Originally Posted by dubePA
Have shot two doe through the lungs with a 444 Marlin, but both were with 200gr HP reloads. One dropped, the other made it a few yards and keeled. 200gr XTPs are my current favorite in that diameter, especially in the M629 Smiff.

Of the several deer shot through the lungs with the 25-06 and a 100gr bullet, none went anywhere once gravity got the best of 'em. Although one big doe did rare-up and go backwards a bit, before falling over.

Just my meager experiences with lungers.


200 gr HP? I find the factory remington 240 grain loads too soft. A long time ago I shot some 180 hp .44 mag loads (30 gr H110). We called them "hand grenades". I never shot deer with them, but the worked well on groundhogs.