Is a 180gr. 44 mag adequate for whitetail?

[Nframe357]

Starting to get fall fever and have decided to work up a load for one of my 44's for hunting this fall, all I've found locally have been 180 gr. XTP's, is this bullet going to penetrate enough on a eating size whitetail? Plan on a 1600 fps type of load, anyone here use a 180 for deer?

 

[flop-shank]

I believe my test results for Hornady's 180 gr. XTP factory ammo are posted in the thread titled Perma-Gel Test Results. A search should get you that info. It will work fine, but I suspect that it might not do as well against a heavy shoulder joint as a heavy 240 grainish bullet would.

 

[c.marsh]

federal

i use the 300gr. federal castcore ..i have shot through the sholder joint through the chest and exited the far side breaking a rib.one tough bullet at 40 yrds.....

 

[Kirmdog]

I have never used 180 grainers for hunting but I have used the 210 gr. Remington SJHP and the Remington 240 gr SJHP. The 210's seemed to blow up on rib shots and the lungs looked like they were hit with a shotgun. I wouldn't depend on the 210's to penetrate much bone and I think the 180's would be the same with lack of penetration on some shots. The 240's on the other hand work well and expand to over 50 cal when I can recover them but almost always penetrate completely on rib shots quartering and straight on side shots. With my TC Contender I have taken deer as far away as 120 yards with the 44 mag and the Remington 240gr SJHP and as close as 10 feet. At either distance this round from Remington has worked flawlessly and to my complete satifaction. Accuracy with the 240 grainers has also been better than any 180 gr or 210 grain bullet and I have never had a deer move more that about 50 yards after getting hit with the 240 gr SJHP with a blood trail a blind person could follow.

Not exactly the answer to your question about 180 grain XTP but I hope you can use the info to help you select the bullet that will work best for you. I have used handguns in 41 mag, 44 mag, 45 Colt and the 38 Special (with a 200 grain RN and shot a deer at 5 feet w/ S&W Model 60) to take deer. They all have worked but none as consistently as the 240 grain in the 44 for all types of shots and under all conditions.

Kirmdog

 

[Littledragon777]

I have never used 180 grainers for hunting but I have used the 210 gr. Remington SJHP and the Remington 240 gr SJHP. The 210's seemed to blow up on rib shots and the lungs looked like they were hit with a shotgun. I wouldn't depend on the 210's to penetrate much bone and I think the 180's would be the same with lack of penetration on some shots. The 240's on the other hand work well and expand to over 50 cal when I can recover them but almost always penetrate completely on rib shots quartering and straight on side shots. With my TC Contender I have taken deer as far away as 120 yards with the 44 mag and the Remington 240gr SJHP and as close as 10 feet. At either distance this round from Remington has worked flawlessly and to my complete satifaction. Accuracy with the 240 grainers has also been better than any 180 gr or 210 grain bullet and I have never had a deer move more that about 50 yards after getting hit with the 240 gr SJHP with a blood trail a blind person could follow.

Not exactly the answer to your question about 180 grain XTP but I hope you can use the info to help you select the bullet that will work best for you. I have used handguns in 41 mag, 44 mag, 45 Colt and the 38 Special (with a 200 grain RN and shot a deer at 5 feet w/ S&W Model 60) to take deer. They all have worked but none as consistently as the 240 grain in the 44 for all types of shots and under all conditions.

Kirmdog

I have killed several deer both with the 180 and 240 grain XTP bullet out of my Super Redhawk. While I have never shot one in the shoulder, when I put the bullet where it should go in the lung area the deer are as good as in the freezer. I try to keep my shots to 50 yards or less and have had great luck with both of theses XTP bullets when I do my part.

 

[flop-shank]

I agree with Kirmdog about Rem. 240 SJHP. I've not shot a deer with it, but it went through my block of Perma-Gel (~ 17") like a freight train and showed no sign of stopping soon. It throws off serious secondary fragments and would be my choice for deer.

XTP 180s should probably do better against deer than other 180s because they are designed for deep penetration. I wouldn't expect Federal 180s, for example, to penetrate as well.

 

[Frank237]

The 429421 Keith slug or any of the LBT type cast slugs work SO WELL on big game I would never even fool with the light hollow points. Expansion isn't an issue either.

Why not use the right tool for the job?

FN in MT

 

[aterry33]

Do you guys think hollow points are better for hunting than soft points? I've heard people say that in handguns, you don't get enough velocity with soft points, and are better off with the hollow points.

 

[tdan]

I'm sure a properly placed 180gr. XTP will work, but my experience with the 44Mag is that my guns get their best accuracy with heavier bullets. I really prefer the 240gr. XTP or a Keith 250 gr. These bullets simply have a greater bearing surface, plus you don't have to worry about penetration. I'd save those 180 grainers for 2-legged varmints.............just my 2 cents!

 

[BigRich315]

180 seems a bit light so I agree, shot placement is going to be key (Hey, that rhymed ). It should fill the freezer with a lung shot though.

Availability is the issue here but I prefer a 240gr SJSP or Hornady's LEVERevolution 225gr FTX. I haven't used the Hornady yet but their .30-30 design removes any doubt about their performance. I snatched some up last season and that's what I'll load my Blackhawk with this November. In fact, they're in my Marlin .30-30 and T/C Scout too!

 

[Nframe357]

Thanks folks I guess I'll try and dig up some 240's, this will be my first handgun hunt for deer and I'd feel awful if I just wounded a deer and it got away. I've always liked Remington SJHP bullets, they usually work very well I'll try and find some.

