Need more data re Hornady 265 fp in Muzzleloader

[aulrich]

I have to admit I am a one trip a year muzzleloader hunter,  so it takes me a long time to get an opinion about a loads terminal performance.  My current load uses the the hornady 44 cal 265 gr fp ( 100 gr 777 and a nosler sabot). I  belive it is the head for the 444 marlin.  I pick this head because it is tougher than bullets designed for 44 magnum pistol, and should be better suited to the higher velocities.  

But I am wondering if it is not too tough the muzzle velocity from a 444 marlin is something around 2200 where as the mot I am getting is 1600-1700. I have shot two does with this load but at under 20 yards. But will I get expansion if I am on the long side of effective say 100 - 125 yards.

So what I am looking for is more experience specifically with that bullet.  Good bad or indifferent.  And to tell you the truth I would not care if I go any expansion if the flat tip was bigger I am guessing it is 30% of caliber if it was 50% or 60%there would be no problem even with no expansion it would still make a large wound channel.

 I have alternatives in inventory but not all of them have been tested.   here are the alternatives

Hornady 44 cal 300gr xtp (Tested OK)
Speer 45 cal 300gr flat tip (Tested OK)
Lee REAL 320gr conical (untested)
Thompson Center 365 Conical hand cast (used in another gun years ago  it's an effective killer again only used at close range) (un tested)

One thing concerns me with the conicals is that  in the hodgdon web sit they say that H777 does not play well with normal muzzle loader lubes, something to do with altering the powder fouling and that I would probably have to use a over powder wad to maintain accuracy.  Even if I do not hunt with them I would like to plink with the conicals so any help on this would be appreciated.

BTW the gun is a Knight American

[toecutter]

I shot the hornady 300gr xtp  over either 100 or 110 gr. of t7 on three deer last season. I'll explain each so you can draw your own conclusion.
  1st was a neck shot at 15yds.  On second thought, this one was with a 245gr t/c xtp, sorry. the bullet passed through but not before blowing the vertebrae so far apart, that the neck was a full 1/3 size larger after the shot.  A good neck shot from most anything stout could do that but it was still impressive. 2nd was w/ 300gr hornady, it was through shoulder at 20yds and the deer dropped. Exit was about the size of a .25 or .50cent piece. Obviously massive trauma to surrounding tissue.  3rd was running deer at 5 yds, caught the spine head on and left an exit bigger than my fist. A friend shot a nice big doe right after this third one,(another 300 grainer out of my gun) right straight in the chest, went about 20 yds, I didn't check out the internal damage.
Hope this helps you, It really helped me just to remember what it was like to hunt again. So I guess... thank you.

[James B]

Last year I shot a big Mule deer with the 300 Grain XTP with the Hornady Mag sabots. I used two 50 grain Pyrodex Pellets. It was a long shot at a bit past 200 yards. The 300 grainer went in the near side and exited through the opposite shoulder. Through the chest shot. It never took a step. Thats the third or fourth Mule deer that I have taken with the 2 pellets and 300 grain Hornady bullet. I would not change that load even for elk or moose. Two pellets with that 300 grain bullet will kill anything on this continent.

[aulrich]

I did some testing with the 265 hornady fp and the 300 hornady xtp. Shooting into wet phone books at 20 yards with a 70 gar load of H7wy7 the 265 gar ffophardly expanded it just flattened out and shed the jacket. it too about 24" of wet phone book to slow it down. The 300 gar step made a nice mushroom and till penetrated 18" in to the phone books.  

On the basis of that test I switched over to the steps. and I used it to take a little buck which is now  batch of sausage.  

I'll post some pictures when I get to borrow a camera with macro capabilities.