44 mag contender 300gr XTP ?

[celisup78]

I recently purchased a scoped 14" 44 mag contender barrel. The obvious next step is to purchase the ammo. I plan on using this to harvest whitetails. From reading many posts on this and other websites, it appears that hornady's JHP/XTP is an excellent round that is used by many. My only question is 240gr or 300gr? I have read that many use the 240gr XTPs, but not much info about how the 300gr shoots out of a 14" barrel or any length barrel for that matter. The problem is the NO ONE sells either size XTP, and therefore I must order them and I would like to order a few boxes but I dont really want to purchase both 240 and 300gr. So my main question is does anyone shoot the 300gr XTP, how does it handle, harvest any whitetails with it, how does it shoot compared to the 240gr, etc, etc? Also, I already shoot a 14" 35 rem barrel with 200gr bullets - how will the recoil of the 44 mag compare? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[Bullseye]

I have only shot the 240 XTP's in my 44's.  I think that is all you will ever need for deer.

[Gary paugh]

I like the 300gr XTP better then the 240gr both kill deer very welll but the 300gr will blow clear through a deer and the 240's seem to stop under the hide on the far side.
I have killed deer with both and if the gun will shoot them i prefer the 300gr.
both shot very well out of my 14' contender.

Gary

[THEPLUMBER]

I've shot deer with both, but with a RugarSBH. Both went clean thru, but I didn't like the recoil of the 300gr.

[celisup78]

Thanks for the replies. I guess it sounds like 240gr is enough bullet for whitetails, but the extra wieght of the 300gr is certainly nice except at the cost of recoil. I would expect the recoil to be a little harder to handle shooting a blackhawk versus a contender. Guess the question comes down to wether or not you want to deal with that recoil. Thanks. More responses from other shooters of these XTP rounds are more than welcomed. The more opinions, the better.

[Graybeard]

I've shot lots of deer with the Hornady 240 XTP over 24.0 grains of H110/W296 and have never recovered a bullet yet. I've shot them as close as almost under my treestand to as far away as about 100 yards. In call cases the bullets performed well and exited giving an excellent blood trail.

[Lone Star]

Some writers and posters would have us believe that you can't kill a little whitetail with less than 300 grain .429" bullets....hogwash.  Heavy bullets have their place and I'd not complain if someone wanted to use them on javelina - but they aren't needed.  Even for IHMSA silhouette shooting, most of the .44 guys in my club went to the Sierra 210 bullet, it had plenty of momentum for the 50# steel rams, shot flatter and recoiled less.  To each his own, but do not believe that there is some magic in the 300+ grain .429" bullets on deer.


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[swampthing]

I've shot them through a 12" G2. very accurate. Penetration was great, for a jacketed bullet. I load with AA#5 and AA#9, with these powders, loaded to 1300fps, recoil was less than my 240's with H110, they were MOVIN', quieter too.

[velvetant]

I like the Nosler 300 gr JHP better then the XTP

[hoser1268]

I use the 300 gr XTPS out of my Ruger Super Blackhawk.  These are factory loads from Hornady Custom.  I cronied them at 1150 out of my 7 1/2 barrel. I took a nice 8 this year with the gun at about 50 yards.  Broke both shoulders on a high hit.  The recoil is not bad at all.  I think it is milder than the lighter bullets.  It has more roll than snap.

[banjoman]

I like the 300 xtp's too but don't be afraid to try the 320 hard cast gas checked they're a little heavier and as fast because there is no jacket. In my 10" tender they where more accurate too.

[old coach]

Try beartoothbullets.com for a good read on bullet performance.
I use the 250 gr.WFNGC over AA#5 in a 14 inch bbl for deer and hogs. Never recovered a bullet. Broke both shoulders on a 250# hog @ 75 yds and kept going. AA#5 is great powder, less noise and muzzle flash.

[dstegjas]

I have been reloading for my .44 Magnum 12" Contender for quite a few years now. I tried both the 300 grain XTP and the 240 grain XTP. Both took whitetails very nicely here in Ohio. Both were very accurate and I never was able to recover a bullet after taking a whitetail. I did however shoot both bullets into wet phone books to see how they performed. Both expanded well and retained most of there weight. That said, I saw no reason to go with the heavier bullet since the 240 grain performed just as well as the 300 grain bullet. Whitetail deer are a thin skinned animal and in my opinion do not require a heavier bullet to take down. So why abuse yourself or your gun with the extra recoil.

As far as recoil goes. If you can handle the .35 Remington in a Contender pistol. The .44 Magnum will be no problem.

Jim

[Ken ONeill]

I've used the 3 most popular 240 JHP's (Sierra, Speer and Hornady XTP) and prefer any of them to the 300's for whitetails. I actually found the Sierra to be the most accurate in most of my .44's, and have therefore used it the most. On some, the expanded bullet has been found just under the hide on the off-side, on others Ive gotten complete penetration. On one, the bullet entered the chest and was recovered at the root of the tail.
The bullet that I use in my 10" .44 Contender is the Speer 200 gr. jacketed magnum hollowpont @ 1600 fps. I've never recovered a bullet, but exit holes are typically 2 1/2".
I'd have to say that any .44 JHP will kill deer well.