Who uses & likes Hornady XTP 250 Grain .452 Bullets for Whitetail Deer?

[KnightExtreme]

Do these do a good job of expanding at 50 to 100 yards? Is there a better hollow point that expends better? What sabot have you used with the Harvester Crush Rib or Premium Short Black or maybe MMP HPH 24? (Have a .50 Cal using Fed 209A Primers and BH209)
Not heard much talk about these just wondering if they are worth trying.
What is your experience if you have used them? Looking to try something different?
Thanks
Knight Extreme

 

[Kyguy]

XTP's are the original "long range" saboted ML bullet, as well as the bullet that the first smokeless ML (by Henry Ball) was designed around. They aren't the latest fad, but if your rifle will shoot them, they're tough to beat out to 200 yds, plus cheap to buy in bulk. Contrary to much popular belief, if you use a good ballistic calculator, it'll show you that there's really no advantage to a plastic tipped bullet inside of 200 yds.

 

[KnightExtreme]

No ballistic calculator, no chronograph but some mention that fps for some projectiles don't work well under xxxx fps, some do better at slow to medium fps. As mention my shots for the most part under 100 yards and using a Knight DISC Extreme doubt I will ever get it over 2200 fps as don't plan on using more than 100 grains by volume of BH209 Powder.
Not a history buff of how long these XTP have been around just read an article about them & seem to expand well.
Thanks for the info.
KnightExtreme

 

[elkguide]

Worked for me on whitetails from 45 to 165 yards.

 

[onlybrowning]

I’ve used them for years with Harvester sabots. I used them with 100 grains of T7, 150 grains of T7 and now with Blackhorn 209. In several rifles, they’ve been accurate and worked well. I now use the .452 FTX, but wouldn’t hesitate to use the XTP again if I had to.

 

[Chris in TN]

I've killed a handful of deer with the 45/250 xtp over the years. I'll say this:

The Hornady 250 XTP will expand reliably well down into .45 Colt (Ruger pressure level) speeds.
The Hornady 250 sst designed for muzzleloaders or .450 bushmaster, doesn't expand nearly as well at slower speeds. I like to keep them above maybe 1800' or so.
The Hornady 45/300sst designed for muzzleloaders has a higher BC than the 250 sst, and will hold its speed better at longer ranges, and is in my opinion a better bullet, not because you need 300 grains to kill a deer, but because it holds its speed better. I've hit deer with them at 2400' (smokeless .50 with H4198) and they still hold together. But they won't expand down at low speeds like the plain XTP pistol bullets will.


If you're hunting within 150 yards (perhaps a little more) the XTP is perfectly sufficient.