The Hornady 265 FP has been a staple for the 444 since it came out, and has a loyal and dedicated following, both among handloaders and in factory rounds. Some folks have had probs with the FTX rounds ref penetration, even on deer. Hornady is coming out with the new Monoflex bullet for lever actions, to supplement the FTX, which should work better on larger game such as elk.
Were it me, for elk I'd get the Hornady Superperformance ammo loaded with the 265 FP. It will get'er done at a reasonable price.
For those willing to pay more, CorBon and Buffalo Bore also offer beefed up 444 loads.
If you wanna use lead bullets, use a gas check and they shouldn't be a problem.
Last edited by DELGUE; 07/28/11.
