The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Handgun hunting bullets: cast, jacketed, or mono

riverratt · July 2, 2017, 08:44 PM

In my experience the most consistent killer in a handgun is a heavy hard lead slug with a big meplate. They just penetrate straight and deep with a generous wound channel. My 280gr .44 has never left a bullet in a deer regardless of the angle and always shattered shoulders leaving an obvious 20-30 yard blood trail.

Hollow points are nice if you don't hit a heavy bone, but passthroughs with my 7 1/2 SBH are not guaranteed. If you always have the opportunity to wait for that broadside shot and place the bullet in the ribs they may bring down the animal slightly quicker but if there isn't an exit the blood trail is much harder to follow.

July 2, 2017, 08:44 PM	#10
riverratt Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2014 Posts: 314	In my experience the most consistent killer in a handgun is a heavy hard lead slug with a big meplate. They just penetrate straight and deep with a generous wound channel. My 280gr .44 has never left a bullet in a deer regardless of the angle and always shattered shoulders leaving an obvious 20-30 yard blood trail. Hollow points are nice if you don't hit a heavy bone, but passthroughs with my 7 1/2 SBH are not guaranteed. If you always have the opportunity to wait for that broadside shot and place the bullet in the ribs they may bring down the animal slightly quicker but if there isn't an exit the blood trail is much harder to follow.