2400fps is not the norm with 240gr bullets and 150gr pyrodex or equiv inlines. Those using more or smokeless powder will be able to acheive such velocities with the 240/250 class of bullets.

If you think the250 SW or SST is more robust. I have seen several cases personally with savage MLs that run 2200 - 2500 fps ave MV with the 250 SST/SW bullet that prove otherwise. In each case a jacket/core seperation has resulted and penetration suffered. Personally even though they are dead nut accurate in my savage, Iwill not use them where I will see shots typically of 100 yards or closer.At those ranges pistol bullets in the 250 class are plenty accurate enough and more robust then either hornady offering.

In contrast my experience with the hornady's in my sub shooting ML's is both are fine at the typical velocity ranges I see. Majority of my harvests with the ML have been H/L and if such placement is used they work very well. If you like breaking bone then better choice exist such as the Nolser or Barnes. I used the barnes expanders this year with the savage and impact velocity was over 2200 fps...I never recovered the bullet but had no problems with recovering the deer!

We have been shooting the SW 250 gr bullets with mixed emotions. It is hard to complain about a bullets performance when you kill the deer most every time. But The entrance hole and the exit hole are close to the same size and we seldom get a GOOD blood trail. Almost every deer runs a ways before it crashes. Just for the heck of it I am going to try the Barnes and Nosler bullets this summer. Maybe they will do OK.

Hi all. Twice a day reader, first time writer. Merry Christmasto you all. Thank you for a great site.
I too use the .430 240gr xtp with a green crush rib sabot out of my T/C Omega 50 cal. rifle. I push this load with 90 gr T7 ffg. I bought my Omega at the end of last year after our season was over. Althoiugh I have been hunting for 35+ years, this year is the first year that I have seriously hunted with a muzzleloader. Addicted to say the least. I shot myfirst 2 muzzleloader does this year with this load. One was 30 yards, from a tree stand, the other was 40 yards on the ground.Both shots broadside.Both shots pass throughs. both shots left a blood trail that well, I could follow. The first doe died in flight. The second doe hit the gound on her last stride and was dead when she stopped rolling. Needless to say, I sat in aweat the performance of these bullets. It baffles me when I read that people question theirperformance. I will admitt that I am passing my judgement only on my twokills this year. On aside note, this load shoots 1" groups at 100 yards. Just incredible.

Amen, He is the reason for the season. I was also awed atthe first kill that I shotwith my Knight DiscMLer, boom/flop-- with like a 6 pt buck with a Knight 260 all lead bullet. I was like the guy falling over on the trike in Laugh-In, sorta slow motion, it was boom---slow flop---I was amazed too. It is great your getting 1" groups, that gives you the confidence you need to take good shots whereever you want. You know you can wait for the right shot and make it, makes for hunting a lot more fun and challenging.
Chap Gleason

I did miss judged the preformance of the bullet. dead is dead, it put meat on my plate (really good meat). I am going to try other bullets. but I am going to keep the xtp as my bread and butter until I find something my usak likes a little better. mistakes where made, damn it, I should not have jump to conconcluses.

Hey bud, that's why we're all here to learn what we need to learn and to help others that need it. It's obvious you are striving to be the best, most ethical hunter you can be and we all appreciate you for that. Congratulations again and Merry Christmas to all!

I bought some Barnes X-bullets Flat Points and they look exactlylike the Expanders, 300g, they look awsome.They are only $16 for 20, so they are cheaper than Barnes MZ, but really the same bullets. Folks over on Doug's Savage Forum use a CrushedRib with the .458 bullets, which I find strange, since the crushed rib were designed for .452/.451 bullets, but they work.
Chap

In have only seen three animal take with the Xtp Bullet , but the bullet did the job well . One was a xtp and two the xtp mag .


1 . 300 grain xtp(NON MAG ). 100 grains of ffg . Complete pass trought around 80 yards awayand deer dropped in its tracks .

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v636/rgkempton/Muzzle%20loaders/firstmuzzleloaderdeer.jpg

2. 300 grain xtpMAG , 90 grains of ffg . complete pass trough , Elk dropped in it tracks , 90 yard shot .

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v636/rgkempton/Muzzle%20loaders/Codysfirst.jpg

3. 300 grain xtp MAG , 90 grains of ffg . Conlpete pass through , ran 40 - 50yards and dropped . 142 yard shot . A little too far for my taste but it did the job .

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v636/rgkempton/Muzzle%20loaders/jared.jpg