200 vs 180 grain bullets .44 mag

[.44MagnumN00b]

Is there any reason to shoot one or the other? I suppose you would get slightly higher velocity with 180s and slightly more penetration with 200s, but is there any big reason to shoot one or the other? What do you guys think? P.S. I'm shooting a revolver, not a rifle.

 

[michaelnel]

I have had great results from Hornady 200 grain XTPs, but then all I do is punch paper and blow up bottles of water. For some reason the 200s seem to be available when you cannot get 180s or 240s too. Apparently the 200s aren't as popular.

 

[Pisgah]

Personally, I have no reason to use either in my .44s, but I can't see any reason to prefer one over the other except for, perhaps, supply.

 

[Amp]

I shoot mostly targets also. My gun likes 200gr better and back when I did hunt I thought it was a better choice for deer.
See what your gun shoots best and what you are shooting.

 

[jtcarm]

I can't imagine there's much difference.

Cast or jacketed?

 

[gray wolf]

You can shoot whatever you like I guess, but the 44 Mag to my understanding was built around the 240 grain bullet. Many people agree it's the best all around bullet for the 44 mag. People have been shooting heavy for caliber bullets for some time now with good success on bigger game.
240,s seem to be fine for Deer size animals,
while many favor the 280/300 grain + for larger and dangerous game.
It doesn't mean the 240 grain can not do the job, the 300,s just do it a little better with more penetration.
If you like a lighter bullet for whatever reason and do well with it them, use them . I think you will find the for long range shooting the heavier bullets at sub sonic speeds maintain energy and velocity better than the lighter counter parts.
I use 265 grain bullets that i cast myself at about a 12/14 hardness.
I try to keep them about 1150/1200 FPS and they shoot through any game I may encounter.
For cans, paper targets and an occasional stick on the ground I don't think it matters any at all, why would it ?
Availability has entered into the what should I shoot now game.
You can't shoot what you don't have----unless you cast your own.

 

[Forrest r]

Barrel length

Type of powder used

Accuracy

Personally I never shoot under a 200gr bullet in any of the mags. And prefer 200/220gr bullets in the short bbl's & 240/265gr bullets in 6" to 8" bbl's. Anything with longer bbl's gets a diet of whatever they want.

The 44spl's get the same basic diet with the bullets weighing 200/220gr in the shorter bbl's & 240/250gr in all the other bbl lengths.

 

[Mule88]

I used the 200 xtp for years on whitetails with excellent results. If your looking at those 2 bullets id choose the 200 over the 180. I do know people who used the 180 for hunting deer and they had good results as well. For whatever purposes your looking for maybe do an accuracy test in your gun with the load your looking for and go that way. Good luck!

 

[mule69]

If you just want to have fun and grin a lot then the 240 grain is the way to go however, that is my opinion and I really do not have any valid input as to if the 180 or 200 grain bullet is better.

 

[michaelnel]

I really do prefer the 240 grain bullets, in fact I just bought 1000 of the Montana Gold 240 grain JSPs that I will be loading for the near future (at the rate I shoot, they won't last long). I like the way the heavier 240gr bullets feel when I shoot them. I have the 200s mostly because I was unable to find 240s.

 

[venomballistics]

the 200 tends to stay together a little better than the 180.
the 200 grain XTP is the only jacketed 44 bullet that still remains in my reloading inventory.
all else was replaced by some flavor of cast bullet.

 

[jubela#4]

Back about 30 years ago when I got my first .44 mag revolver I shot some Federal 180 grain jacketed hollow points. As I remember they shot good but it didn't take me long to get a reloader, some Unique powder and 240 grain cast lead SWC bullets. I haven't shot anything else since then.

I don't see where there would be much difference in performance or velocity with a 180 or 200 grain bullet.

 

[venomballistics]

Back about 30 years ago when I got my first .44 mag revolver I shot some Federal 180 grain jacketed hollow points. As I remember they shot good but it didn't take me long to get a reloader, some Unique powder and 240 grain cast lead SWC bullets. I haven't shot anything else since then.

I don't see where there would be much difference in performance or velocity with a 180 or 200 grain bullet.

that's because you've played it too safe and boring
really within the XTP line the difference between the 180 and 200 is quite pronounced.
In fact, pretty much every 180 grain I've fired, handloaded or factory, seems to fragment and give up a bit too soon. Perhaps the thought behind it is a low carry over offering attempting to torture it into an SD round.
the 200, on the other hand, seems to hold onto itself a good bit better and give a more consistent result in a high velocity crusher type loading.
Its the only jacketed hollow point load I just could not manage to replace with cast.

 

[.44MagnumN00b]

I just bought some more 240s and a box of 200s to experiment with, My gun (6.5 inch 629 classic) seems to not like 180s quite as much as the heavy 240s, maybe the 200s will be a happy medium. I'll post results when I get some loaded up and a nice day to try em out.

 

[TAROMAN]

Each gun is a story unto itself.
Have a 629-3 that thrives on the 180 grain bullet whereas most of my others prefer the heavier ones.

 

[.44MagnumN00b]

200 grains performed nicely, about as expected with elevation. I have to adjust my elevation screw counter clockwise a full turn to make 180 grain POI the same as 240 POI. 200 grains I have to turn the screw about 1 3/4 counter clockwise from 240 grain setting. I'm not sure why, but the 200s kick a lot harder than either 180s or 240s that I load.