240 GR. vs 300 GR, XTP
11-18-2007, 11:32 PM
#21
Join Date: May 2006
Location:
Posts: 828
RE: 240 GR. vs 300 GR, XTP
I'll be using the high shoulder shot this year. I used the behind the shoulder shot last year and consequently had another hunter put their tag on the buck. Here's a little article about a study done in South Carolina. The study involved shot placement and how far deer ran. Out of a little over 400 deer the average distance ran for a heart hit is 39yds, lungs 50yds, guts 69yds, and shoulder 3yds. http://www.scilowcountry.org/cedar_knoll_deer_study.htm
11-19-2007, 12:19 AM
#22
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Kountze, Texas
Posts: 5,580
RE: 240 GR. vs 300 GR, XTP
If I were getting those results I would definitely go tothe heavier bullet, Just make sure you keep your accuracy with the 300 grainer.To me a blood trail is insurance. That is why I really like full sized conicals. If you haven't tried full sized flat nosed conicals they are very effective. The .460 gr. bullet I use punches through the deer as if it were a cardboard target. I've only shot two deerwith that bullet, but bothshots left an easy 40's yard red trail to a dead deer. One was a double rib behind the shoulder shot, and the other took out the shoulder on the opposite side.
C. Davis
C. Davis
11-19-2007, 03:53 AM
#23
Fork Horn
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location:
Posts: 141
RE: 240 GR. vs 300 GR, XTP
My guns are flintlocks with 24" and 28" barrels so I have to use real black powder; My rifles are 1/28 twist and shoot the .452 250 and 300 grain xtp's really well. They shoot much better with Goex 2f than 3f so my velocity is only around 1500 fps. with 90-100 grain charges but they are very accurate.
Anyway; I have taken 1 deer so far with the rifle shooting 100 grains of Goex 2f and the .452 300 grainer at about 65-70 yards. The shot went thru ahead of the front shoulder and out behind the off shoulder. If I must brag; it was a perfect shot placement under the conditions. The deer went down faster than a New York parking ticket. There was not alot of bloodshot meat but the exit was about the size of a quarter and I want a bullet to exit. This one did and believe the 300 grainer to be a better choice if you want full penetration.
I shot some Swiss powder yesterday in attempts to boost the velocity a little but it didn't group nearly as well as the Goex 2f so I am staying with it. Next I am going to try some 300 grain Speer Gold dots and if they group well they will be my load for this season. There really isn't that much difference in trajectory between the 250-300 grainers in my opinion; but I am only shooting out to 125 yards.
Anyway; I have taken 1 deer so far with the rifle shooting 100 grains of Goex 2f and the .452 300 grainer at about 65-70 yards. The shot went thru ahead of the front shoulder and out behind the off shoulder. If I must brag; it was a perfect shot placement under the conditions. The deer went down faster than a New York parking ticket. There was not alot of bloodshot meat but the exit was about the size of a quarter and I want a bullet to exit. This one did and believe the 300 grainer to be a better choice if you want full penetration.
I shot some Swiss powder yesterday in attempts to boost the velocity a little but it didn't group nearly as well as the Goex 2f so I am staying with it. Next I am going to try some 300 grain Speer Gold dots and if they group well they will be my load for this season. There really isn't that much difference in trajectory between the 250-300 grainers in my opinion; but I am only shooting out to 125 yards.
11-19-2007, 07:40 AM
#24
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Comance county, OK
Posts: 11,410
RE: 240 GR. vs 300 GR, XTP
i have used the .430 240 grain XTP bullet since igot back into muzzleloading in2000.It has worked very well for me on deer; most have been bang flops. It has also killed many dozens of hogs for me; most of them were bang flops too. A fully grown hog is much harder to kill than a whitetail deer.My shots are picked very carefully and the bullet goes where it is supposed to. In my experience; sometimes they exit and sometimes they do not exit,neither matters to me.
If an exit hole is important to you, then use the .45 caliber 240 grain XTP Magnum bullet. A friend uses them and there is always an exit.
If an exit hole is important to you, then use the .45 caliber 240 grain XTP Magnum bullet. A friend uses them and there is always an exit.
11-19-2007, 09:57 AM
#25
Fork Horn
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: southwest ohio USA
Posts: 111
RE: 240 GR. vs 300 GR, XTP
The .452, 300 grain XTP is ALL that I use. Never had a deer go farther than 20 yards. Always good blood, most drop on the spot. The Hornady sabot is a little tighter than the T/C version. I was very disappointed with the SST's performance, no blood, no expansion (even thru both shoulders). The XTP or Gold Dots would be your best bets. My best 3 shot group at 100 yards was a little over 3/4 inch.
11-19-2007, 10:12 AM
#26
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,585
RE: 240 GR. vs 300 GR, XTP
Ridge Runner, Please dont tell the deer around here that. I have been getting bang flops every since I started using 250gr Gold Dots and 110777 or 120 RS and I shoot them 3 or 4 inches above the heart where the ganglion center and the arterys are all together and go through both lungs, I used to shoot them in the same place with the same result with my 54 hawken and a round ball. Lee
11-19-2007, 04:31 PM
#27
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location:
Posts: 3,246
RE: 240 GR. vs 300 GR, XTP
ORIGINAL: keyshunter
I have been using T/C Mag sabots with 240 grain XTP's. I have shot 5 deer with that bullet, at ranges from 35 to 95 yards. All have been chest shots and not one gave any sign of being hit. Every deer traveled at least 80 yards after the shot. All were recovered, and none of the bullets penetrated the animal and blood trail (if any) was very sparce, and close to the place the deer was found.
Thefifthdeer, an average 8 point buck, was shot the other day. Shot at about 35 yards, he gave absolutely no sign of being hit. There was a small amount of hair at theplace he was shot and not a drop of blood could be found except right at the place he was found--about 125 yards (and 2 hours)away in one of the thickest, most briar infested places onmy farm. Shot was broadside behind the right shoulder, the bullet stopped under the hide on the left side. Shot a a downward angle, the chest cavity was filled with blood, but none seemed to leak out. The bullet mushroom was very pretty (as were all the others) , but I would like to find a bullet that would--at least onbroadside shots--penetrate the animal. Load was 100 grains Pyrodex pellets. Would a 300 grain XTP give better penetration? If not, what would you recommend?
I have been using T/C Mag sabots with 240 grain XTP's. I have shot 5 deer with that bullet, at ranges from 35 to 95 yards. All have been chest shots and not one gave any sign of being hit. Every deer traveled at least 80 yards after the shot. All were recovered, and none of the bullets penetrated the animal and blood trail (if any) was very sparce, and close to the place the deer was found.
Thefifthdeer, an average 8 point buck, was shot the other day. Shot at about 35 yards, he gave absolutely no sign of being hit. There was a small amount of hair at theplace he was shot and not a drop of blood could be found except right at the place he was found--about 125 yards (and 2 hours)away in one of the thickest, most briar infested places onmy farm. Shot was broadside behind the right shoulder, the bullet stopped under the hide on the left side. Shot a a downward angle, the chest cavity was filled with blood, but none seemed to leak out. The bullet mushroom was very pretty (as were all the others) , but I would like to find a bullet that would--at least onbroadside shots--penetrate the animal. Load was 100 grains Pyrodex pellets. Would a 300 grain XTP give better penetration? If not, what would you recommend?
