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Okay.....so I thought I had decided to use Hornady 300 gr. XTP rounds in my 44 mag. I just purchased a scope and am getting started in handgun hunting. Here's my dilemma.....virtually NOBODY in my area carries any 300 gr. rounds of any kind, but just about everybody has the 240 gr. XTP's. I did find a box of Federal Cast-Core, but they were $49 for 20 and I'd like to stay well under that if I can. I will mainly be hunting deer and hogs, but I want a bullet that will perform well on very large hogs. My question is.....will the Hornady 240 gr. XTP ammunition perform well on large boars over 300 lbs? On a perfectly broadside shot, will the 240 gr. penetrate thru the thick shield and shoulder.....into the vitals EVERY TIME? Anyone with advise is welcome to share it.....as well as anyone with real-life experience on that particular shot. Thanks, I really appreciate it. _______________________________________________________ Hunt Report - South Africa 2022 Wade Abadie - Wild Shot Photography Website | Facebook | Instagram | ||
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Buy a lee 315 gr mold and sizer cast your own out of wheel weights. I think I can load a box for around 5 bucks or less depending what you pay for primers and powder.I shot sveral big pigs with the max load of h110 and cast bullet killed them fine. | |||
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I agree, I have recovered every 240 gr XTP from deer, they worry me. The 300 is best. There are tougher 240 gr bullets too. It is going to depend on your gun too whether a heavy bullet is the right choice. I don't want to use real heavy bullets in a S&W unless it is a new enhanced model rated for heavy recoil. Never having shot a new one, I don't know anything about them either or what they did to fix them. | |||
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p dog shooter, I don't reload. bfrshooter, Thanks for the adivse. I will just keep looking for some 300's. _______________________________________________________ Hunt Report - South Africa 2022 Wade Abadie - Wild Shot Photography Website | Facebook | Instagram | |||
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Big hogs? I would stay away from the 240s, but the 300 grain XTPss work well. Shot a large sow a couple months ago with that load and it worked like a charm. "Ignorance you can correct, you can't fix stupid." JWP If stupidity hurt, a lot of people would be walking around screaming. Semper Fidelis "Building Carpal Tunnel one round at a time" | |||
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Eland Slayer If you can afford to waite, you could just order from midway. I know some around here don't like Midwayusa but I have no complaints. I've spent somewhere around $5k with them over the past 5 years or so. Double Tap 50 rounds of 300gr xtp for $45 really isn't that bad considering that most manufactures are charging between $20-$35 for 20 rounds. | |||
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Midway,Bass Pro,Cabelas,I have ordered from all of them with no complaints.I am sure one of them will have 300gr XTPs. "If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence,try orderin' someone else's dog around" unknown cowboy | |||
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240 gr. XTPs might be all right on thin skinned game, but they don't perform well at all on hogs. A friend of mine shot a hot five times and still didn't kill it. You could see bits of the jacket on the outside of the small boar. I fed him one round of the Garrett 310 grain Hammerheads and the pig was down for the count! I'd check out http://www.garrettcartridges.com for more information on them. They're a great cartridge and are packaged in boxes of fifty rounds. | |||
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When ordering don't forget Mid South Shooters Supply, Clarksville, TN Same state and close by, but I have NO ties to them other than being a satisfied customer for 20 some-odd years. If I order relatively early one day I always have my order the next day Don't limit your challenges . . . Challenge your limits | |||
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Midsouth is the best and cheapest but they sell so much because of that, they run out quick. I needed powder bad and Midsouth was out of ALL powder so I had to go to Powder Valley. Nice people, a little more expensive then Midsouth but it was in stock. Still cheaper then Midway. I do business with them when I have money because they have EVERYTHING. | |||
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I have checked EVERYWHERE for the 300 gr. XTP's and they are on backorder everywhere. Midway says they won't be available till July, but Cabela's says they are expecting another shipment next week. I would think all the online retailers should receive their stock around the same time, but that's a pretty big difference in expected arrival dates. I did, however, find 300 gr. Federal CastCore's in stock at Midsouth. I might just go with them. What are yall's opinions? _______________________________________________________ Hunt Report - South Africa 2022 Wade Abadie - Wild Shot Photography Website | Facebook | Instagram | |||
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In one conversation I had with Randy Garrett, he told me that Federal Cast Core was good ammo. It is not loaded quite as fast, and the bullets are not as hard as Garretts, but it has shot well for me. It also shoots pretty good at 100 yards in a Winchester 44 mag Trapper. For big hogs and black bear, and big bear protection I would prefer Federal Cast core to the 300gr Hounady. I have carried it quite a bit in big bear country. DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY | |||
