photo link went hunting Saturday in the large cut over I told a few of you about when I asked about my trajectory. Had this six pointer walk in the cut over to my left at 75 yards. When I pulled back the hammer he must have heard it because his tail went straight up and he headed for the wood line. I did the Texas heart shot at 90-100 with a 240gr xtp with 25gr h110. Deer ran 50 yards and crashed but I had zero blood o n the ground and no exit wound. Thinking of switching to a Kieth style bullet for next year.

Congrat's on your success. But, I don't know that a Kieth would have been any more beneficial given the shot placement ;-)

That's a stout load for the .44. If it shoots good stick with it.
I get the feeling I must be leaving some performance on the table with a "mere" 23 gr. I worked this load up many years ago with Federal brass which was a little heavier than Winchester. The accuracy was impressive and I was shooting a 29 Smith which is not noted for durability. I don't think you will find a better shooting bullet than the XTP. Having said that, I have found exceptional accuracy with the 300 gr XTP in the 44 and if deeper penetration is what I was after that is where I would start. I have shot some cast bullets with excellent results as well but the good ones cost as much or more than jackets. We are spoiled today with an array of good bullets that would of impressed Elmer for sure. Any day you can bag a nice buck like that with your handgun is a very good day no matter what bullet you choose.
Good shot!

Congrat's!

End all discussion and wondering. Use the 280 gr a frame and get the best of all worlds

Good shooting at 90-100 yards with the .44. I used to shoot 240 gr XTP with 23.5 gr. of H110. But after having very little blood at the shot site and having to search/track a dozen yards until there was a lot of blood to lead me to the dead deer, I made a change. I've switched to a 300 gr. XTP (18.8 gr. H110) which has a lot more energy and penetration (according to the numbers). I haven't had the opportunity to shoot a deer with it yet to prove it out, but it's an accurate load for my .44 Ruger Bisley Hunter. Shot placement obviously is most important, but those deer were hit heart/lung at about 60 and 75 yards, so I'm hoping to get a better blood trail with the new load.

Good job on the buck,don"t be in a hurry to change bullets, the XTP is a good one, congrat"s to you

Congrats! I've always been a fan of the 240xtp, but the 300xtp could be better...just never seen a need to change. Might try it out some day.

Congratulations! The TX heart shot is a tough angle for any handgun bullet to show a bunch of blood at impact or exit with complete penetration. Clearly you made it to the vitals for the buck to expire quickly within 50 yards.

Me - I run the 240XTP in one 44, and the 200 under a very healthy dose of 296 in another. I've recovered more than my share of bullets, but never once had to extract one from a live animal...

That xtp bullet is excellent when you do a broad side shot. It has always given me one shot kills on squirrels ground hogs and deer. But I was wondering if a hard cast Keith could have given me full penetration and an exit wound for a blood trail.

I got a little turned off of XTPs when I recovered several on quartering shots with a 300 gr. in my .454s on whitetails. Did a Texas heart at 200 with a 160 gr, KIeth in a Python and recovered the bullet under the skin in the front of the chest.
I've never recovered a Kieth SWC in any other caliber on any angled shots on deer. I usually put 2 XTPs or Rem. HPs first with SWCs following. The HPs are for broadside shots, the others for angled shots. The XTPs create much less damage than the Remingtons.

congrats,you'll be hard pressed to find a bullet that will leave a whole lot of blood with that shot angle,or that has been my experience.

Congrats on getting your buck.