Question for 44 mag hunters?

[300grJHP]

For medium sized deer out to 100 yards, what would be better from a 20" barrel:  rem/umc 180 gr jsp or hornady 240 gr xtp jhp?   Also, what kind of velocity should I expect from these rounds in my rifle?

Thanks, 300

[dpe.ahoy]

I've never used the 180JSP, but have harvested several mule deer with the 240 XTP HP on top of 24.0 gr of H-110.  It is, shall we say, quite effective.  All but 1 out of 15-18 have dropped where they stood.  On the one that didn't, the butt stock broke by the tang sending the shot low,left, breaking the hind leg and splitting open the belly.  I always go for the heart/lung shot, if I can't, I don't shoot.  Saw my second wife take the top of the skull of a muley doe off and half the brain. That poor thing liked to kick the tar outa me trying to check her.  That experience and seeing deer with their jaw shot or a neck wound festering keeps me shooting for, as Jack O'Conner always said, "The big middle."  DP

[Graybeard]

The 240 XTP is a super deer bullet from rifle and handgun.

[Rangr44]

I only like a 180gr out of a handgun, like a 8-3/8" Smith.
 
The 240grs, in a long gun, as the others have posted, usually result in  DRT deer.
 
.

[Graybeard]

I was running short on time earlier but I'll expand now.

My wive's first two big game animals were both killed with a Marlin 336 in .44 Magnum using the Hornady 240 XTP over 24.0 grains of W296. The first was perhaps 25 yards away the second about 75 yards. Both were Corsican rams.

That first one had the largest exit hole I've ever seen from anything. Honestly I think my fist would have fit in the exit hole it made. I had previously taken deer with that bullet from handguns but her kills were the first in a rifle with it. I also shot a ram on that hunt using the same load in my S&W 29 Silhouette with 10-5/8" barrel.