[Double Drops]

I bought a couple of boxes of 50 cal .240 grain XTP mags last year to shoot out of my Triumph. I'm shooting 100 gr. 777 and got some really good groups with them. My question is: Are the standard or the mags better for whitetails? I've read in a few places that the Mags don't do as good of a job of expanding compared to the standards. I'll be hunting in TN and KY and the average body size of deer isn't too big. Any thoughts?

 

[broom_jm]

Given that the bullet in question is meant to be fired from the more powerful 45 caliber handguns, such as the .454 Casull and 460 S&W, I would say it will perform well and expand reliably, at the higher muzzle-loader velocity. Then again, the standard XTP has been a proven bullet for harvesting deer, so I'm not really sure there is a need to use the Magnum version. I've used both 44 caliber from a carbine and 45 caliber, out of a sabot; both have put venison in the freezer.

Bottom line: If your gun is accurate and you can put a .452" hole through a deer, you don't really need it to expand, and you can pretty much bet it will penetrate all the way through, even on a frontal or shoulder shot.

 

[cayugad]

You will get better penetration with the mag. And from what I have read by posters, they do just fine. Like broom_jm said, put a .452 hole through the heart of anything, and I would not give it much of a chance of making it too far. Accuracy is the key issue for me.

 

[pisgah]

When you're talking .45 or .50 caliber, expansion hardly matters, frankly. I have a .45 caplock that shoots Maxi-balls marvelously well -- I've won several friendly bets by putting five shots on a playing card at 100 yards from the bench. Hit a deer with it, and the bullet expands not at all -- just drills a .45 hole all the way through, from any angle. Many, many deer have fallen to this rifle through the years, and nary a one has gone over 25 yards after being hit.

 

[Wazz13]

.452, heck that comes pre expanded!!! I shoot the mags in 240 gr thru a TC Endeavor w/ williams peep sight. 100 gr of triple 7, 1" groups @50 yds. I shoot high shoulder and they work fine, DRT!! All of my shots with this set up are inside of 75 yds.

 

[Confederate Ordnance]

It depends on the velocity of the load.the non-mag XTP's ( 250 and 300) are meant forr velocities under 1700 fps.The mags are rated to 2100 fps.I shoot light(er) loads and the non-mags are excellent performers.I've also found them to be more accurate than the mags,all things being equal.If you dont pour 1/2 a can of powder down bore ,the non-mags will do just fine.

 

[Temp430]

As mentioned above the XTP Magnums are likely best since they are engineered for the higher velocities you'll get from your muzzle loader.

I've used Hornady's 300 gr. XTP Magnum bullets in a MMP HPH24 sabot on top of 100 gr. Blackhorn 209 with a CCI 209 primer. This bullet is very accurate out of my Omega, like most other bullets with 100 gr. of powder behind them. I hunt in fairly heavy woods and the whitetail that I've shot with this load don't go very far afterwards. I've never recovered one of these bullets from a deer kill, they've all passed through.

 

[GMFWoodchuck]

Forget them both. Get the FTX bullet. Then you'll have a bullet with a far superior trajectory and it'll still be a great deer killer. I haven't shot anything yet (animal wise I mean) but the 50 cal FTX shoots great out of my 54. I'm fairly certain the 45 FTX will do the same out of a 50. Just make sure you get the .452 caliber version and not the .458 cal version.

 

[T.R.]

Older black powder cartridges include 45-70, 45-75, 45-90, 50-110 and others. Thousands of bison fell to these cartridges. A 44 caliber XTP bullet on top of 100 grains loose powder is a mighty deer killer, indeed.

I'm not sure where this current fad of loading 150 grains of powder for hunting deer comes from because it's not necessary.

I've had good luck with 85 grains of Triple 7, Harvester sabot cup, and Hornady 44 XTP bullet. The XTP makes a ghastly deep wound through the chest organs and the animal rarely goes more than a few steps.

TR