What do you think of these bullets for deer and black bear? I'm actually using a lever action rifle, but it's in 45 COlt so I posted here.

Should be able to get about 1500-1700fps.

Should perform just fine. I believe that velocity range is within the bullet's design parameters.

Should do the job....

Probably be a good idea to specify the XTP MAG over the standard XTP at those velocities. JMHO.

Is the XTP Mag a little stouter? But still .452 caliber?

Sometimes we are limited in handgun bullets here in Canada, not always a great stock, so I havent' heard about the MAG. Maybe I should check their website.

I think it has a bit thicker jacket and is a lot tougher.

Sounds like a steep load for a 45 Colt. Is it a 454 by chance if so it probably can handle it.

quote:

Originally posted by Swede44mag:
Sounds like a steep load for a 45 Colt. Is it a 454 by chance if so it probably can handle it.

It's a lever action rifle.

Swede;
Check the OP, it is in a rifle.

I like the Speer 300 grain jacketed softpoint. The jacket was/is plated on the core and the nose profile is very effective on game.

I worked up a load out of my Ruger with the 300gr XTP magnum. Very accurate and they perform well for a jacketed bullet.

3 years ago I bought a Marlin 1894 in .45 Colt to hunt whitails with a friend in Indiana on his farm. I have shot 3 deer with the 300 gr. XTP and 22.5 gr. Win. 296. It dropped each deer right where they stood. The bullets were not recovered. I have worked up to the same load with the 300 gr. XTP Mag, but havent shot anything with it yet. Either bullet shoot 5 shots into 1.0-1.5" at 100 yards.

Wow, thats some good shooting .

I should probably mention how I have gotten the Marlins to shoot well. I started with a Model 1895 made in the 70s. It seemed to want to shoot well, but I was getting fliers that ruined the groups. It has a Leupold VX-II 1-4X scope. My Forester case trimmer seemed to not be getting cases trimmed consistently enough to allow a consistent crimp. I think that slight variations in the rim prevented the case from being held consistently enough for a consistent trim length. The Forester is a good trimmer for cases I don't crimp, but I needed something better for the .45-70. I tried the Lee case trimmer, and it appeared to solve the problem. With the 300 gr. Hornady HP and 53.0/IMR-3030 or 47.0/RL-7, I consistently get 3-shot groups of 1.0" at 100 yards. My best group has been 0.85" at 100 meters for 5 shots. I crimp the bullets with the RCBS seating die, in the same step as seating the bullet. Cast bullets will generally shoot about 1.5" with the same loading techniques. I like 4759 for shooting cast bullets.

When I bought the Model 1894, I bought the Lee trimmer for .45 Colt and just started with it from the beginning. This rifle also has a Leupold VX-II 1-4X scope. As I have always liked Win. 296 for large handgun loads with jacketed bullets, that is what I started with and did not feel I needed to go any futher. I like the Redding profile crimp dies for handgun cartridges. My best 5-shot groups have been about 0.90", with the worst at 1.48" at 100 yards. I have a number of bullet moulds for 250 to 310 gr. bullets. So far cast bullets seem promising in the .45 Colt but I need to do more work with them.

I do not crimp bullets usually - just for lever action rifles and for those with heavier recoil such as the .416 Rem. and .458 Lott. When I do need a crimp, I think a consistent trim length is the secret to accuracy, and the Lee trimmer is the most consistent. It is pretty much fool proof, and never has to be reset when you change calibers.

did you have to do any trigger work , or bedding ? . I had a 223 varmint rifle that wouldn,t shoot that well . .Course ,I had an old 788 Rem. in 223 that I found would consistantly shoot 5/8" groups @200 yards with a 6 x scope and 53 gr TSXs .
.I guess some good shooters are found where they are ... And not where everyone else says they will be .. Like bfr,s 44 and Whit,s 500 ...A friend has a Marlin 357 mag that sometimes shoots tiny groups .Definatly good enough for head shots on deer @150 yrds ...

I put a Wildwest Trigger in my 94 Marlin.It brought the pull down to 3 1/4 lbs .Crisp with no slop like the factory trigger.I use a Pro Point on it and can shoot 2" groups at 100 yds .I use 300 Gr.XTP`s ,but you need to crimp in the top grove.I shot some Porkypines with it and it kid of picks them up and back aways.

I never found a Marlin to be bad except the .44 mag with the screwy twist. Some pencil neck had his head up his butt to decide 1 in 38" was right.

quote:

Originally posted by bfrshooter:
I never found a Marlin to be bad except the .44 mag with the screwy twist. Some pencil neck had his head up his butt to decide 1 in 38" was right.

But they did put a faster twist barrel on the .444 Marlins, didn't they?

I have shot the 300 gr 44s sized down to 416 out of my taylor at 2650fps. I have killed deer with them complete penatration side to side front to back. If they hold togather at 2650 I wouldn't worry about them out of any pistol round.

The 452 shouldn't be much differant.

quote:

Posted 15 March 2011 22:32 Hide Post

quote:
Originally posted by bfrshooter:
I never found a Marlin to be bad except the .44 mag with the screwy twist. Some pencil neck had his head up his butt to decide 1 in 38" was right.



But they did put a faster twist barrel on the .444 Marlins, didn't they?

Yes, they went to 1 in 20" but did not change the .44 Mag. Most all other calibers in the Marlin are OK but not the .44. I will never understand that rifle.
I will not tell anyone what I have done with other Marlins, they would just say I was a liar!

I love and shoot only hard cast except in my FA.454. With it's 1in24 twist I need the high vel of the light bullet and the 300 gr. XTP mag is the perfect choice.
I have shot several deer and hogs with this bullet and it performs great. If I was going to hunt something really big like a brown bear or moose with my .454 I would not change the bullet I have that much confidence in it.