300 gr XTP Media Test
 

Here's a 300 gr XTP shot with 120 grains of T7,here's the media Piece's made it in the first 3 Jug's,here's the piece's Here's the core of the bullet.

SmokeSeeker

Ya! so what is your point?:happy0001:

I have been saying that for along time now.... Do they look something like this....

Actually Hornady knows this that is why they developed the XTP mag - holds together a lot better - but it will also come apart but it does take more velocity.



Even the FTX or SST's will separate also.



There is a cure - slow them down - shoot less powder....

OK, well explain why the (regular) 240gr XTP that My Buddy Shot that Locust Tree with at 50yds and 110gr's of Pyro looked like it did? If that 240gr XTP did that to a HARD Locust Tree than how would it not do the same if not worse job on a Deer. If anyone has Not seen the Pics of the Tree shot with the 240gr XTP go to MY Thread Titled (Breechplug's 2010 Late Season MLer Buck)
It would seem as if all everyone else say's bad about the XTP it would have Blew Apart in the Tree and Cause Little Damage, execpt the XTP Blew the Hell out of the Tree, explain that one, Im all ear's and willing to take some smack on this one.
Im not saying there is'nt a Better Bullet out there than the XTP but the XTP has never let me down once.
(BP)

That's a nice setup you have there. Are you going to test some more bullets/and or powder charges?

I agree that XTP's can lose their jackets, as you see in your test. However, no deer that I've given a date with a XTP has ever lived to tell about it :)

I knew this was going to come up....

Ron the difference is the fluid content of the media. Shooting a tree is nothing like shooting into an animal and the fluid content of the organs or even ballistic jell.

In the tree the bullet is acually confined to a narrow channel as the wood will only allow it to expand to a certain distance as it travels through. It really never hits an open spot until it is almost out. Now when it get to the other side where the tree is not as thick it then expands fully and causes the damage that you see. And it is really impressive.

But in a fluid state things work a whole lot different. With enough velocity the petals will open completely and and even to the point of peeling the copper completely back allowing the heavier lead to escape and continue on or break up if it hits bone.

Hope some of this makes sense.... I am not good at explaining scientific things.....

This is actually really good information. XTP'S are very inconsistent bullets. The example given is only one of many. In this case, a 300grn bullet ends up a 100grn bullet after it stops. The bullet lost 66.6% of it weight. Is that good or bad???? That's up to the person who uses them. We already know that XTP'S and SST'S are going to do what they want when they hit bone, liquid, skin etc. They never look the same when found. Some times the bullet blows up completely inside.

I will be the first to say, i have shot alot of stuff with XTP'S. And i can also say, i never once had a problem on Russian Boar or Deer. But i have seen all the inconsistencies in the bullet and that's what made me switch to Parker Ballistic extremes 5 or 6 years ago.

Then three years ago i switched to Lehigh. Maybe two years ago??? The Lehigh's are consistent 100% of the time with an advantage over all other bullets. IMO

SmokeSeeker, very good post.:party0005:

OK, just wanted more opinions. Sabotloader has talked me into trying the Speer Deep Curls and also mentioned the Lehigh's. Im willing to try another Bullet if it does a Better Job than the XTP's. But for me it wont be better in the way it Harvest Game for me as I never had a Problem with the XTP's, it will be a Better Bullet if it out does all the things the XTP does with better results. Im going to try them out Next Season and if they are what everyone say's they are then I'll switch.
(BP)

I'm in the same boat as you Breechplug. I've had 100% sucess with XTPs (when I do my part) I can't recal a single deer in 15 years of using them that I have lost and I have no clue as to how many deer I've killed with them. (we have very liberal bag limits in VA and TN) But at the same time, I don't doubt that there are better bullets out there. I just don't think that XTPs are as bad as some people make them out to be. If so, I would have lost A LOT of deer in my time.

That being said, this year I've hunted exclusivly with the Gold Dot. I have been able to see 0 (Zero) difference from the XTP as far as performance on deer. In fact, I've actually not been able to get as good of blood trails with the GD as I have w/XTPs. Some of that I will contribute to my shot placement on those deer (middle body) but the way some people talk, the GD and others are such a better bullet I should be seeing DRASTICALLY better performance from the XTPs. But I'm simply just not seeing that so far.

TNHagies

For me it comes to the margin of error... I believe you can make a bigger mistake with the Deep Curl and still get a quick harvest.

I also have seen different results in the organ damage in the chest cavity on occasion, but most important i know the bullet can not come apart in a rough situation.

The XTP has and will continue to do the job - but I (just me) trust the Deep Curl more...

This is exactly what I am looking for. Most any bullet, caliber, powder charge will do the job when placed properly. But we don't always hit them the way we should. That is where the bullet can make all the difference.

That is also why I stick with the 165gr Nosler Partitions in my 30-06. Very few deer take another step after I hit them with the partitions and the few that do have not run out of sight.

That is the performance I am looking for with blackpowder. I sighted in with the SSTs but after seeing a few threads like this, I will probably switch to the Deep Curls for next season. Not that I don't think the SSTs will do the job, but I want that extra margin for less than ideal shots.