AJ Posted November 8, 2005 Report Share Posted November 8, 2005 I tried a few combinations to see what shot good in my Knight and had a beast of a time. I shot 245 gr and 295 gr Powerbelts, 215 and 235 gr QT40, and 200 gr Dead Center PR bullets, and had no luck with accuracy. I was shooting loose Pyrodex loose and was ready to dump the gun. Finally went back to XTPs. They usually shot decent for me but I don't like the no blood trails they have given me in the past. They killed deer just fine but the blood trail has been minimal if anything. Yesterday evening I shot my little 8 pointer with them and yep, no blood trail. On the shot, the buck changed directions 180 degrees and it was obscured by the smoke cloud. By the time I reloaded and went to find him, I hd no idea where he went. There was no blood. I scanned the woods in the direction I thought he went with no luck. I made half circles from the location of the shot and saw his belly. He ran about 50-70 yards and piled up. The shot was behind the shoulder, ribs and lungs. I backtracked him from where he lay to the shot and there was no blood. From now on when I use the XTPs my shots will be high shoulder shots. Just something to keep in mind if you use these bullets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted November 8, 2005 Report Share Posted November 8, 2005 Re: Bullet Performance AJ, did you get a pass through with the XTP's? Those are the bullets I shot my 9pt with, 100gr of CLEAN SHOT pellets, thinking of going to powder next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted November 8, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 8, 2005 Re: Bullet Performance Yes Sir it did exit. The exit hole was a little smaller than the entrance hole so my guess is if the deer was much bigger or it I would have hit more bone, it would have stopped at the hide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archerjg Posted November 9, 2005 Report Share Posted November 9, 2005 Re: Bullet Performance What about the shockwave bullets. I shot my button buck last year with it at 50 yards and it went right through with a larger exit than the entrance hole. It left a nice blood trail and was dead on. I have the xtp bullets, but have not shot anything other than targets with them. DOn't know if it will work for you or not though. Archerjg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted November 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2005 Re: Bullet Performance I shoot the SST and Shockwave in my Savage with smokeless powder. I have not fired them at blackpowder velocities. I got my 220 gr Dead Centers in today so I will have to do some range testing in between hunts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DannoBoone1 Posted November 9, 2005 Report Share Posted November 9, 2005 Re: Bullet Performance Hope ya have good luck with the 220's. I haven't found a load yet for my Encore that shoots DC's with better accuracy than 2 1/2-3" @ 100yds. But hunted with them anyway (the 200's), keeping shots within 100yds. They are LETHAL killers, if you can get accuracy that satisfies you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted November 9, 2005 Report Share Posted November 9, 2005 Re: Bullet Performance I had the same problem with a TC Mag Sabot this year AJ. I know I nailed a doe, she heartkicked, bucked like a bronc and then ran off. I never found a drop of blood and it was a 40yard shot. Ive since switched to Hornady 240grn. Im really happy with them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest andymansavage Posted November 9, 2005 Report Share Posted November 9, 2005 Re: Bullet Performance 300 gr hornady sst for me. I've seen shot or shot with these ;1-bull elk ,5-mulie bucks. Not one went more than 10yds and all left big exit wounds with good blood(shoulder shots) Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted November 9, 2005 Report Share Posted November 9, 2005 Re: Bullet Performance Aren't the TC Mag Sabots the same as the Hornady XTP's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AaronS Posted November 9, 2005 Report Share Posted November 9, 2005 Re: Bullet Performance I've had decent luck with Hornady 245 gr. sabots, but decided to give the PR 195 gr. a try this year. I will be sighting them in Friday afternoon for out Saturday opener. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted November 10, 2005 Report Share Posted November 10, 2005 Re: Bullet Performance [ QUOTE ] Aren't the TC Mag Sabots the same as the Hornady XTP's? [/ QUOTE ] You know I dont know. The only real difference I saw was the Sabot itself (on the TC) was quite a bit longer. Im not sure if this is suppose to help accuracy but the Hornady was more accurate at the 100yard mark. I have not idea what the difference (if any) in expansion would be but hopefully it would expand better then the TC. The TC just didnt expand! After I left the range you cant convince me that I didnt drill that doe through the lungs yet she ran uphill after a good heartkick and I never found a single drop of blood..... and that was at 40yards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted November 10, 2005 Report Share Posted November 10, 2005 Re: Bullet Performance Jeramie, that TC sabot I recovered from my buck had EXCELLENT expansion, and about 90% weight retention. But Like you, I am concerned because mine didn't pass through, luckily it didn't need to, BUT what if that buck had run off, and left no blood trail. I drilled him at 18yds, and found the bullet lodged under the skin on the off side, almost at his belly. the reason I asked about the TC's against the Hornady's is because Hornady has a bullet it calls the XTP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lil hunter Posted November 10, 2005 Report Share Posted November 10, 2005 Re: Bullet Performance My dad also shot a buck with 300 grn XTP Mags a few seasons back. In a few inches of snow, he only found 1-2 drops of blood. The deer ran about 60 yards i think.(unfortunately, I was sick that morning and couldn't hunt). XTP's have been accurate out of my remington, but after all the bad stories, I switched to the SST sabots. They shoot pracitically the exact same, but hopefully they'll do a little better with blood trails. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted November 10, 2005 Report Share Posted November 10, 2005 Re: Bullet Performance If you read above youll see where I had a Sabot follow the contour of a bucks rib cage. It was also a TC Mag. Ive actually been shooting them for years but honestly, this last episode was enough to make me shy. Thats the same reason I moved from the good ole 30-30. I know they can get the job done but they probably arent the best. The increase in accuracy by switching to the hornady was enough for me. I really wish I could have tested the expansion on an animal. I probably should have nailed that buck with one side broke off (If your read the story). If they expand well I will keep the change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKYhunter Posted November 11, 2005 Report Share Posted November 11, 2005 Re: Bullet Performance Congratulations on your buck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 16, 2005 Report Share Posted November 16, 2005 Re: Bullet Performance Congrats on the buck AJ. Have used the 240 grain xtp mags with 120 grains of pyrodex and have gotten pretty decent blood trails. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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