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Author Topic: hornady 300xtp mag adequate for elk and black bear?  (Read 1250 times)

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Offline ca dunn

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hornady 300xtp mag adequate for elk and black bear?
« on: June 20, 2005, 01:59:51 PM »
Would the 300grain xtp mag be a good choice for elk or black bear? Velocity would be between 2000-2100 fps.  This bullet is shooting well out of my 460s&w encore.  I like the idea of not spending the money on the expensive bullets if it is not neccesary.  Would I be better off using a lead bullet, or would these velocities be too much.  I realize that for the price of the hunts the bullet is not something to chance, but I also like to practice year around with the load I will be hunting with.  Any opinions?

Thanks
Chris
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Offline Redhawk1

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hornady 300xtp mag adequate for elk and bla
« Reply #1 on: June 20, 2005, 03:32:53 PM »
I am sure it will work. Personally I would use a cast bullet with a gas check or a barnes bullet.  :D
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Offline ca dunn

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460
« Reply #2 on: June 20, 2005, 04:07:47 PM »
Redhawk1, or anyone,
 you suggest using a cast bullet instead,  will I have leading problems at this speed? I guess I assumed leading would be a problem at this velocity.? I have thought about trying the 300 or 325 grain from cast performance.  


chris
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Offline Redhawk1

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Re: 460
« Reply #3 on: June 20, 2005, 05:51:53 PM »
Quote from: ca dunn
Redhawk1, or anyone,
 you suggest using a cast bullet instead,  will I have leading problems at this speed? I guess I assumed leading would be a problem at this velocity.? I have thought about trying the 300 or 325 grain from cast performance.  


chris


I shoot a lot of cast bullets. I have not had any leading problems with hard cast bullets with "gas checks."  Now if you load a cast bullet without a gas check and load it hot, you will melt the bottom of the bullet and then get leading.
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Offline Mikey

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hornady 300xtp mag adequate for elk and bla
« Reply #4 on: June 21, 2005, 09:05:47 AM »
Chris - to follow-up on Redhawk1's advice to use cast bullets, let me suggest you visit the Beartooth Bullets website (add a www. and a .com) and you're there.  Look for bullets and loading data in your caliber and you might be pleasantly surprised at whatcha find.  HTH.  Mikey.
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Offline Flinch

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hornady 300xtp mag adequate for elk and bla
« Reply #5 on: June 21, 2005, 10:03:19 AM »
In my experience with the Hornady 300 xtp is that, it is a pistol bullet designed for pistol velocities.
 I have tried it in a 444 marlin at around 2200 fps and it is very explosive.
I think this set up would probably be OK for deer and softer critters, but I sure wouldnt expect it to penitrate an elk shoulder going that fast.
 I would stick with the cast bullets that use gas checks, and as long as they fit the bore properly you shouldnt have leading problems.
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Offline .358buddy

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hornady 300xtp mag adequate for elk and bla
« Reply #6 on: June 21, 2005, 11:20:17 AM »
Chris

I must agree with the cast idea or use rifle bullets which are designed
to hold together when making contact with bone.  Having taken many elk and several bear I have not chanced poor preformance by using an expanding bullet.  The XTP bullet is a very good bullet and I use them,
just not when I am competing with others for an animal.
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Offline ca dunn

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cast bullets
« Reply #7 on: June 21, 2005, 03:42:33 PM »
ok guys,
I will take your advice and order some cast bullets.
i have looked at beartooth bullets and cast performance, both offer a 300 grain cast bullet.  But there is a (wide flat nose), (long flat nose), (wide long nose)  which one would be better?  I know I need a GC.  Is there a big difference between beartooth and cast performance? I was at cast performance and ended up at beartooth through the load swap.?

