I plan to take my first deer this year with a Thompson Center Contender with a 21 inch carbine barrel in 44 mag. All shots will be less than 100 yards and likely around 35 yards.

What ammunition would you recommend?

.44 Mag.

Sorry, I had to do it. I've got one of those barrels. Mine shoots great. Because I've got lots of different barrels, I kinda had the idea that this was sort of in competition with my .45-70 barrel, so I load the 300 gr. Hornady XTP. The throat is so long that I can load the XTP out to the second cannelure. This permits use of 22.5 gr. (in my rifle, you should not follow on line loading advice) of H110. I get 1600 fps + for about 1700 fpe. Of course the bullet will penetrate through any deer.

However, just about any full-up .44 Mag load will do. You take your pick, zero and go hunting. I personally would not use the 180s but a 240 gr. bullet load will probably do 1800 fps for about the same 1700 fpe and it will also go right on through.

Have a great time and let us know what happens.

I've used a bunch of XTP's and have always had good success. I usually shoot the 240's out of my .44 Mag and saboted in my muzzleloader. I use the 300's in my SuperMag.

All of my shots at deer have been some sort of sideways shot or from directly above and I have always had complete penetration and good expansion.
The one I thought least likely to expand was a muzzleloader shot at a small broadside deer at about 75 yards. Bullet only had to pass through about 8" of deer and still left a 3/4" exit.
The one I thought most likely to fragment was a full power .44 mag load at a large deer directly under my stand. The bullet broke the spine, passed through the chest area and exited the breastbone. 3/4" exit and the bullet went too deep into the soft ground to recover without tools.
Sold me.

Thanks for the input.

I have had good results with the XTP in my encore muzzleloader so my initial thought was to use it in the 44 carbine.

Besides Hornady, does anyone load factory loads with the XTP bullet or an equivalent? If so, which do you recommend?

Again, any major manufacturer's .44 Mag full-on loads (not that Remington medium velocity type stuff) will do. XTP is good, but if you don't handload you'll have to buy those in the Hornady ammo.

Shot a small buck today at 30 yards. shot him at the base of the head. Dropped like a rock.

XTPs rock.

Tom