I'm almost out of my hunting load. Suggest a good hunting bullet for me to try.

If it matters- this is for a Ruger SRH 9"

Any of the swift a frames. Best bullet for anything.

300 gr. XTP, best bullets for the $$$$

That would be my vote.

What bullet have you been using?

Good Question s4...

Bullsi,

Have you tried the FA Bullet designed specifically by FA for THEIR .454 creation?

I have killed two mature bull elk with the FA JFP 260 grain bullet out of my 6" FA 83. IMO outstanding bullet performance.

Honestly, knowing your propensity for head shots..........a good WFN-GC bullet around 300gr +/- or under would work just as well for you. Expansion is not needed, but accuracy is key for the head/neck shooting you prefer to do.

http://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?ma...785d8c5eb62bcbe

The flip side of using a WFN-GC.........if you DO decide to take a body shot on one of your deer/axis/pigs...........it'll likely go stem to stern at reasonable distance.

With head shots, speed is your friend. Not only for trajectory issues..........but.......speed = hydrostatic shock...........hydrostatic shock = "POP" goes the weasel(head).

I think logically, to answer that question, we need to know what you will be hunting.

I believe his usual game (from past experience) is whitetail and axis deer with the possibility of hogs.

Now, he may be throwing in additional exotic game as well that I am unaware of. But, deer sized game are the typical quarry.

What does bullsi1911 have to say....?

Guess you'll have to wait and see.

Sorry- for some reason I could not get on the forum for the last few days.

Zee is right. Whitetail, axis, pigs of opportunity. I am seriously considering the lead gas checks for future loads- BUT... I had to go to cabelas to pick up something else, and grabbed a box of the 300gr XTP since it was on sale. I'll load a few and see what happens.

What I used before were some commercial reloads that I had a good stock of, and they were loaded with... The 300gr XTP.

Thanks for the input!

Oh, and I do have a history of headshots. But with the possibility of a longer range or a partially obscured animal, I like having the option of an expanding bullet.

Belt and suspenders

The XTP should work well for you. Push that sucker!! After all........it's a Casull.

Your best bet is to buy a variety of bullets and see what your gun likes. The most consistently accurate bullets I've used in my three .454s have been 240 gr and 300 gr XTP Mags. I have not taken anything with the 240s yet but the 300 gr XTP Mags have performed very well on deer. 300 gr Sierras have also been accurate in all three guns but in my experience they are harder and perform like a hardcast bullet on game.

The 300 Gr XTP worked great. I'll post a report over in the Shooters Bench

I've had good luck with the 300 gr Speer Gold Dot Deep Curl at around 1400fps which results in the following conversation...

Hunting buddy: Save the heart I have a great recipe...

Me: What heart?

Another vote for the Speer Gold Dot, which I understand has been renamed the Fusion.

Doesn't anyone here cast their own? You'all must have more money than me.
Steve

Some people just prefer jacketed bullets. Especially in higher velocity revolvers like the 454.

Barely have time enough to load 'em up and and shoot 'em ;-)

I used to be in that camp -- long ago. I still use jacketed bullets on thinner skinned game, but when the game gets really big. I don't want expansion. But that's just me.

For deer-sized game, any of the quality expanding bullets will work well. I like the 300 XTP and the Swift A-Frame is one of my favorites.

Whit, do you use the regular XTP or the XTP Mag? I have used the XTP Mag on deer but didn't get much expansion. I also have some regular XTPs loaded but haven't used them yet.

I vote for 300grs XTP Mag. This bullet is bit on the tougher side and it can penetrate 30" of water while expanding to 0.63"
I do not have experience with 300grs XTP but since it is made for .45 LC I believe that it would violently expand on Casull velocities - unless you are thinking about 100+ yds shots

Sawfish,

Two different makers. Speer makes the Gold Dot, and Federal makes the Fusion.

The Gold Dot was renamed "Deep Curl"