I think I said this before (I know I did), but I'm trying to get info for a possible load for my GRANDDAUGHTER!

And, what stirring up trouble? I just want info, not anecdotes. I was expecting that a forum such as this would have had highly scientific discussions about the exact questions I have, and could educate me. Its beginning to appear that I was naive to expect that.

OldBob

Terrible choice of bullet for that application. That bullet was never designed to deliver that much energy or be shot that fast. Its a 45ACP bullet. Bullets made for 44mag or 45LC bullets made for Ruger/Contender load data would be a better choice.

44mag and the high end 45LC loads are quite ethical for deer if kept to a reasonable range. The deer wont care about the method of delivery and neither will the chronograph.

It would be a fair cry to call a 44mag shooting a 240gr bullet at 1400fps a plinker load.

Personally, I would not use the 230 grain XTP for deer either. The .44 caliber 240 grain XTP is a better constructed bullet for hunting, and the small bit of added weight would not make any significant difference in recoil with a 60 grain load. And I believe a 60 grain load is adequate when used at an appropriate range (just as with round balls).

Somehow im not convinced that is your motivation for posting here but.....

There is a fine bullet for that application its called a Speer 250gr DeepCurl aka GoldDot. Sadly its super hard to find. An alternative may be the Harvester Scorpion PT Gold in 240gr which are easily acquired and cheap.

You might also look at the Barnes 225gr XPB made for 45LC or the 225gr XPB made for 44mag. Both are excellent bullets and they perform as designed over a wide fps range.

The 230 gr XTP has much worse field-testing history, than the 240 Mag, 250 regular or any of the 300 gr XTP diameter bullets.

You should do what I've done and so many others here...... park those 230 ACP bullets and buy something better...... at basically the same price. I have about 95 out of 100 in 230 gr. remaining in a shoebox.... gathering dust.

Send me $10 for shipping costs and you can have those remaining 230 gr. for free. Send me another $10 and I'll give you about 95 Speer Gold Dot 230s too.

I'm not gonna get into the middle of the fight of what is right or wrong, etc... but personally I wouldn't hesitate to use 60gr pyrodex with a little better bullet, setting up a youth load. The 240 xtp should be fine, 240 deep curl would be even better - but they are tough to find.

I don't think that a load like that would be unethical at all, as long as kept to relatively close ranges - which is likely what a youth would be doing anyhow.

fwiw, my brother in law uses 70gr goex real black in his sidelock with 260gr speer jhp bullets. (the one's knight sells) Every deer he's ever shot has been dead, no issues at all. Most of the shots have been under 75yds, I know he shot one right close to 100.

I don't know. Google the bullet and you see a lot of people like it for that usage. Reading the 5 year old posting between MountainDevil54 and Confederate rifleman does give me pause, though. Even though the velocity was well within Hornady's range, a bullet expanded to double caliber does seem a bit much. I just focused on the 230 Gr weight because you could use economical .45 ACP commercially cast bullets for plinking, target, or just practice. Relatively cheap shooting, given the half powder charge to get the same 100 yard energy as the round ball. And all the major bullet companies make a bullet in that weight.

Many years ago, I used a ton of 225 Speers in the ACP, and 260s in the LC. Never shot anything living with either.

OldBob

I've looked at the various Barnes. Seems like nice stuff, but a wee bit pricey. Of course, I could substitute a cast bullet of around that weight for the practice load.

OldBob

Bob, GM's suggestion of the PT Golds in 240 is about as good as you can get for your grand daughter. I killed quite a few deer with that bullet and I know it's accurate out of BOTH my GM barreled TC Hawken .50cal as well as my TC PH .50cal. With a 60 grain load she would be fine out to 100 yards. Those PT Golds put the smack down on deer. https://www.harvestermuzzleloading.c...mer-tip-bullet

Not TOO salty price wise and as I said, they put the hammer of thor down on a whitetail

OK, quicky question: why did you choose the 240 over the 260? I'm sure I would not be handicapping her by using the 240, but what are your thoughts on this?
OldBob