cayugad

Dave just a couple of thoughts... both XTP's are good but the XTP mag may not give you the performance that you want at short ranges with the velocity that most are shooting them at. They are to tough at least for whitetail -often at short rangesthey will pass through a thin skinned - thin bodied whitetail without much expansion. Great bullet beyond 100 when they slow down and a very good bullet on thick skinned animals. The regular XTP should be a better all-around performer on deer. IMO

Your estimation of the mag busting through bone mass is correctbut often not the realty of the shot.

Just thinking out loud

Sewerdude

Just remember the Hornady XTP's and sabot will come with a HPH-12 sabot rather than the slimmer HPH-24. The least expensive way to purchase would be to buy a reloaders box of XTP bullets and the sabots you want separartely...