The most useful information I can add is to be wary of using HP's from a rifle at close range. I've seen poor penetration with 240 grain HP's at close range with rifle velocities, (1,750-1,800 fps).
I'd skip the HPs, too.
I shot a few deer with a Ruger 96/44. The first couple were with the 240gr XTP HP, and while effective, they made a mess and I got a lot of shrapnel in my meat. Switched to jacketed FN 240s, still had dead deer, but without biting into bits of bullet later.
Never had any bang/flops, but none of them ran much over 100 yards, either.
