Based on your intended use, I would recommend another bullet than the 300 grain XTP.
Something along the lines of a 400 grain hard cast.
I witnessed 300 XTP Mags fail miserably on up-close shots on a red stag out of a .45 Colt. I too would suggest a different bullet for this purpose.
How did it fail, and where did it hit?
I think most of the discussion about bullet choices here is irrelevant though, given the OP's location, which is pretty close to mine. Unless he gets attacked by an elk, there just isn't anything else around here that needs anything bigger than a 45 Auto or 357 Mag. We have cougars, small-medium sized black bears, and meth heads; none of those need a 400gr hard cast bullet to be put down.
