I'm getting back into hand gun hunting after a 30 year lay off. Been using a longbow for the last 30 but recently suffered a shoulder injury that has stopped my archery cold.I have used the Barnes in a 06 that I use on controlled hunts for elk and they are awsome. Used to get a lot of jacket shedding with 44 bullets years ago and don't want that again. Anyone using them on deer and elk and how did they work? What load? Any help would be welcomed. Thanks Frank

Welcome to the forum, Frank, and welcome back to handgun hunting! Have you considered a good, heavy WFN hardcast bullet? They tend to penetrate a lot better than expanding bullets.

In 30yrs their bullets have changed. They don't make the 300gr bullet any more for the 44mag. Actually I think they were designed for the 444Marlin but I hollow pointed them and shot them out of my New Model Super Blackhawk. I don't recall having any problems with the jacket shredding and even after I hollow pointed them they still made a complete pass through on deer. The exit wound was messy but it sure anchored them. I've since switched to Hornadys so I can't help you with Barnes new stuff in 44mag. In the S&W 500 their XPB's work great, and they should at a little over a buck a piece!

Another vote for hardcast. If you want an expanding type bullet I would go with a Nosler Partition Handgun. Those barnes are just too damn pricey for me. I have never had any troubles with the nosler. The hornady xtp's though I have had come apart. Close range extreme velocities eguals ugly and for me one lost deer.