Barnes 225 grain XPB vs. Speer 270 grain Deep Curl (FN)

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All,

I am trying to choose between the Barnes 225 grain XPB vs. Speer 270 grain Deep Curl (FN) for my incoming 445 Super Mag. The Barnes muzzle velocity will be approximately 2,000 fps, while the Speer will be traveling approximately 1800 fps; both will be used for whitetail deer.

I am interested to hear your opinions/experiences with these two bullets for use at these velocities.

Thanks,
P
 
I would go with the Barnes. I tested the Speer from my .54 cal MK-95 100 gr. of BH 209. 100 yard test it cleared 6) 1 gallon milk jugs filled with water and I dug it out of my back stop in harmed. I estimate muzzle velocity to be about 1700 FPS. It is one tough bullet.
 
I've been shooting the 270 Deep Curl (formerly GoldDot) for years in my Renegade .50 and a .44 Mag Handi Rifle. Never had a deer leave my sight. Have only recovered two bullets and both were mushroomed WAY back. One was a shot Dad took with the Handi and it penetrated 3/4 of the deer (hard quartering away) and was found under the hide at the brisket. The other was with the muzzleloader and hit high above the lungs where it went completely through the spine and was just under the hide on the opposite side. The first one was flattened almost to the base of the bullet. The spine shot was also flattened, but torn up somewhat from passing through the bone.

I was getting just over 1800 fps in the .44 Handi and it had to be much lower in the Renegade with 75 grains of Triple 7.

That is the next bullet that I will be trying in my new-to-me H&R Sidekick.
 
I shoot the 45cal version of the 225gr XPB out of my NULA at around 2300fps. It holds up fine. VERY nasty on deer.
 
Just FYI.
A DeepCurl is basically a Fusion bullet. A Speer engineer is who originally developed the Fusion bullet, and for whatever marketing/selling reason it was decided that Speer would make the Fusion bullets and then send them to Federal for them to load. To this day Speer still makes all of the Fusion bullets and they are then sent to Federal. Speer kept getting requests for a non-cannelured Fusion bullet for hand loaders, so they decided to make a DeepCurl bullet to offer to the hand loading market. The DeepCurl is made very similar to a Fusion and is designed so that it will peel open when it hits pretty easily. I'm not doubting Hornet22savage's results in any way, but possibly he got one that slipped through the QC checks because a DeepCurl bullet should open up very easily when it hits. It is a plated lead core that is supposed to have about 85% weight retention. Some of the pedals may be lost if it hits something hard like bone.

I have tested the ability of a bullet to open up or mushroom many times using a simple trick. Wet newspaper is very close to the consistency of flesh. Take a stack of newspapers and fold them in half at their normal crease spot in the middle and then fold them in half again. Use enough that the folded bundle is about 8"-10" thick. Tie them together this way with some twine. Then soak them in water until fully saturated. Place this folded wet stack of newspaper in front of a round of firewood. I like to orient the block of wood laying down, like it would be if a tree fell over onto the ground. Now shoot a couple of rounds through the newspaper and into the block of wood from whatever distance is most common for you to shoot deer or whatever game, don't aim for the same spot. Now simply split the block of wood up with an axe while trying to be careful not to actually hit the bullets (sometimes you do but most times you don't). You will find the bullet mushroomed out from going through the newspaper and get an idea of what it'll do when hitting an animal. I've tried just shooting into a block of wood, but the tight wood grain seems to prevent the bullet from being able to perform. I've done this many times with Gold dot ammo with a 9mm or .40 and it produces beautifully mushroomed bullets just like the Gold Dot commercials show.
 
It may be i have killed more deer using the 270g Deep Curl than any other bullet. Mostly i used a powder charge of 110g Blackhorn. Furthest kill was out in the neighborhood of 230 yard. One year i used a charge of 90g Blackhorn, and killed two deer out 150 yard. One was a backbone hit; it dropped right there. A week later, the second deer was out a measured 155 yard'; it was hit through both lungs, and it jumped just like they do on TV, and ran off up hill. For a while i didn't think i was going to find it; it ran so far. Luckily i could see faint blood spray on snow, and the rest of the herd peeled off. Finally i came to the dead deer. When i opened it up, i was surprised to see both lungs had a nice small round hole through, and through.

Obviously the bullet did not work; it failed. That was the day i learned one needs to use plenty of powder to generate plenty of speed to make bullets expand. The exception; if one is using a bullet with a deep hollow point, one may use mild charges of powder. These days the bullet of choice is the 250g Deep Curl.
 
I need to make a correction, I tested the Seirra Sports Master 400 gr. from my 54. However it is still a flat point. I know Ron has done what seems like 100's of bullet tests and I believe the 270 great. Deep Curl failed those tests as well. I could be wrong though.
 
All,

I am trying to choose between the Barnes 225 grain XPB vs. Speer 270 grain Deep Curl (FN) for my incoming 445 Super Mag. The Barnes muzzle velocity will be approximately 2,000 fps, while the Speer will be traveling approximately 1800 fps; both will be used for whitetail deer.

I am interested to hear your opinions/experiences with these two bullets for use at these velocities.

Thanks,
P


Get you a box of both and see which is the most accurate; then go with that one!
 
Thank you all for your input.

That said, I knew someone would say "see which one is the most accurate" and go from there. While I understand this approach, I am not taking over 100 yard shots, and am not shooting precision matches: minute of deer suffices for me. I always wait for my shot, or I don't take it. This two week muzzle loader season, I saw 22 deer on our farm; I only harvested three, as this is all I need to get me through a year of venison chili and meatloaf. My shots are in creek bottoms, and I need to anchor the deer quickly, and have yet to take a shot over 70 yards. Nonetheless, I agree with your approach, and appreciate your input.
 
Like I said before, I have never had a deer leave my sight (or anyone that had used my .44 Mag rifle for that matter) when using the Speer 270 grainer. However, I would expect no less performance for the 225 Barnes. That was the reason for my last post about seeing which one was most accurate for you.

Happy hunting!
 
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