I'm takeing my brother to the range wenseday to shoot his black diamond I got him this spring...I got harvester black crushed rib sabots and hornady xtp 300 mag bullets I allso got hornady lock and load 250 sst's. I ordered 100 blem 300 polymer tip spitzer muzzleloader bullets from midland, my question is the deer in rhode island are 60-200 pounds with most yearlings to 140 on state land.....were not picky because not many shots because lots of people in the parks...so what bullet would be best for small deer were not looking for deep penatration the htp's are hollow point,,,,,should I have got the reg 300 xtp's not the mag(are the jacket thicker on the mag because of the loads?) should I stay away of a jacketed bullet and stay with a lead bullet for small deer 50 yards..thanks for any help...I don't want to punch a hole through the deer with the bullet not doing anything thanks ed

The .430 Hornady XTPs in 240gr mated with the green .44 sabots from MMP or Harvester are a classic bullet for whitetails...I use the 300gr .430s in my Knight simply because it loves them...Use the regulars, not the Mags...

Usually the non mags are more accurate and in a 300gr either will likely pass through on a broadside shot. I prefer the non mags mainly because they obturate better. In other words they fatten up in the sabot as they go from 0-XXXXfps. The mags have thicker jackets and don't obturate as well.

This isnt set in stone since some people have very good luck with mags but they are harder to expand on impact as the fps drops.

Any of them bullets are going to work just fine. Try 100 grains of powder with them bullets and the accuracy should be outstanding.

A 250 gr Deep Curl, the best bullet made for deer dollar for value.

thanks everyone.....I've been useing the serch too, the horady web site said the difference between the reg xtp and the mag was..... mag were for faster fps. for the reasons you guys said I'm sure..........thanks very much

Small deer, or any deer at 50 yrds? I'd lean toward a funnel point but any bullet should tip'em over.

Striper, my comment and suggestion is that any bullet you mentioned or any bullet in the 240 - 300 gr range will easily kill one of your biggest whitetails provided it is given an ample powder charge (80 gr or more). I suggest shooting the one that provides you with the best accuracy.

I've never understood why you guys need such heavy bullets? The 44-40 has been taking whitetails, muleys, and even elk since the 1800's.

That's a 200gr lead bullet with 35gr of BP from a 20" barrel.

Muley, There is an adage that goes like this "Change is inevitable, Growth is optional". Apparently you do not like change and 'good enough' is OK with you. Even if it is for the better. So you just use what you want to use and we will use what we want to.