I remember reading that. take time, visiolize the target, check the background, find other targets, check the background again. wait, revisiolize the target, breath, take off the safety, visiolize the target, bang. kinda the long form but that is the best I can put it lol

Corey, Work on shot placement and when you are happy with that, stick with a bullet that will do the job. XTP's don't perform well for me, so I switched. A bunch of others love them. Find something that is efficient and stick with it. Don't let money be a huge deterent. I would rather spend a dollar on a bullet than ever lose another deer. If you want to try the dead centers, let me know, I will send you a few. Take care, Greg

i use 300 gr xtp in myml. i also use them in my 454 casull . it doesn't always pass threw the deer with it either. but it sure does a number on the deer dropped two last year with it at 45 and 52 yards.

Thank greg, but not right now, shot placement is my next step. I got some I am going to work on, including some conicals. only thing I am going to change this year with my load is, that I am going to an 45 cal 240gr xtp with mag express, I found 5 in my ML box, it is what I started working with. only reason I switched was that everyone ran out of them. I am/was using .430 240gr xtp with mmp green sabot.

I can say the XTP has been the bullet that has accounted for the most game out of my inlines. While I won't say its the best bullet I have used it certainly is a good one and very reasonable to shoot. The only thing I truly care about is that the pentration received from a given bullet is enough to damage both lungs wheter it busts through or stops on the opposite hide isn't the end all and be all. I know they can't live with holes in both lungs so thats where i send my projectiles.

As far as placement one of the biggest mistakes: I hear or see is the shooter not picking a target on an animal but rather using the animalas the target.I pick a spot; be it the crease, patch of hair, etcand focus solely on that spot. I actually ampretty fast and deliberate in my delivery of the shot process. When I deceide to shoot Ipick the point of aim, acquire, switch off the safety and let the crosshairs fall down to thattarget and squeeze. The only excepetion being long distance shots where I need to figure out drop and winddrift into the holding equation.

I like a heavier bullet than 240/250 grain pistol bulletfor obvious reasons. They carry more energy at the longer ranges; trajectory is more than reasonable and are more accurate in the 1/28 twist barrels I have. I don't like the pointed bullets for shots under 150 yards either. If I want to hit a large buck with the high shoulder shot to anchor him right there I really believe the 300 grainer is a better option and still work for honey hole shots at all ranges.

I believe that the lighter bullet needs to be pushed too fast to be in the 900 fpds range at 100 yards and short shots could be a overexpansion problem; the 300 grainer just doesn't have those issues and 100 grain charges are closer to 1200 # of energy at 100 yards. Use what your gun likes; I am glad mine like 300 grainers.

"As far as placement one of the biggest mistakes: I hear or see is the shooter not picking a target on an animal but rather using the animalas the target."

Good post.I know some experienced hunters whoshoot at the deer rather than atthe deer's vitals. This does not work very well. Last evening i had the pleasure of field dressing a deer that a fellow hunter shot in the guts. The bullet is not made that will turn a gutshot into a bang flopevery time.

Corey, it is a good idea to practice on a deer silhouette target.When you see a deer that you have no intention of shooting it is good to play "what if" games. Watch the deer and imagine that you are making broadside shots, quartering away shots, etc. Thishelpswith patience and technique.

I've harvested many, many deer with the 240gr XTP. Watch your shot placement and they typically work very well.

Tahquamenon

I agree, the 240xtp is not suited for bone crushing shots and is not my first choice for a projectile that will deliver a passthrough.

I love the Hornady SST in both 250 and 300gr.

I do have some 250 shockwaves that I am going work on during the offseason. from what I am reading and seen from the people posting so far. a deer don't go far. and mine only went 20 yrds. but I keep other bullets in mind, I always need another excuse to goto the range