I really appreciate everyone sharing their knowledge and experience!

chris
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Offline Redhawk1

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Re: cast bullets
« Reply #8 on: June 21, 2005, 04:58:27 PM »
Quote from: ca dunn
ok guys,
I will take your advice and order some cast bullets.
i have looked at beartooth bullets and cast performance, both offer a 300 grain cast bullet.  But there is a (wide flat nose), (long flat nose), (wide long nose)  which one would be better?  I know I need a GC.  Is there a big difference between beartooth and cast performance? I was at cast performance and ended up at beartooth through the load swap.?

I really appreciate everyone sharing their knowledge and experience!

chris


Also give Montana Bullet works a call. He has great bullets at about half  of the cost of Cast Performance and the quality is great. I use them all the time.  He can send you a price list also.
7730 Hesper Road
Billings, MT  59106
406-655-8163
MTLeadhead@aol.com
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Offline supermag 445

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hornady 300xtp mag adequate for elk and bla
« Reply #9 on: June 21, 2005, 10:53:34 PM »
If you want to stick with a jacketed bullet then I stronly suggest barnes x 300 gr as it is tuff enough for elk.  But I also believe in the cast bullet as you get performance at ANY angle, bone and all.  Good luck

Brian
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Offline Redhawk1

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hornady 300xtp mag adequate for elk and bla
« Reply #10 on: June 22, 2005, 12:34:11 AM »
Quote from: supermag 445
If you want to stick with a jacketed bullet then I stronly suggest barnes x 300 gr as it is tuff enough for elk.  But I also believe in the cast bullet as you get performance at ANY angle, bone and all.  Good luck

Brian


Yes the Barnes X Bullets are also a great choice.  :D
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Offline Mikey

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hornady 300xtp mag adequate for elk and bla
« Reply #11 on: June 22, 2005, 02:23:25 AM »
mohunter said that the WFN would be the most stable after the hit - yep, but that's a bit of a understatement.  The last time I used Beartooth's WFN bullet in either 300 or 330 grain I saw square holes goin' in and square holes goin' out.  I don't think there was any part of either that Elk or that Boar that caused either of my bullets to destabablize.  The only things that destabablized were those two critters (lol).  Mikey.
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Offline Castaway

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hornady 300xtp mag adequate for elk and bla
« Reply #12 on: June 22, 2005, 06:02:32 AM »
I'm getting in late on this, but have to put in my 2 cents worth.  Used to load 300 XTP's and gave them up.  I know that one shot is not a good test, but a few years ago, I took a 155# boar at about 40 yards.  Muzzle velocity was about 1525 f/s with a 300 grain, 45 caliber XTP.  Shot was broadside and it failed to exit.  Bullet was found under far side skin without jacket.  Since then, I've gone to exclusively cast and have yet to recover a bullet from a broadside shot.  Never hunted elk, but bears aren't any tougher than a hog and they don't have a gristle plate to penetrate.  Remember, if you start with a 45 caliber bullet, it's as big as a 30 caliber wants to expand to and you get the added benefit with the beginning of the hole at full caliber.  Besides that, with a well designed cast bullet such as a Keith or any other with a large, flat meplat, you get the added benefit of "slap" on target which opens a big hole from get-to-go.
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Offline Lone Star

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hornady 300xtp mag adequate for elk and bla
« Reply #13 on: June 22, 2005, 07:29:49 AM »
The original 300-grain .452" XTP bullets were never designed for use on game at velocities above ca. 1500 fps.  Those who tried them in .454s et al simply reconfirmed this fact.  In the past few years Hornady has introduced the 300XTP/Mag bullet, much harder than the original and well suited for big game use at higher velocities.  But this doesn't answer the question about the .430" XTPs....

BTW, a bullet which stops under the hide on the off side is usually considered by rifle shooters to have exhibited excellent performance.  True, less chance of a blood trail, but the bullet has expended all its energy inside the target and done all the damage it could do.  These usually would penetrate deeper but the highly elastic hide slows the bullet down after it exits the body cavity; that's why it is found under the hide.  A dead and harvested animal means it worked just fine....but some hunters want all the penetration they can get.  No problem with that.
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