Bullet performance in 44 mag.

[Buckshot#2]

I have had less than ideal performance from Hornady XTP 240 gr. bullets out of a my Ruger Deerfield rifle.  Whats happening is the bullet sometimes disintegrates shortly after impact.  Often no exit hole but the deer keeps on going resulting in a long tracking job.  I must admit I have never lost an animal but I was hoping to improve on this.  Any suggestions??

[Dave in WV]

You could try Nosler Partition Gold HPs. They are expensive but should hold together. I read an article about .45ACP loads one time and the author commented driving a XTP bullet faster than they are designed for makes them open very fast. They are a tough bullet in the intended velocity range. Too toough for me in fact. If XTPs are doing that I don't know if other standard HPs will work either. Maybe a soft point instead would work. Dave

[Hcliff]

You could try the 300 gr XTP or cast to.  I think the cast moderator makes a special bullet in cast the at is of two lead alloys for expansion and peneration in one bullet

Hcliff

[Graybeard]

That is certainly NOT the performance we've gotten with them in my wife's Marlin. Complete penetration with an exit wound usually big enough to put your fist into is what she's getting.

What velocity are you running them? I load them over 24.0 W296/H110 for handguns and her rifle both.

I suggest if you've had this happen more than once and have examined the wound to be sure they are in fact blowing up and not giving full penetration you swith to the 300XTP. That should solve the problem without resorting to bullets that cost like they are made of gold instead of lead. The PTs are really fine but man are they expensive. In a low velocity round like the .44 mag premium bullets just shouldn't be needed.

GB

[Questor]

I found that the $25/box of 500 240-grain commercially cast bullets are fine. They have good accuracy and they are very hard for good penetration.

[Dave in WV]

Lead bullets in a gas operated auto is not a good idea. They tend to clog up the gas port.  Dave

[Questor]

Oh! I thought we were talking revolvers. You're right.