44 Magnum Hornady 240 Grain XTP at rifle velocities

[sabbfan]

That’s the exact bullet I use in my Henry 44 mag at 1670 FPS, no issues with it on deer.

 

[CraigC]

I’m curious, have you tried gold dots or deep curls at rifle velocities? I tried 158 deep curls in my 357 maximum once and they did not work well.

I have. I particularly like the 270gr Gold Dot. If you're gonna exceed typical velocities, you have to be careful which one you use though. I tried the 10mm 180's at 1500fps out of a .38-40 rifle and they pretty much come unglued but at least they don't separate.

 

[someguy2800]

I have. I particularly like the 270gr Gold Dot. If you're gonna exceed typical velocities, you have to be careful which one you use though. I tried the 10mm 180's at 1500fps out of a .38-40 rifle and they pretty much come unglued but at least they don't separate.

Ah, I forgot about the 270 gold dot. I think that one was made tougher as its is supposed to be suitable for 444 marlin. I had similar experience to what you had with the 10mm gold dot with the 158 gold dot. It was not happy at high pressures and it basically pancaked when I shot it into a water jug at 1900 fps.

 

[CraigC]

The 270gr doesn't show much sign of expansion out of a carbine and would be a great elk bullet.

 

[hossfly]

I have shot some 240 Deep Curl Soft points and it groups reasonably well. But the 1894 I own really shoots the XTP's well. Oddly enough I have a 629 that loves those Speers and and Anaconda that doesn't like them at all. It would sure be nice to have all your guns shoot the same loads well, but I'm not so lucky.

I also really wish the 44 rifles SAAMI specs were for .429 like revolvers instead of .431. This would make it more agreeable in the cast bullet realm, but I wasn't asked.

 

[Garandimal]

So Hornady now has recommended velocity 700 to 1500 fps written on the box of the 240 XTP. My Marlin with a typical load of H110 clocks at 1680 fps. The rifle really does like this load, as do my revolvers.

Any hunting duty with this gun will be Southeastern Whitetails. Do I need to be concerned about that bullet failing to hold together at 1700 fps. I could have sworn in the old days they rated that bullet for more speed.

Any input from people who use that bullet at rifle speeds would be appreciated.

According to Hornady Engineers - impact velocity performance envelope is 900-1800 fps.

​

...unless they've changed the bullet.




GR

 

[alsaqr]

Since 2000 i've killed 30-40 deer and scores of wild hogs using the .430 240 grain XTP bullet fired from .50 caliber muzzleloaders. For the first few years i used 130-150 grains of Pyrodex powder. My shots are picked carefully. Yep, quite often the bullet came apart but the animal expired, many bang flopped.

Later on i dropped the powder charge to 100 grains. The bullet continues to kill very well and remains intact except when hitting heavy bone.

 

[Jago88od]

I've been running that same bullet (out of a R92) over IMR4227 and have had nothing but complete pass throughs even through both front shoulders on good sized northern deer at even very close range. No issues with bullets failing at carbine velocities.

Been a great whitetail bullet for me.

What load are you using? What barrel length? I am working up a load for my 20" with 23 gr going 1530 fps. I'm thinking on trying to work up to 1700. Winchester white box is going 1800 fps out of my gun.