240gr 44cal XTP w/ 100gr 777

[Banerbird]

Just got done shooting a Lyman Mustang last week with my dad. We started with 130gr 777 pellets behind a 270gr Speer GD FN. Couldn't get it consistently in a 8 inch target at 50yds. They loaded almost too easily and I thought that maybe he was getting blowby around the sabot. Speers are .429 and XTP's are .430.... SO, for giggles, I loaded my tried and true 100gr 777 pellets behind a 44cal 240gr XTP.... 2 touching @ 50yds and 3 shot 2 inch group @ 100yds. We put a lifesized paper deer target @ 200yds. Holding 6 inches above the back, I put both in the bottom of the lungs (4 inches apart - one was 18in low, the other was 16in). I wish I would have taken pics. It impressed us both.

It's my dad's gun, so he's wondering about the TRUE energy at that range. He won't hesitate at 150yds, but is unsure about the energy at 200yds. Any thoughts?

 

[Semisane]

Hey Banerbird. You guys have got that Mustang shooting mighty nice with two-inch 100 yard groups. I shot about 30 different load combinations in my Mustang before I found one that would shoot that well.

Out of mine, my chronograph gives me an average of 1850 fps with 45-240 Hornady XTP's over 100 grains of loose T-7.

Assuming your velocity is at least 1800 fps and you are sighted in for zero at 100 yards, you should be about five and a half inches low at 150 yards and sixteen inches low at 200. Energy at 150 yards is around 850 ft. lbs., and at 200 is around 700 ft. lbs. That will certainly do the job with good shot placement.

If you change your zero to 125 yards, you should be about 1.6" high at 100, -3" at 150, and -12" at 200.

With a 150 yard zero, you should be 3.5" high at 100, and -9" at 200.

 

[scratcherky]

Banner--That bullet at close range about 40 yards if muzzle velocity is that high will fragment on entry without penetration. the 300 grain xtp IMHO is a better bullet.

 

[Banerbird]

Banner--That bullet at close range about 40 yards if muzzle velocity is that high will fragment on entry without penetration. the 300 grain xtp IMHO is a better bullet.

Thanks. We found out last year that same problem. That's why we're only using 100gr now with the 240gr XTP.

 

[Patrick White]

I'd guess around 1800-1850 fps at the muzzle. Hodgdon says 1820 fps so I'm gonna use 1800. According to this you have the velocity to 225 yds. but the trajectory is poor. A ballistic reticle type scope would help make those shot easier. This is an esimate you'd have to shoot at those ranges to check your true drop. If it were me I'd probably max at 150-175 yds. if the load is accurate enough there and I could consistantly hit where I wanted to at that range. The best time for these experimentations is a few months before the season starts. Practice, practice, practice is the key to long range shooting with any firearm.

Load Data
~~~~~~~~~

Name: .430 Cal,  , 240 grn
Ballistic Coeff: 0.205
Bullet Weight: 240
Velocity: 1800
Target Distance: 250
Scope Height: 1.500
Temperature: 70
Altitude: 500

Ballistic Data
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  Range  Elevation  Velocity   Energy     ETA         Drop      Max Y  10mph Wind Deflect
  0 yds   -1.50 in  1800 fps  1726 fpe  0.000 sec    0.00 in  -1.50 in    0.00 in
 25 yds    0.05 in  1718 fps  1573 fpe  0.043 sec    0.35 in  -0.51 in    0.24 in
 50 yds    0.86 in  1639 fps  1432 fpe  0.088 sec    1.45 in  -0.22 in    0.83 in
 75 yds    0.87 in  1563 fps  1301 fpe  0.135 sec    3.35 in   0.28 in    1.73 in
100 yds    0.00 in  1489 fps  1182 fpe  0.184 sec    6.12 in   1.04 in    3.00 in
125 yds   -1.84 in  1420 fps  1074 fpe  0.235 sec    9.87 in   2.09 in    4.71 in
150 yds   -4.81 in  1355 fps   979 fpe  0.289 sec   14.74 in   3.47 in    6.94 in
175 yds   -8.95 in  1295 fps   894 fpe  0.346 sec   20.79 in   5.22 in    9.59 in
200 yds  -14.34 in  1239 fps   818 fpe  0.405 sec   28.09 in   7.38 in   12.64 in
225 yds  -21.19 in  1189 fps   753 fpe  0.467 sec   36.84 in  10.00 in   16.19 in
250 yds  -29.57 in  1144 fps   698 fpe  0.531 sec   47.13 in  13.12 in   20.18 in
275 yds  -39.61 in  1105 fps   651 fpe  0.598 sec   59.08 in  16.78 in   24.58 in
300 yds  -51.44 in  1071 fps   611 fpe  0.667 sec   72.81 in  21.02 in   29.39 in

 

[scratcherky]

Banner- when we had the problem 3 times last year we were loading with 100 grains of loose 777 powder. We now use the TC Cheapshots with excellent results.

 

[Banerbird]

Banner- when we had the problem 3 times last year we were loading with 100 grains of loose 777 powder. We now use the TC Cheapshots with excellent results.

Just curious... were you using 2F or 3F and were you using the .430cal or .452 cal? Looking at Hornady's website, the 44cal is a better constructed bullet than the 45cal and has a little wider range of velocities. When I started using the 240gr 44cal XTP, I used 100gr pellets with no issues at any range. To try to get more downrange energy though, I bumped to 130gr pellets. Unfortunately, like you said, it was pushing the bullet too fast within 50yds and fragmenting upon impact.

 

[scratcherky]

Banner--I was using FFG 777 powder and 44 cal 240 gn xtp. I do not think there is a 45 cal 240 gn xtp made. There is a 45 cal 240 gn xtp mag made. I think the 45 cal 240 gn xtp mag is probably sturdier than the 44 cal 240 gn xtp but I have not tried those yet. The Cheapshots to me are much better on deer.