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Amen, brother! "Ignorance you can correct, you can't fix stupid." JWP If stupidity hurt, a lot of people would be walking around screaming. Semper Fidelis "Building Carpal Tunnel one round at a time" | |||
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I don't mean to poo-poo this forum wisdom, but has anyone used a 240gr XTP on a pig and had the pig live to tell about it? Remember, "bullet failure" only exists when the animal didn't die from a well placed shot. Just because the jacket parted company with the lead core after 12" doesn't mean "failure", unless "success" is a pretty mushroom. I agree that there are better bullets for drilling holes, but I hardly think the 240gr XTP is worthless. Well, at least have an OK day  | |||
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How about the pig being alive after being shot with an arrow, being followed up twelve hours later, and being shot FIVE TIMES in the heart/lung area with the jacket separating at the HIDE, and still requiring a follow up shot (with a Garrett 310 grain bullet) to kill it? Is that good enough? | |||
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Well guys.....you have all been very helpful. I decided to go ahead and try out the Federal CastCore 300 gr. ammo. Even though I found them for $33.99 online, the shipping was $10+ and since I only wanted one box to try, I went ahead and paid the $49 for them at my local shop (I know, it was painful). I sighted in with them today and I am absolutely amazed. They are fantastic rounds. I used a very mediocre rest, which consisted of me sitting on my ass in the bed of my truck and using a carhartt jacket over the tailgate for a rest. Not super steady, but I managed to shoot several groups all between 1" and 1.5" at 50 yards. I sighted them in to shoot about an inch high. I'm very pleased and will use the CastCores from now on I believe. I'll probably just buy a few boxes at a time from online suppliers whenever I need them, to save on shipping. Thanks for everything guys. _______________________________________________________ Hunt Report - South Africa 2022 Wade Abadie - Wild Shot Photography Website | Facebook | Instagram | |||
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  They will get the job done. If possible shoot the pig in the shoulders... Or if you do not mind a little follow up just barely behind the shoulder. DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY | |||
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Reading this thread makes me more than thrilled that I started reloading long ago. Lee 310 RNFP GC is the most accurate bullet I ever shot out of my Super Redhawk. Be sure to post results when you plug something. Don't limit your challenges . . . Challenge your limits | |||
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I worry about them not getting to the vitals. If one must use a jacketed bullet, you will be better served with the 300 grain XTPs. That said, I prefer cast myself....... "Ignorance you can correct, you can't fix stupid." JWP If stupidity hurt, a lot of people would be walking around screaming. Semper Fidelis "Building Carpal Tunnel one round at a time" | |||
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Actually no. You didn't followup with a bit of necropsy to determine what the bullets did. How far did they penetrate? How fast were they launched? Details are important when you declare a bullet worthless. Well, at least have an OK day | |||
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1/2" diameter wound channels that aren't effective?? I have some Ocean Front property for sale in Utah, anyone interested? _____________________________________________________ A 9mm may expand to a larger diameter, but a 45 ain't going to shrink Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened. - Winston Churchill | |||
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There are many that found them deadly including myself. A half inch wound channel that is ineffective I'm sorry but the flag must be raised  _____________________________________________________ A 9mm may expand to a larger diameter, but a 45 ain't going to shrink Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened. - Winston Churchill | |||
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Well I normally go for shoulder shots on game anyway, so I think the hard cast ammo will work well for me. If I'm not shooting a pig in the shoulder, it's because I'm shooting him in the head. _______________________________________________________ Hunt Report - South Africa 2022 Wade Abadie - Wild Shot Photography Website | Facebook | Instagram | |||
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BFR Shooter has taken over 300 Deer with hard cast. M S Hitman has taken litteraly hundreds as well and I have taken a hell of a lot of game with hard cast. Given they were with wide Meplat hard cast none on this web site has anything to sell and I'll take their knowledge any day I know from plenty of experience what works and I realy have my doughts when one claims that a 1/2" wound channel is ineffective. You are selling, but I ain't buying _____________________________________________________ A 9mm may expand to a larger diameter, but a 45 ain't going to shrink Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened. - Winston Churchill | |||
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Yea hard cast do no damage as this photo illistrates  The Ocean front property is still for sale in Utah _____________________________________________________ A 9mm may expand to a larger diameter, but a 45 ain't going to shrink Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened. - Winston Churchill | |||
