ORIGINAL: smokeblower
I wanted to see which bullet you all thought would be best for deer in the 100-150 pound range and hogs. Most of the hogs I have seen would go under 200 pounds with the average "good eatin size"being around 100 pounds. I am looking at using the 300 grain xtp or 300 grain gold dot and didn't know if everyone felt better about one than the other. The load is going to be roughly 100 grains of loose pyrodex RS in a black harvester crush rib sabot. I sent my broken Knight Shadow back in (great customer service by the way) and received the new Knight Extreme that I ordered in its place, so that is what I will be hunting with. I'll try to post some pics of it soon - I really like that gun. I am thinking of using 300 grain bullets for a better chance at pass through since the areas I hunt are very dense. Shots should average around 50-60 yards with some being as close as 20 and some stretching 115 or so. Thanks for your input.
Both bullets are good, in my opinion the 300g GD is better because of no weight loss. They are both about the same cost $15 or $16 for 50. The Savage was designed around the 300g XTP, and they shoot that bullet very well. Choose the one that is the most accurate in your gun. Sabot fit is critical. I like the Crushed Rib sabots with both the XTPs and the Gold Dots. I like 300g better than 250g since they always exit on deer instead of on the off side under the skin. The 250 XTPs also tend to frag a bit more than the 300g. Still dead deer if you hit in vitals, but no exit hole in most cases since not enough energe to poke thru when the bullet is in several pieces. In my mind a bullet must be:
1) accurate--accuracy is king---no accuracy, no confidence in placing your bullet in the vitals
2) penetration is queen, must have 12" or more, for killing power
3) expansion is prince, since with expansion you get large wound channel and maximum blood flow to brain and vital organs which causes quick death (i.e boom flop and DRT)
4) shoot thru, is required in my mind because you want great blood trail and small 45 cal hole going in when your shooting down and no exit hold means deer loss, since there is little blood from a single hole and if it is high, then ya got issues.
So gotta have all 4 for an "excellent bullet" in my mind. Flat nose well constructed bullet are best within 150, for 150 to 200 yards best to use a Barnes TMZ, T-EZ, bonded SW, Parker Ballistic Extreme or Barnes Origonal.
Chap