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240 JHP for deer?

7.8K views 14 replies 13 participants last post by  terry_p  
#1 ·
Just wondering about 240 JHP for deer? Anyone have experience with this?

I'd prefer to use a heavier cast flatnose bullet instead, but the prices on those are about double the JHP (American Eagle / Blazer).
So if a 240 JHP will go through a east-coast deer, I'll just practice and hunt with the same stuff.

Eventually I suppose I must get into reloading this. I used to reload for .308, but I'd need to start from scratch as I have no gear now.
 
#3 ·
took a deer with a 230 JHP 45 auto out of a 1911 5" last year so sure it will work with good shot placement
 
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#4 ·
Sorry

Thats for .44 Magnum.
Around here its $30 for 50 rounds of 240 JHP so 60 cents each

and over $30 for 20 rounds of hard cast custom loads (Buffalo or Georgia Arms) or over $1.50 each.

Which is odd because cast lead bullets are quite a bit cheaper than JHP.

I was thinking that with BlueDot I could load 180 gr practice/house ammo light loads (10grBlueDot), and 250 SWC (14grBlueDot).
 
#6 ·
With proper shot placement on a broadside deer, that 240 gr jacketed bullet will kill a deer quicker and more humanely than a blunt nosed hard cast bullet. Hard cast bullets are great when you need deep penetration. Deer just aren't that big and not that hard to kill. A jacketed hollowpoint will probably exit on a broadside shot, and expand greatly. A hardcast will exit and won't expand. Both result in dead deer. The deer shot with the hollowpoint will probably drop first.
 
#9 ·
I've shot several deer with a 240 gr jhp using a Marlin lever gun in 44 mag. The range is usually 25 yards or less. These were all hand loaded rounds. There was full penetration as well as a big hole on the exit side. The deer dropped instantly.
I'm going to try this year with a Bisley 41 mag and my hand loads. :)
 
#11 ·
Shot lots {somewhere near 20, that's a lot to me} of Mule deer with a 44 mag started out using 240 gr JHP then moved down to the 210 Sierra and 200 XTP. At handgun ranges {under 100 yards} both will pass through a broadside in the heart lung area. They do not run like a rifle lung hit, it is more like it knocks the air out of them and they hump up and stand there or instantly drop. Killed both a Moose and Buffalo with the 300 gr. XTP broadside shots both bullets stopped under the off side hide. Both shots were in the 50 yard range.

Max reloads out of a Redhawk is my gun of choice.

Jeff
 
#12 · (Edited)
I use various 240 gr JHPs of many makes on deer. I have shot several deer over the years with the American Eagle load you mentioned and everyone have been one shot kills and recovered a bullet from a deer only once. I misjudged my angle and shot her through the near shoulder, vitals, and the bullet stopped at the other shoulder after breaking it. This was at 50 yds+/-. I would highly recommend the AE load for your use.

P.S. www.natchezss.com has 44 AE on sale now for $25/50!
 
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#13 ·
Shot a good number of Mule Deer with the 240 grain in Sierra and XTP out of both a Blackhawk and Redhawk, broadside it does not matter what or where you hit them it will blow on through. I later moved down to the 200 XTP and 210 Sierra looking for more velocity, stick it in the heart lung area and the 200-210 will pull lung tissue out the exit hole. They don't go far.
 
#15 ·
I have never shot deer with a handgun (yet) but have used 44 Mag JHP bullets in sabots for a muzzleloader and have gotten 3 NH whitetails. The first was a neck shot and dropped it at 75 yards, the second was at 40 yards and didn't exit the lungs but knocked the deer down to stay and the third blew a big hole thru the lungs at 10 yards and the deer ran about 75 yards with a blood trail anyone could follow. Good results.
 
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