Anybody here have experience using the XTP's with at least a few kills? Load? Any other bullets? Have plenty of cast, want to try something jacketed.

Not in a pistol, but, I can tell you the 250 gr 45 cal XTP's and 44 cal 240 gr XTP blow the crap out of deer and pigs, I worked up a couple loads for buddies shooting them in their muzzleloaders, proving both bullets will stay together and penetrate better from the slower speeds of a revolver, I remember seeing a handful of exits on rib and shoulder shot deer hunting with those guys, field dressing showed the bullets did a hell of a job, hope this helps.

I've used both the .452" 250 gr. and 300 gr. XTP from muzzleloaders. At 1,850 fps the 250 gr. was a bit fragile and explosive, the 300 gr. MAG held together, exited and worked well. My guess from that would be that at reasonable handgun velocity the 250 gr. and 300 gr. non-MAG standard XTP should do a great job. Both are very accurate bullets in my rifles.

I've used the 300s on various deer in a 4" Mountain Gun and a 5.5" Blackhawk, started between 1100-1150 fps. The regular non-magnum flavor did fine on broadside or light quartering deer but I found penetration wanting for raking or hard quartering shots. The final straw was shooting a big doe facing me at 10 yards. The bullet failed to exit, which is not what I want or what I'm used to with a good cast bullet. So I switched to the magnum version of the 300gr and found it gives great penetration and some expansion, though I must admit I have no idea if it expands as I have yet to recover one. Regardless, It's my go to jacketed bullet for .44s and .45 colts now due to its rugged construction with a bit of expansion.

So the doe laughed and ran off never to be found?

Sounds like it acts like a cast bullet but a no go on shoulders. I may stick with cast at a modest 900 - 1100 fps.

Quote “I may stick with cast at a modest 900 - 1100 fps. End quote


They do work, don’t they!

No, she died. The point is the bullet performance wasn't what I expect and want for a hunting handgun.

One of my favorite 45 Colt loads is a 250 grain XTP over 13.0 grains of HS-6, It makes a nice, light-kicking hunting load. It did 1050 fps from a 5 1/2″ Old Vaquero and 1219 fps from a 16" Rossi 92 trapper. Penetration in water was 24″ from both guns and the bullets turned into toadstools at either velocity.

twice; from a 5.5 SAA and a 7.5 BH. IIRC 11.5 or 12.0 of HS 6. Worked fine. Short runs and both exits.

That's it right there Sarge, the old guys I helped set up their muzzle loaders back in the days bullets may have slowed at 80-120 yards about like yours here after leaving their rifles courtesy of 90 grains pyrodex.

Not on a deer, but my 44 mag put a 300 XTP through both shoulders of a black bear at 7 yards and exited. He went about 30 feet and dropped.

Looks quite lethal!

I have been using the .45 Colt for probably 50 years now. Maybe a bit more. A 250 or 255 grain hard cast SWC bullet at 900 fps or so, has killed pretty dead every deer and hog I have shot. Some gators too. Snakes, a turkey, bunch of 'coons, armadillo and possums. Skunk or two. Never saw the need for velocities over that.

No flies on the 250 gr XTP when using for whitetails. But personally I prefer a 260 gr LBT WFN hard cast bullet over 10 grains of Unique. That load has never failed me on numerous deer and lots & lots of big feral hogs here at the Ranch.

I've kiled 6 elk with XTP's

Although they were loaded in a 50 cal muzzy loader with Sabots. Never had once travel more than 15 yards. Most were DRT

Which XTP?

Tag

I second the(230gr or 240gr?) XTPs on whitetails from a muzzleloader. Didn’t go far and lots of blood.

Buddy of mine used to swear by 180 gr. XTP's fired out of his Python .357. Don't recall the load and none of us owned a chronograph back then. Dropped a lot of deer that way over the years and never lost one or had one go very far. But then; they were all shot at bow hunting range from the same spots he used during bow season. I've always heard good things about the .45 cal. XTP's also.