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On another board one of the posters claimed that he did not like a particular bullet because he shot a Deer through the "heart and lungs" and it ran a long way and took a long time to die. He was asked to post a picture of the heart and lungs and this is the picture that he posted  One of my all time favorites _____________________________________________________ A 9mm may expand to a larger diameter, but a 45 ain't going to shrink Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened. - Winston Churchill | |||
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Nobody's selling. Animals die faster from expanding bullets. This isn't news - it's the whole reason why expanding bullets are sold. Nobody's saying that animals don't eventually die from .430" holes drilled through them. Well, at least have an OK day | |||
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Jacketed bullets only kill quicker for the Nimrods, everybody knows that  These bullets expanded real good, NOT  _____________________________________________________ A 9mm may expand to a larger diameter, but a 45 ain't going to shrink Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened. - Winston Churchill | |||
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I guess this damaged heart caused by a "hard cast" didn't kill quickly?  You guy's are hillarious _____________________________________________________ A 9mm may expand to a larger diameter, but a 45 ain't going to shrink Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened. - Winston Churchill | |||
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This Deer was shot with a rifle and judging by the entrance and exit holes one would think that the Heart and Lungs were hit but not so. This Deer ran   The Vitails have to ACTUALY BE HIT _____________________________________________________ A 9mm may expand to a larger diameter, but a 45 ain't going to shrink Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened. - Winston Churchill | |||
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They do die faster with expanding bullets when you are starting out with a small diameter projectile. This is nonsensical. I have killed plenty of game with both from revolvers and I can say with some certainty that hardcast bullets perform way more reliably than do jacketed bullets. While there are some fine jacketed bullets available, they don't necessarily expand reliably, or they over-expand, the cores separate, etc. Then, they may or may not exit, and I want two holes every single time, no matter what the game. They may or may not make it through bone. No thanks, that's not good enough for me. Two holes bleed more and when my bullet is starting out at a 1/2-inch in diameter, and will punch all the way through no matter what the angle, what more can one ask for???? Please explain. "Ignorance you can correct, you can't fix stupid." JWP If stupidity hurt, a lot of people would be walking around screaming. Semper Fidelis "Building Carpal Tunnel one round at a time" | |||
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Sounds like more time in front of a computer than actually killing game, but that's just my idea. If ignorance is bliss; there are some blissful sonofaguns around here. We know who you are, so no reason to point yourselves out. | |||
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I wonder how I have been able to kill so many of the thin skinned game with hard cast? O'yea I rememeber by hitting the vitails _____________________________________________________ A 9mm may expand to a larger diameter, but a 45 ain't going to shrink Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened. - Winston Churchill | |||
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I'll most definitely report back here after I've taken a few pigs with this ammo. Trust me, if there is any problem with this round and its killing abilities I will glady point it out, and swith to another round. I expect to take several animals with it before the end of 2010.....at the very least, a few big hogs and some whitetail does. _______________________________________________________ Hunt Report - South Africa 2022 Wade Abadie - Wild Shot Photography Website | Facebook | Instagram | |||
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You and me both. I like breaking shoulders. "Ignorance you can correct, you can't fix stupid." JWP If stupidity hurt, a lot of people would be walking around screaming. Semper Fidelis "Building Carpal Tunnel one round at a time" | |||
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Sounds like you are ready to go. I think you will be quite happy with your ammo selection. | |||
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I wonder how far that gut-shot deer would've gone had it been hit the same with a hardcast bullet from a revolver? Would it have ever been recovered? Well, at least have an OK day | |||
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dla, do you handgun hunt? If you do, what calibers do you hunt with, and what type of game, if I may ask? "Ignorance you can correct, you can't fix stupid." JWP If stupidity hurt, a lot of people would be walking around screaming. Semper Fidelis "Building Carpal Tunnel one round at a time" | |||
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Very poor shot placement, a deer quartering towards the shooter and shot behind the shoulder! Shot proper, a hard cast revolver boolit would indeed put the deer down. Most handgun shooters are better shots then a lot of rifle shooters because they know their limitations just like the archer. They also know where the vitals are in a deer. | |||
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1- about the same distance 2-Without a dought _____________________________________________________ A 9mm may expand to a larger diameter, but a 45 ain't going to shrink Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened. - Winston Churchill | |||
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