Question about Hornady factory ammo and Magsafe ammo for hunting

[300grJHP]

I recently purchased one of the new redhawks with the 4.2" barrel in 44mag.  This will be my primary deer gun and I expect my shots to range from 10 to 50 yards.

Based on readings, I expect to get about 1200 fps from the factory hornady 240 jhps.  Is this enough muzzle velocity for these bullets to expand?  Also, at this velocity, will this bullet shoot through a deer's shoulder and leave an exit wound on 150 lb deer inside of 50 yds?

My other ammo choice is the 240 gr magsafe soft points, which I think will give me about the same velocity. 

Which of these 2 ammos would be better to use from this barrel length for deer, the JHP or the JSP?

thanks,
300

[nickE10mm]

I recently purchased one of the new redhawks with the 4.2" barrel in 44mag.  This will be my primary deer gun and I expect my shots to range from 10 to 50 yards.

Based on readings, I expect to get about 1200 fps from the factory hornady 240 jhps.  Is this enough muzzle velocity for these bullets to expand?  Also, at this velocity, will this bullet shoot through a deer's shoulder and leave an exit wound on 150 lb deer inside of 50 yds?

My other ammo choice is the 240 gr magsafe soft points, which I think will give me about the same velocity. 

Which of these 2 ammos would be better to use from this barrel length for deer, the JHP or the JSP?

thanks,
300

The factory Hornady hollow points should open up at 1200fps just fine... or even 900fps for that matter.  I would expect a full pass through on shots within 50 yards, as well (there are always exceptions, but you should be fine). 

The Magsafe soft points will basically be more of a guarantee that you will get full penetration at the expense of expansion.  I, personally, really like soft points over hollow points in the lighter .44 mag loads, but YMMV.

[Mikey]

300gn:  nickE is right.  The Hornady will do what you want at even lower speeds than those you can obtain from your 4" 44.

I am not familiar with the Magsafe ammo except in its personal defensive role but if the bullet is designed for some degree of penetration and will give you about the same velocities you should be in good shape with either load.  Good luck.

[shot1]

I have never used Magsafe ammo but I have shot a number of deer and other critters with Hornady XTP bullets. It will get the job done very well. If you put a 240 XTP from your 44 in a shoulder of a deer it is done for. If it does not drop it in it's tracks it will not go far. The XTP bullets do expand very well even at low velocity but they hold together and keep on trucking.

[drdougrx]

Hi....240gr XTPs are NO problem at all.  I took a 400lb boar with one shot under 30yrds in Dec 2008.  DRT.

[Noreaster]

I used a .44 XTP 240 grain in my inline BP rifle using 100 grains of pyrodex to take a 180lb buck at over 130yds last year, (my longest shot on a deer.) Bang drop. The bullet went in on the left side, quartering away shot. Went thru the heart (huge hole,) and drove into the opposite shoulder and then dimpled under the hide. My neighbor was helping me out with the deer and found the huge hole in the heart. That bullet couldn't have been going very fast at that range with only 100 grains of powder, but it worked great. I'm sold on Hornady XTP!

[buck460XVR]

Hornady shows that the 240 grainer in .44 caliber is designed for velocities between 900 and 1750 fps. If it's factory loaded ammo, I suspect they would use the correct bullet for the velocity they intend to achieve.