I bought another Hornady LNL AP this week and was looking at the current redemption form and Hornady's offer is now for lighter weight bullets. Last year I received 240 gr xtp 44's for redemption but now the only option is 180 gr xtp. The option for 357 is 110 gr xtp. Anyone load for either of these two bullets and what would you choose considering you load for both? What say ye?
110 gr 357 or 180 gr 44 xtp anyone?
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I bought another Hornady LNL AP this week and was looking at the current redemption form and Hornady's offer is now for lighter weight bullets. Last year I received 240 gr xtp 44's for redemption but now the only option is 180 gr xtp. The option for 357 is 110 gr xtp. Anyone load for either of these two bullets and what would you choose considering you load for both? What say ye?
Littledragon777
Member
I load the 180 grainers behind 15 grains of AA#5 for target shooting. They are extreamly accurate out of my Super Redhawk. With a small bump up I wil also use them and the 240 grainers for whitetail this year.
VAdoublegunner
Member
I like the 180XTPs 44s in the 44 Special. You can also push them to some spectacular velocities in a 44 Mag carbine but they are too lightly constructed for heavy game in that application. However, terminal ballistics on coyotes and feral cats is impressive.
Skip Sackett
US Veteran
110gr 38/357 bullets are generally worthless for anything other than paper punching. Too light for any penetration and at 357mag velocities have been known to not penetrate automobile glass!
The 180gr 44 bullets will be good for smaller animals but not deer. A friend of mine had one "bounce off" a large buck several years ago. They were factory 44spl if I remember right.
I can tell you this though, in a 44mag Marlin 1894CS rifle they are groundhog vaporizers! Been there done that.
FWIW
The 180gr 44 bullets will be good for smaller animals but not deer. A friend of mine had one "bounce off" a large buck several years ago. They were factory 44spl if I remember right.
I can tell you this though, in a 44mag Marlin 1894CS rifle they are groundhog vaporizers! Been there done that.
FWIW
eightshot627
Member
I used to use the 240gr XTP for deer but found they didn't open up. .429 hole in and .50 hole out. Deer with a broadside lung shot would run off 50-70yds and then fall dead. Full power 44 mag load from a 6.5 inch 629. I did this with 2 deer. I read a lot about handgun hunters and they suggested lighter jacketed bullets or heavy lead with a flat front (Keith style bullet). I switched to the 180gr XTPs and it puts them down. .429 hole in and 1.50 hole out. I don't know about big Hoosier bucks but it puts Maryland does down.
Walt
Walt
Paul5388
US Veteran
My experience seems to indicate a need for good velocity for most HPs to function properly. IOW, if you aren't going to generate some speed, that means 1300-1400 fps, then use a LSWC at around 1000 fps.
