Best .40 HP rounds available for reloading?

[Riven]

I want to use my Beretta CX4 .40 for deer and have been having a hard time deciding between what round to use. There are several good factory loads but not so many options for loading your own.
Im leaning to 165 Speer if i can ever find any.
I wish PDX1 were available!!!

 

[tictactician]

The Barnes XPB look promising. They would be my first choice loaded as fast as safely possible. deer with a 40 is a whole different discussion.

 

[Yukoner89]

Deer with a pistol calibre...?

I'm no expert and I'm not doubting it can work but..............

 

[Riven]

I have talked to a couple people that have taken deer with a .40 using Federal HST or Hydra-shok . Shot placement is important & im not talking 100yd + shots either.

Loaded hot is also a must!!!

 

[unstableryan]

I have been playing with 180gr gold dots loaded warm.

 

[Spawn-Inc]

if you can get them, zero makes a HP although i'm not sure how well it stands up to actually being used for that purpose. https://www.doubletapsports.com/zero-projectiles/zero-projectiles-dt134-40-400dia-180gr-jhp-2000

 

[Riven]

I have been playing with 180gr gold dots loaded warm.

How well have the gold dots been holding up? Any idea what fps your getting.
Im thinking of making some ballistic gel to see how some 165 gold dot and 155 XTP hold up at higher speeds out of the rifle.

 

[LUTNIT]

.44-40 has taken countless deer so there's no doubt in my mind that a good pistol calibre carbine can work.

Are Speer pistol bullets any better than their rifle bullets? I've gotten significantly worse groups with Speer bullets versus the same size/weight/shape bullets from any other brand. Talking 2-4x larger groups even with the best load I try.

 

[ampegor]

i would use a 180 grain bullet - any hollowpoint should work and make it go fast- use slower burning powders to get more velocity from your longer barrel
if you can get it to 1200 fps out of your barrel you are in 10mm range and should be ok on deer if you do your part - no long shots - pistol bullets slow down FAST
just my 2 cents