Looking for info on long range 44 bullet for deer hunting

[rhart]

Im trying to develop a great load for my 445 sup mag for deer hunting. Basically, Im asking what 44 bullet has the best flight and still has the proper energy to do the job out to 200 yards. I have read a bit about the FTX bullets and they look great but Im not sure if its designed more for the tube feeders so Im not sure. Anyone have bullet suggestions?
Thanks

 

[kludge]

The FTX is not strictly for tubular magazines... however looking at Hornady web site you''ll soon discover the the XTP bullets have better quoted ballistic coefficients than the FTX bullets.

So is the the marketing hype just that? The 240gr XTP and even the 200gr XTP have higher quoted BC's than the 225gr FTX. If you want the "highest" BC then look at the 300gr XTP - that would be my choice for the long range .44.

445 Supermag Load Data - Handloads.Com

 

[Slow Hand]

The perfect bullet - Cramer style hollow point 300 gr. 44 magnum from Hollow Point Bullet Mould Service

 

[snapping turtle]

The 210 grain lever evolution bullets are available as components now. They do shoot noticeably higher than my 240 grain bullets and at 30 grains lighter they should.

Never shot a super mag but loaded for marlin 444. It like hornaday factory light mag 265 grain loads but they don;t make them anymore.

 

[Kimber7man]

I've used Barnes bullets in my muzzleloader with great success - reckon they'd work well out of a 445 supermag? 200 grain XPB has SD of .155 and BC of .138, while the 225 grain XPB has SD of .175 and BC of .195.

Those barnes bullets flat go through any deer I've ever shot...

 

[rockydog]

I don't know about 200 yrds but the XTPs hold great groups at 100 yrds. I think you're going to find @ these distances, the gun is the bigest contributing factor. I just moved up from 10.2gr of HP-38 to 11.0gr of HP-38 with the 240gr XTP and it's running just under 1500fps out of my little rossi (triple set) rifle.

50yrd sight in...

100yrd all day long

 

[kludge]

Nice groups. And a fairly mild load too. Is that with a 240gr XTP? Ever though of using 2400, H110, or LilGun? You could probably push that to 1700-1800fps fairly easily.

 

[rockydog]

Nice groups. And a fairly mild load too. Is that with a 240gr XTP? Ever though of using 2400, H110, or LilGun? You could probably push that to 1700-1800fps fairly easily.

Thanks, yes, those are the 240gr XTPs. I've tried unique, Accur #7, and bullseye but it seems the HP38 (win231) gave me the best groups. 1700-1800 is really moving, that may be what he needs for 200+ yards. I haven't got that kind of speed though.

 

[kludge]

rockydog, using a slower powder is definitely worth it. 2400, H110, No.9, IMR 4227, LilGun, etc. I use 2400 and A1680. The heavier the bullet, the slower the powder needed to get the velocity up, which is going to be important if you/he wants to use the 300 grain bullets.

I also use the XTP, they are quite accurate. I get sub 1" groups at 25 yards and 2"-3" groups at 50 yards from my 9-1/2" .454 Casull (1600fps, 300gr XTP-Mag). With that load I have a +/-2.5" MPBR of 140 yards, and a -16.5" trajectory at 200yards with more energy than a full-house .357 Mag at the muzzle (1076fps and 770 ft-lb).

The 300gr XTP in .44 cal @200yds should do better than that from rifle (better BC). 1600fps might not out of the question using H110 and a 300gr bullet from a rifle... I calculate the same the same MPBR of 140 yards (+/-2.5"), and 15.1" below line of sight at 200 yards with 1141fps and 867 ft-lb remaining.

Granted, these numbers are just using a ballistic calculator. If one is intent upon a 200 yard .44Mag, it behooves the humane hunter to know his load, and it's actual point of impact at those ranges, and know the range to the deer (s)he is hunting.

Except perhaps for the .460 S&W Mag, I (me personally with my skills) would probably limit any handgun round to 150 yards from a rifle, due to trajectory and range estimation, perhaps 100 yards with a scoped revolver (if I had a perfect shot) and 40-50 yards with an unscoped revolver, and if I were shooting from a supported position. Unsupported I would probably cut those ranges in half (again with my skills).

 

[rockydog]

rockydog, using a slower powder is definitely worth it. 2400, H110, No.9, IMR 4227, LilGun, etc. I use 2400 and A1680. The heavier the bullet, the slower the powder needed to get the velocity up, which is going to be important if you/he wants to use the 300 grain bullets.

I also use the XTP, they are quite accurate. I get sub 1" groups at 25 yards and 2"-3" groups at 50 yards from my 9-1/2" .454 Casull (1600fps, 300gr XTP-Mag). With that load I have a +/-2.5" MPBR of 140 yards, and a -16.5" trajectory at 200yards with more energy than a full-house .357 Mag at the muzzle (1076fps and 770 ft-lb).

The 300gr XTP in .44 cal @200yds should do better than that from rifle (better BC). 1600fps might not out of the question using H110 and a 300gr bullet from a rifle... I calculate the same the same MPBR of 140 yards (+/-2.5"), and 15.1" below line of sight at 200 yards with 1141fps and 867 ft-lb remaining.

Granted, these numbers are just using a ballistic calculator. If one is intent upon a 200 yard .44Mag, it behooves the humane hunter to know his load, and it's actual point of impact at those ranges, and know the range to the deer (s)he is hunting.

Except perhaps for the .460 S&W Mag, I (me personally with my skills) would probably limit any handgun round to 150 yards from a rifle, due to trajectory and range estimation, perhaps 100 yards with a scoped revolver (if I had a perfect shot) and 40-50 yards with an unscoped revolver, and if I were shooting from a supported position. Unsupported I would probably cut those ranges in half (again with my skills).

Thanks Kludge, That's great info, I'll have to do some more playing.