.41 210 XTP on game performance

[rimfire]

That is a another XTP thread here that prompted me to add this regarding the .41 210 XTP.

Out of my 7.5" Redhawk at 30 yards or so I shot a medium sized doe just behind the shoulder and did not get an exit.  No major structure was hit...only one rib.  She ran about 25 yards and dropped.

Out of my 10.5" Contender I shot a button buck straight up in line with the front leg a little over center for the deer vertically.  Deer ran like nothing happened until it suddenly dropped after 60 yards or so.  Again, no exit wound.

Both deer were perfectly broadside and I obviously recovered both, but I was surprised I did not get complete penetration on either when I read many who claim they always get an exit with this bullet.

Velocity has not been chronographed by me yet.  Load for both was 21 grains H110/296 with a CCI 350 primer and Starline brass.  My experience from other loads says I will see around 1375+ fps out of the Redhawk and 1650+ fps out of the Contender, but I need to confirm.

Cartridge Performance loads this same bullet for Gary Reeder's .41 wildcats at much higher velocities and claims he has never failed to get an exit on anything he has taken with it.  I only have two animals to judge, but I have yet to get an exit with this bullet on one small and one mid-size deer.

Anyone else have any comments about this bullet?  It shoots very accurately in all of the .41s so I would hate to scrap it...but I would like an exit.

[Larry Gibson]

Question; what did the recovered bullets look like? Did you hit the heart in either case or were they just lung shot?

I push the 210 XTP out of my 7.5" Bisley .41 Mag at 1450 fps with H110.   I have not had a failure to exit on deer from shots through one or both shoulders while going through the heart/lung. Do not expect the deer to drop at the shot when shot with a handgun.  They can go a long ways even when shot with more powerful rifles. Sounds like you did well all in all. I am not a proponant of exit wounds being necessary. I am a proponant of puting the bullet through the heart/lung area. Many times, depending on the angle, a behind the shoulder shot or a high center shot does not hit the heart/lung area. They only hit lungs and the deer will go some distance even if there is an exit wound.  You did well.

Larry Gibson

[S.B.]

Sounds like his disappointment was with penetration (bulllet didn't pass through) not distance deer ran after being shot?

[Graybeard]

They don't work well on big hogs. Been there done that and would never do it again. But it was all I had with me that day.

[Ravenwolf]

I've used the Hornady 210 XTP in my Redhawk chambered for the 410 GNR (454 necked down to 41 caliber).   I get around 1800 fps at the muzzle.  This year I've taken 3 deer with this load.  Deer #1 was a medium sized 8-point at 55 yards, extreme angling down shot from a ridge top tree stand into the bottom.  Bullet entered high behind shoulder and exited low behind offside shoulder.  Complete pass through. DRT.  Deer #2 was a large 170# NY 10 point at 90-95 yards, quartering towards me with an almost level shot.  Bullet entered onside shoulder, traveled 3 - 3.5 ft and was found lodged under the skin in front of the off side hip.  It had broken a rib going in.  See Pic. DRT.  Deer #3 was a large mature doe at 65 yards, broadside shot from tree stand.  Bullet double lunged the doe, complete pass through and she ran 30 yards.  \



Since two deer died where they stood and one after she ran minimally I find I like this bullet at the muzzle velocity I get from my cartridge.  If hunting deer sized game then I would probably pick this bullet again.  However, if going after larger game animals then I still prefer a hard cast bullet for more significant penetration.  JMO and experience, your mileage may vary.....RW 

[GradyL41]

I took a doe with a 41#2 -- which is a .445 super mag necked down to a .41-- mv was about 2200 range was 90 yards-- bullet hit and broke the spine and then out the middle of the ribs on the other side - entrance and exit was 1" plus no tracking was necessary duh -- next I want to try 210 gold dot---but the XTP did well for me
there was bits and pieces of lung scattered around -- --I have a .41 GNR this one now Ravenwolf is making me want a .410 GNR

[44 Man]

GradyL, The Gold Dot is more of an anti personel bullet.  I would expect it to come apart at your velocities and not penetrate enough.  I'd stick with the XTP.  It sounds like the XTP is doing the job!  44 Man

[Ravenwolf]

GradyL41, what type of firearm is your 41GNR#2 in?  I considered that round in a Contender barrel....RW

[GradyL41]

Ravenwolf -- it is in a 14" TC with a 4x Burris--shoots well and fun to shoot-- oh yeah it has a muzzle brake --but I use electronic head phones so I do not care-- we can get about 2300-2330 but took it down to about 2200+ it seemed like enough

44 man you may be right -certainly the xtp  did well indeed as it broke a lot of bone--well for a deer- and kept going