44 mag reload XTP point of aim issues. Need advice.

The 180s are moving faster, hence departing the muzzle sooner, and experiencing less muzzle rise than the slower bullets. This is normal for handgun bullets at handgun ranges (and can be observed in some heavy-recoiling rifles) and is a good case for adjustable sights.

For those few guns where I shoot different loads, I set POA for my favorite load and then for the others I write the hold over/under in inches on the ammo box.

You POI's are right in line with expectations based on bullet weights. My experience is that makers tend to zero for what they consider the most common bullet weights/velocities and anything too much above or below that may mean substantial sight adjustment required.

My Ruger SRH .454 is set up by Ruger to handle 240 to 260 grain bullets at .454 velocities but I prefer bullets weighing 325 to 360 grains which shoot dramatically higher at the same distances, so I had to get a custom, extra tall front sight for it. Same for my Ruger NM BH in .45 Colt when shooting heavy bullet "Ruger only" loads.

It is normal to have different POI's with different bullets. My choice would be the 240 grain bullets. If you prefer lighter ones adjust the sights accordingly.

It’s an SRH. The rear sight has detents and indicator marks. Count clicks between zeros for the 240’s and the 180’s, and live life happy.

I have issues with my 7.5" SBH and 240gr bullets. It shoots high, even with the rear sight bottomed out. If I want to use iron sights, and have a POA/POI at 50 yard, I need to shoot 200 gr bullets. Last year, I put on a Burris Fastfire 3 which gave me more elevation adjustment. I wanted to go back to iron sights, so I took off the FF3, but I needed to use a six o'clock hold on a 6" black circle at 15 yards to hit center. So basically, I was 3" at 15 yards with 240gr and the rear sight bottomed out.

Next weekend, I'm going to try several loads to see what works best. I have a plinking load of 240gr and 10.0gr of Unique, my regular load of 240gr and H110 (which shoots dead on in a SRH and T/C Contender), some 300gr and H110 and the 200gr with H110.

I wanted to go with the 240gr bullets because I plan on using this as my short range (<50 yards) bear handgun. If I can't find a suitable load, I might have to put the FF3 back on.

If you hit a deer
with a 180 hp @ 1800 fps. You're going to lose a lot of meat.

Kind of non-sequitur.
So, rifles are out then, right?

I agree with the adjustable sights. Holdovers are hard with a pistol. The firearm ends up covering what I need to see to get proper orientation.

Count the clicks and be happy.

Stubert said:

If you hit a deer
with a 180 hp @ 1800 fps. You're going to lose a lot of meat.

Click to expand...

While I believe that velocity is indeed above the intended velocity for maximum terminal performance from a 180 gr .44 cal XTP, it's definitely not above it for many other 180 gr bullets.

As for losing "a lot" of meat. If one hits a deer where one is supposed to, the amount of loss to the overall amount of meat is going to be very little, regardless of what 180 gr projectile is being used. Since 85% of the best meat on a deer is far from the front shoulders, and most deer other than mature bucks have very little meat on their front shoulders, I don't see this as an issue.

With an expanding handgun bullet it can easily take a turn from the shoulder towards the backstrap area and ruin the meat. You can not compare a 180gr XTP bullet and a 180gr rifle bullet.

Back in point, like said you are experiencing perfectly normal impact drift from the different weight bullets, night I worry.

for distance shooting stick with the xtps. they stay accurate as far out as you want to shoot them. I get 1800 fps with the 180 grain xtps out of my 6 inch model 29.

luck,

murf

In a 44 magnum i just stick with a 240 gr bullet in a 357 / 38 spl a 158 gr bullet and in a 9mm a 124 gr never run anything at max just find a load that shoots to POA and stick with it

buck460XVR said:

While I believe that velocity is indeed above the intended velocity for maximum terminal performance from a 180 gr .44 cal XTP, it's definitely not above it for many other 180 gr bullets.

As for losing "a lot" of meat. If one hits a deer where one is supposed to, the amount of loss to the overall amount of meat is going to be very little, regardless of what 180 gr projectile is being used. Since 85% of the best meat on a deer is far from the front shoulders, and most deer other than mature bucks have very little meat on their front shoulders, I don't see this as an issue.

Click to expand...

The meat "lost" from the use of 180 grain JHP's will not be from the explosive expansion...it will be from lack of penetration on anything but a broad side shot! I have shot a few deer with 200 grain large mouth JHP's and recovered one bullet IN THE NECK of a small buck and I also lost one because I took a quartering away shot. I switched to 240 grain JHP's and hard cast SWC's and never lost another regardless of shot angle.