 

[flop-shank]

Frank237 is right about heavy Keith bullets, so you might want to keep those on your short list.

 

[Kirmdog]

Thanks folks I guess I'll try and dig up some 240's, this will be my first handgun hunt for deer and I'd feel awful if I just wounded a deer and it got away. I've always liked Remington SJHP bullets, they usually work very well I'll try and find some.

Nframe357

With todays ammo shortages and lack of finding the boxes of what you are really looking for of the shelves of the local sporting goods store you may have to compromise in what you are shooting. As mentioned, there are a long list of bullets that will work on deer from 180 XTP to Keith type and Federal 300 gr Hard Core, ect. Some of these bullets are known for expansion and others for the penetrating abilities but bottom line is that they will all work with good shot placement as pointed out by several people. I use the Rem. 240 SJHP because I have found that they work well for me on deer and I have complete confidense in them for any shot angle I may take.

Shot placement is the key to any bullet you may use! Practice, practice, practice until you know you can call your shots, use a rest and practice with that also. Know your limitations and your shooting abilities, there is nothing wrong with passing on a shot because you feel that you may just wound and not kill your intended target. Know the limitations of the bullet you chose also. The lighter bullets (180,210) may or may not limit you to broadside shots and you may have to pass on quartering to or quartering away shots and possibly some of the longer shots if you can shoot accurately at longer ranges.


Lastly I would say that when handgun hunting you have to be your own person and not give in to peer preasure. Hunting buddies and family can be a cruel bunch and get upset that deer were in front of you and you have no meat on the ground. You have to know for a fact that when you drop the hammer with game in your sights that you will be hitting where your looking whether it's 10 yards or 100 yards


Sorry for being so preachy, handgun hunting is addictive and I know you will enjoy it. Good luck with the hunt!

Kirmdog

 

[buckeyeshooter1]

The 180's will work on a lung shot but fail if the shoulder joint is hit. Trust me--- I know! I shot a nice doe at 10 feet in the shoulder, by the time I got to her 3 fields away -- another hunter wasd tagging her and starting the cleaning process. You are much better of with a 240 or 265 grain xtp or 250 grain cast.

 

[Nframe357]

I've got a bunch of 250gr. Keiths from Leadhead bullets, they are great bullets but I was kind of hoping for some expansion.They are cast hard Bn20-22 and leave zero lead in the barrel even when loaded with 21gr 2400. Is expansion less important that I've been led to believe? If so I'll just load up a batch of them and get to practicing.

 

[Kirmdog]

I've got a bunch of 250gr. Keiths from Leadhead bullets, they are great bullets but I was kind of hoping for some expansion.They are cast hard Bn20-22 and leave zero lead in the barrel even when loaded with 21gr 2400. Is expansion less important that I've been led to believe? If so I'll just load up a batch of them and get to practicing.

Some of the longest tracking jobs I have had on handgun deer kills were with the Federal 41 mag 240 grain Hard Core bullets and 44 mag 300 grain Hard Core. These things peretrate like crazy but don't expand at all and left almost zero blood trail making the tracking job even harder. If I use Keith or any other hard cast bullets that I question the expansion I shoot for bone with either the shoulder near me or the off shoulder. IMO with deer the expansion is a plus and I would take advantage of it if you can. The leadheads will work on deer and dead is dead but the expanding bullets may give you a much easier tracking job and let the deer bleed out just a little faster from my experiences over the last 20 years.

Everybody has their favorites but just remember that handgun hunting is more like archery hunting, with a rifle you can shock a deer and drop it with marginal hits, with a handgun like an arrow the deer will bleed out with almost no shock unless you hit the brain or spine.



Kirmdog

 

[canoe on the yukon]

It depends completely on where he's hit.For a broadside lung shot,I think the 180 will be ideal.A 240 is preferable if the angle is not so ideal.

About non-expanding bullets.....I've cast and used Keith 429421 by the tens of thousands during the past 40 years+,so anyone telling me what it will do is preaching to the choir however it acts like a "solid" in rifle lingo.It shoots through with little or no expansion.Same with the heavyweights.

Personally,I prefer a jacketed expanding bullet of about 240 grs.

 

[BigRich315]

Agreed, expansion is VERY important unless you actually like to track. Think of it the same way as short range shots with a high powered rifle: the bullet goes straight through unless something stops it, no energy is expended, and the deer runs off until it finally drops. Hopefully there will be a trail but more often than not you're on your own. And unless its a double lung shot (sometimes even if it is), that thing will be miles away...

 

[Nframe357]

I'm new to hunting so I think an expanding bullet will be the way I go, I'd prefer not to have to walk to Missouri to find my deer. I'm going to be doe hunting as I just want the meat and the less she runs the better. Once again thanks guys, I appreciate the input.

 

[S/W - Lifer]

I killed a Whitetail buck using 180 grain Sierras out of a 6.5 inch Model 29. The load was published at 1700 FPS out of a 7.5 inch barrel. My first shot struck the deer on his right shoulder joint, the second hit the ribcage.

When I cracked him open he looked like he had swallowed a mini-frag grenade. He was dead but he was a wreck. Both bullets detonated and while great for varmints, I'd not use a 180 on deer if I could avoid it. The deer was dead alright but I got a lot of what I didn't want - and not much of what I did want - in getting there.

Winchester 240 grain hollowpoints (factory load) and 240 grain XTPs have been great deer killers for me.

Just FYI. By the way, good hunting.