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Would be interested in seeing what the FTX would do around 1600-1700fps vs the 2100fps in your tests. For light-skinned game, I would bet it would fare a little better if it was slowed down a little. I realize it's only a deer bullet, I wouldn't recommend it for anything larger, certainly not for anything that may bite back!

If you want penetration, a hard cast FN or a Punch bullet would be my choice.

[/quote]For some reason, I have never taken to the FTX in any bore size. [/quote]

I've used them in my 30-30 and 35Rem, as well in my 45-70. They have been great on deer and hogs. I've gotten great accuracy out of them as well, around 1 1/2" groups @ 100yds in a Marlin 336 and 1895.

A friend used the FTX in a .30-30 and went back to the 170 grain FP, he wasn't happy with the penetration after a couple of kills, and I've seen several instances where the .45-70 had more expansion(damage)/less penetration than the 300 grain FPs I use. (Though the Hornady 300 FP gets a little frangible above 1900 fps.)

Not that it was bad, they killed well enough. It's just the the guys using them were used to more penetration, and I never got away from the bullets I am using.

There is nothing wrong with accepting the type of performance they have exhibited, it's just not what I want, so I'm not going to say "Oh, they don't work".

They seem to work well, and probably quicker than a hard cast. There's two things I've found deer like to react to, that being speed and expansion.

I'm a bit late, but have been working on my 45-70 load..thanks for sharing your research... I enjoyed your video!

It was fun to do the test. My pleasure.