Salar600

Hi guys

I have experience with .50 MZ but not with .45 so this year I bought a Knight .45

So far I shot a buck with the 200SST over a stout load of BH209. It is accurate but maybe a to hot load for my 11 year old sun first hunt I plane for the late season.

This morning I went out and develop a light load with 70 or 80grV of T7 and 180xtp .400. Accuracy is quite acceptable just over 1 moa @ 100yds.

I eared bad story about pistol bullet push to hard in 45 MZ so based on your experience do you think it is safe to shoot this bullet at deer up to 150yds away?

I know these bullet are made for velocity from 800fps to 1500fps so there is where I can see trouble coming...

I didn't chrony it but it should be in the 1800-1900fps ball park!

Thanks to share your experience, Mart

Gm54-120

Did you know Barnes makes a 40-155gr TAC-XP?

I cant say im familar with anyone using the 180gr XTP but i know several people that use the 40-200gr XTP and reduced loads. They seem quite happy with good shot placement.

Salar600

Didn't know about Barnes .40-155 but the 180xtp is the only bullet I found up here in Canada...

I will look for them though

Thanks

Semisane

In the .45 caliber Green Mountain barrel I have on a Renegade stock 80 grains of T7 gave me a five shot average of 1792 fps under the 200 grain XTP. Ninety-five grains of Pyrodex P gave me and average of 1994 fps under the 180 grain Speer Gold Dot. Ninety-five grains of GOEX FFg dropped the 180 grain Speer's velocity down to 1745 fps.

So I think your velocity estimate is valid.

Here's a ballistic table for the .40/180 grain Speer at 1745 fps. As you can see, it's still moving along pretty well at 150 yards with sufficient energy for deer. I wouldn't hesitate to use your load for hunting.

bronko22000

Out of my .45 Hawken fast twist barrel I shoot a 200 grain 10mm Hornady XTP with a light blue Harvester crush rib sabot over 80 gr of Pyrodex P with excellent accuracy and its a bonafide deer killer with mild recoil.

johnnyo

Where Canada are you located?

Salar600

Thanks for all input.

East of you. PQ.

Bill308

TC packages the .40/180 XTP as their .45 sabot/bullet offering. Their name implies greatness:

".45 Caliber Super XR Sabots With .40 Caliber 180GR XTP Magnum Bullets (30 Pack) by T/C ACCESSORIES". http://<a href="http://www.midsouths...30_Pack%29</a>

Hornady shows: 700 - 1200 fps for .40/200 XTP; and 750 - 1450 fps for .40/180 XTP.

Maybe TC picked the 180 for it's higher velocity. Others on the forum have reported good results for the 200.

Someone reported being able to use the .41/210 XTP in a crush rib sabot. Hornady shows 800 to 1600 fps for this.

oldsmellhound

I used the .40 cal 200 grain XTP for several years, and would not hesitate to use it again. I found that as long as you don't push it too hard, it does a great job on deer. I took 5 deer with that bullet, I believe.

Personally, I found that using 95 grains T7 FFFG was too hot of a load for this bullet when shot out of a .45. Velocity out of a .45 with this load was in the 2,000 fps range. At longer ranges it was okay, but at short ranges it tended to blow up/fragment.

I used to have some pics of these kills & recovered bullets, but I don't know where I stored them now. I will describe each kill.

With 95 grains of powder:

Deer #1. - Standing broadside at 100 yards. Bullet hit in ribcage and was found underneath hide on the far side - complete penetration but no exit wound. Bullet pancaked out, but did not noticeably fragment.

Deer #2. - Standing quartering-to at 35 yards. Bullet hit high shoulder/spine and blew up like a fragmentation grenade. Deer was DRT, though.

Deer #3. - Standing broadside 30-35 yards away. Bullet hit ribcage, fragmented, lost its jacket, but a large portion of the lead core was found underneath the hide on the opposite side. Deer ran about 40 yards before dropping.

The following were with 80 grains of T7:

Deer #4. - Standing broadside at about 100 yards. Bullet hit ribcage, complete pass-through with golf-ball sized exit hole. Deer was DRT. Bullet not recovered.

Deer #5. - Standing broadside at about 100 yards. Neck shot was taken, as this was the only shot available due to brush. Bullet hit neck, exiting with quarter-sized exit hole. Deer was still moving when I approached it, so I put another shot at 10 yards through the ribcage. This bullet was recovered under the far side hide, full penetration but no exit wound. Bullet was nicely mushroomed with no evidence of fragmentation.

I have since gone on to use other bullets that I can push faster (200 grain Shockwave & 185 grain Lehigh), but I would not hesitate to use the 200 XTP again. IME you just need to use a little less powder - 70 - 80 grains would be best in my opinion. 150 yards would probably be about max range with this load, though.

ronlaughlin

Quite informative smelly.. er old.. er old dog.. er stink.. Good information!