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Favorite bullet #200807 07/28/2019 2:20 AM
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longhunter Offline OP
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Probably been mulled over a hundred times here but, what is your bullet of choice for whitetail in .44 magnum. Weight, jacketed, cast???


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Re: Favorite bullet [Re: longhunter] #200809 07/28/2019 2:38 AM
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sw282 Offline
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Home cast Original 250gr KEITH SWC

Re: Favorite bullet [Re: sw282] #200811 07/28/2019 2:56 AM
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Randy M Offline
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270 grain Speer Deep Curl


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Re: Favorite bullet [Re: Randy M] #200812 07/28/2019 3:19 AM
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Franchise Offline
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For WT deer it's hard to go wrong...240 gr PMC Starfire or 240 gr Speer Gold Dot


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Re: Favorite bullet [Re: Franchise] #200813 07/28/2019 4:22 AM
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Zee Offline
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Hornady 240gr XTP currently.

Want to try some Gold Dot in the future.


"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
Re: Favorite bullet [Re: Zee] #200814 07/28/2019 6:45 AM
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KRal Offline
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It depends on the gun for me. But, a quick run down of what they are: 240gr XTP; 300gr WFNGC cast; and 260gr Power Coated Keith Bullet. I?ve killed more whitetails with the 240gr XTP than any other bullets I ever used - they?re just so accurate out of most any gun you use. Don?t know the total of kills over the years, but it?s been a few and I?ve only retrieved one XTP bullet and that was on a big Illinois deer shot at 60 yards through both shoulders - it was under hide on off side. I know the XTP can ruffle some feathers in discussion, but for whitetail, they?re basically my go to bullet. I have some of the 270gr Speer deep curls loaded for my FA and they shoot great, but I have yet put one through a deer. I?m looking forward to some critter testing in the future and think it has the potential to be the best all-around jacketed bullet for whitetail - time will tell.


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Re: Favorite bullet [Re: KRal] #200816 07/28/2019 11:09 AM
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REDHAWK1954 Offline
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With Whitetails it is more about bullet placement than the bullet itself as long as it opens up good. If you get both lungs the deer will not go far. If you only get one lung it will go twice as far. And if you miss the lungs and heart the race is on.


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Re: Favorite bullet [Re: REDHAWK1954] #200817 07/28/2019 1:17 PM
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wvhitman Offline
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For the thin skinned whiteies, it's always ben Rem. 240 HPs-fast expanding, highly destructive, very accurate.

Re: Favorite bullet [Re: wvhitman] #200819 07/28/2019 3:13 PM
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Bigbrowndog Offline
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I agree with KRal, XTP?s have dropped more whitetails for me than any other bullet. In 10mm, 44, 45, or 357max.

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Re: Favorite bullet [Re: longhunter] #200823 07/28/2019 3:31 PM
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Mech 8 Offline
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I'll add a +1 to the Hornady 240gr XTP. I have killed more South Texas Whitetails with that bullet than any other in 44 mag. I've used the Rem 240 grain SJHP with success as well as a 275 grain XTP that was produced probably 20 years ago and I picked up 2K of them in a bulk bullet purchase. As far as the 240 grain XTP, I have run them from 1200 fps to 1400 fps and never recovered one on a broadside shot. Never really tried to punch it through the shoulder, simply because I didn't want to ruin much meat.

Re: Favorite bullet [Re: Mech 8] #200824 07/28/2019 3:57 PM
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RSW Offline
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Gold Dot Speer

Re: Favorite bullet [Re: RSW] #200825 07/28/2019 4:35 PM
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500WE Offline
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Sierra 240 JHC.

Re: Favorite bullet [Re: Mech 8] #200826 07/28/2019 5:22 PM
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SChunter Offline
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I?m the outlier here...Killed a bunch with the 200gr XTP. Run hard out of a Redhawk.

My FA really shoots the 240?s well, so have used those more in recent years.

Re: Favorite bullet [Re: SChunter] #200841 07/29/2019 12:47 AM
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sixshot Offline
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Started out using the 250 gr Keith back in the 60's & it's always worked & always exited, I've never recovered a single one. The last few years I've used the same bullet in HP version on 7-8 deer & I have recovered one. I would think any jacketed bullet, 240 grs or heavier would handle any deer out there. Accuracy being the key.

