Thanks for the replies. I'm very happy with how everything turned out, and can't wait to go out again!

sabotloader - the bullet did pass all the way through, so I couldn't recover it to see how the bullet looked afterwards. However, the entrance hole was small (of course), just under the spine, angling downward and away. The exit hole was ragged, and about the size of a golf ball in the lower ribcage. There was lots of damage to the organs from the hydrostatic shock, but I didn't find any fragments, so it looked like the bullet held together in 1 piece. My hunting buddies have recovered a couple of the .44 cal. 240 grain XTP's on quartering shots - all held together and were perfect mushrooms. Most of the time they get pass-throughs, especially on broadside shots. They usually use 80 or 90 grains of loose 777.

I'm sold on the XTP's, especially if I can get them to group a little better in my gun. caygad - I'll try some loose 777 and play around after the season (when I have time) with different amounts tofind something that works.