Barnes 225 solid coppers over other 44cal bullets?

[Chuck Buster]

:roll: What are some of the opinions of the Barnes 225gr solid X copper bullets compared to other bullets of about the same weight from 220 to 240gr, as to it’s shock and killing ability on larger game?

[Graybeard]

The .44 mag is not a high velocity round. It isn't tough on bullets and everything the round is capable of doing is done quite well with either hard cast bullets when you need penetration above all or conventional JHPS or JSPs when you want expansion combined with decent penetration. I just can't for the life of me see a valid reason to spend the money on a bullet like the Barnes for this round.

GB

[Chuck Buster]

Hi GB,
I have been using the Barnes X bullets in my 15” 444 Encore barrel because I have been getting jacket separation with everything else I have tried. The Barnes bullets really work great in it and I am pushing them with 55gr of 1680, which gives me fantastic FPS. I was just wondering how they would work moving in the low teens? They probably wouldn’t have enough velocity to open up and create the proper shock wave that they are intended for, as you have suggested.

[Hcliff]

Try shooting them at reduced velocities in wet news paper.  that will show if they have been inproved and expand.  I did this out of my 44 and they expanded but the petals open wide which reduces peneration because of the wide mushroom and the shrt shank to push it.  Another alternative is the Nolser handgun partition or the handgun A frame if the velocities are so high you are having jacket seperation

Have fun

Hcliff

[Chuck Buster]

I was getting the jacket separation only with my 444 Marlin and that’s why I went to the Barnes solid coppers. They work great in it because I am pushing them out at 2425fps. I wasn’t sure though about the 44mag and that’s why I ask the question!