I've shot a few deer with the Nosler 240 JHP out of a 44 Marlin with a MV of about 1700. They certainly expand widely, wider than the same weight and style of XTP. They have exited for me on broadside-ish shots, breaking bones. Found one about 5" into the frozen dirt after going through about 15" of deer (it hit a rib going in). It was about 75 caliber and weighed exactly 180 grains. Put one through the far shoulder of another deer and broke it out of a piece of old burned up deadfall. It had opened a bit more, about 80 caliber, and weighed 168 grains.
I like them better than XTP for deer, but I wouldn't shoot them faster than 1700. I'm sure they work great out of a handgun, but I've never shot an animal with them out of a handgun.
