Hornady .357 110gr XTP

[336A]

I decided to take the leap and purchase some of these bullets to test in my M10 and see how I like them. These will be the first jacketed bullets that I've loaded in my .38 SPL, normally I use cast bullets. However I've been intrigued with the late "Treasury Load" and want to do my best to duplicate it using modern +P loading data and Unique.

Please don't start telling me how the 110 gr HP is a dismal performer, I'm well aware of its track record. This is just to quench my curiosity and nothing more, so keep those remarks to yourself. However what I'm curious about is whether these bullets will expand or not? I know that Hornady bullets have a reputation for being unreliable expanders in the .38 SPL. But what about the 110gr XTP-HP at +P velocities? Does anyone here have any first hand knowledge if this bullet will expand when fired at .38 SPL velocities?

To be sure this wasn't my first choice I wanted to go with Gold Dots but of course no one has them in stock. Then I figured that the XTP may penetrate a tad deeper as XTP's don't expand quite as much as other HP bullets.

 

[murf]

xtp bullets have a "velocity range". you can go onto their website and find it for every xtp bullet made (the 110gn range is 900-1400 fps). the low end of the range is where the bullet begins to expand, the high end of the range is full expansion. above the range will start to tear up the bullet (start to fragment).

i've been using xtps since they first came out in the early 90s. frankly, it's the only "sd" and "hunting" jacketed bullets i use.

murf

 

[336A]

Thanks murf, I noticed the expansion threshold on their website too. I thought it a bit odd that the minimum velocity is set for 900fps when the 125 and 158 grain bullets are at 800fps IIRC. This got me wondering how it will fare when used in a snubby instead of a 4" service revolver.

 

[murf]

has to do with jacket thickness, i think. the nice part about controlled expansion bullets is the consistent penetration over a wide velocity range. the slower loads won't expand as much and, therefore, penetrate as well as the faster, greater expanding, loads. adjustable penetration, as it were.

that light of a bullet, you should be able to run it fast enough for expansion.

luck,

murf

 

[murf]

the hornady manual shows a 1000-1100 fps range for +p loads and the 110 gn xtp. the test gun is a 4" barreled model 15 s&w, so your results should be comparable.

murf

 

[gamestalker]

I won't tell you they don't expand well, as I've been loading the 110's, 125's, 140's, and 158's for a good number of years, both 38 spcl. +P, and .357.

I've tested the 110's with +P Longshot data, and they do what they're supposed to do, and very reliably at the full throttle velocities I launch them at. I can't tell you how they might work with lower end loads though, I never load target velocity stuff. Even the slower 158's at around 1050 fps with +P Longshot data, have been 100% reliable with regard to expansion.

BTW, I have run the L.S. +P loads through my M10-5 with no issues, though I imagine it's not a popular thing to do. But I figure the difference between standard full pressure loads, and +P isn't all that much.

GS