.451 Hornady XTP - 250 grain

Hello,

I am trying to get some updated information on this bullet for deer. My last muzzle loader deer tag was in 2011. I picked those bullets up that spring and use them with a Harvester Crush Rib Sabot. I don't know exactly why I chose those bullets at the time, and I did not get a deer that year. I do recall them shooting nicely in my gun.

Does anyone have any recent information for using them on mule deer?

My load is with I believe 90 grains of Goex 2f and a standard shotgun primer. I think it shot just a little low at 100 yards, but I may try a different hold as well, and it depended on the target I was using as well.

Sorry if it sounds like I can't remember much. I have had some major medical issues and I can't remember a lot of details in specifics like I used to.

Thanks,

Marcial

The .451 hornady XTP does not come in a 250 grain bullet. You must have had a .452 hornady XTP, it comes in 240 grain up to 300 grain bullets. A few months ago I got out with my Accura V2 and at 100 yards shot a 1 1/2 inch group using the .430 dia 300 grain XTP using the green harvester Crush Rib Sabot and 100 grains of BH 209. I have not had an opportunity as yet to shoot the .45 cal .452 XTP in 250 grains as I cannot find them anywhere. I have never hunted mule deer, but I would be inclined to go with the 300 grain XTP in a .45 cal .452 or 44 cal .430 for mule deer. That being said if a mule deer is around the size of a white tail deer than a 250 grain would be sufficient.
I intend to get to the range and work a little more with the 44 cal 300 grain XTP, I think I can do better than 1 1/2 inch. Good Luck.

Thanks for the reply. You are correct in that they are .452" and 250 grain. I shot a while back with 100 grains of Goex powder. I have not shot a group, but one bull's eye and milk jugs. They are shooting dead on at 100, and I plan to practice out to about 150 in the coming weeks. I feel pretty good about this load.

I've harvested numerous deer and elk with the the 250 grain xtp. It by far has the best accuracy of any bullets in my muzzleloaders. I use MMP sabots. It's a fantastic bullet. For many years I used Goex 2f and 3f. I now use the BH209.
I used the 300 grain xtp for a few years for elk. I experienced a little reduction in accuracy and poor bullet expansion with the 300 grain.

Thanks for that information. I have not considered it for elk. I have killed 3 cow elk with a muzzle loader. One with a T/C 370 Maxi and the other 2 with 385 Hdy Great Plains. All have performed well. I am not certain that BH209 is legal here in NV, as I think it is considered smokeless, and I have a bunch of Goex left which I don't plan to use for quite a while.

Next year I will likely apply for a muzzle loader elk tag, and will likely stick with the Great Plains bullets for that as I also have plenty.