^^ ...pretty much sums up my understanding of bullet selection. Distance requires speed, but that costs. Big animals require weight, which is likely paid for with a slower speed, and therefore, shorter ranges. Bullet selection is important as well... as others have mentioned, some bullets perform well at slower speeds, others at higher velocity. Long ranges... a bullet with a good BC helps. Etc.
Energy in ft.lbs = bullet mass in grains x velocity in fps squared / 450435
250x1368x1368/450435=1039
300x1305x1305/450435=1134
Around 10% not too significant?