Dick

Re: Favorite bullet [Re: sixshot] #200846 07/29/2019 2:42 AM
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Whitworth Offline
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 Originally Posted By: sixshot
I would think any jacketed bullet, 240 grs or heavier would handle any deer out there. Accuracy being the key.

Dick


Exactly. Pretty much any bullet 240 grains on up will work.


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Re: Favorite bullet [Re: Mech 8] #200849 07/29/2019 1:25 PM
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magman Offline
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I like to ruffle feathers. The 240 XTP for me too. Used on Whitetail and hogs no issues.


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Re: Favorite bullet [Re: magman] #200852 07/29/2019 7:35 PM
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jamesfromjersey Offline
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I`ve used the double crimp 45 caliber XTP for the 45 Colt running a little over 1400fps that gave me penetration on the not so perfect broadside shots... Always worked and never asked for a refund...


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Re: Favorite bullet [Re: jamesfromjersey] #200856 07/29/2019 11:11 PM
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Pa. Mike Offline
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Not that I have shot that many with a .44 but the wvhitman is spot on with the Rem. 240 grain Semi Jacketed HP. My most recent success was with the Hornady 240 grain XTP. Either one of these will put an average size deer down quickly when properly hit.

Re: Favorite bullet [Re: longhunter] #200859 07/30/2019 3:38 AM
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billa Offline
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I prefer a controlled expansion, 240 grain HP for deer. I have taken 10 or so Whitetails with 240 grain Hornady XTP bullets from 44 Magnum revolvers and they get the job done for me. As others have said it?s more about placement than bullet. Broadside lung, heart or center shoulder will put them away. I always prefer a full penetration, exit wound.


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Re: Favorite bullet [Re: Mech 8] #200871 07/30/2019 4:45 PM
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reflex264 Offline
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310gr Oregon trail.


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Re: Favorite bullet [Re: Mech 8] #200875 07/30/2019 7:20 PM
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Sawfish Offline
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Remington 240 gr, HPCL.


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Re: Favorite bullet [Re: Sawfish] #200878 07/30/2019 9:34 PM
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wheelguns Offline
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I still like the old N/P, it's been a good one.
If any of you should happen to come across some please give me a shout.

Re: Favorite bullet [Re: wheelguns] #200893 07/31/2019 5:13 PM
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Curly Offline
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This

Re: Favorite bullet [Re: Curly] #200902 08/02/2019 3:25 AM
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nomosendero Offline
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Yea, looks like a Swift would be the best of all worlds for Deer/Hogs or maybe the Barnes X. I may not have time to roll my own this summer, maybe before Deer season. My range is my back yard so I do have time to shoot a few rounds after Supper here and there. I have a new SRH with an Ultradot. I found out that HSM factory ammo "they call, not me" a Bear load, 300 gr. XTP shoot VERY well. I hope they do well, I would think they would.


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Re: Favorite bullet [Re: nomosendero] #200929 08/03/2019 11:13 PM
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abner Offline
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Here in California, we have to use non-lead bullets for ALL our hunting starting this year, so my "all time favorite" bullet just became the Barnes 225gr. out of my 445 Super Mag.

Re: Favorite bullet [Re: abner] #200939 08/04/2019 2:04 AM
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Chance Weldon Offline
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 Originally Posted By: abner
Here in California, we have to use non-lead bullets for ALL our hunting starting this year, so my "all time favorite" bullet just became the Barnes 225gr. out of my 445 Super Mag.


Man, that stinks. At the very least, there's at least a few XPB weights in that caliber to choose from.


Formerly TN Lone Wolf

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Re: Favorite bullet [Re: Chance Weldon] #200956 08/04/2019 8:43 PM
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45MAN Offline
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I SEE WHERE MOST OF THE .429 MAGNUM HUNTERS FEEL THE NEED TO USE EXPANDING BULLETS TO MAKE UP FOR THE SMALLISH CALIBER.


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Re: Favorite bullet [Re: 45MAN] #200972 08/05/2019 3:26 PM
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Zee Offline
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🤣


"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
Re: Favorite bullet [Re: Zee] #201179 08/13/2019 4:40 AM
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Western Revolver Offline
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270gr speer deep curl.


Hunting up close.

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