Opinions: Hornady 38 Special 158GR XTP non +p

ken p · Mar 21, 2015

Hi Everyone

I have been considering Hornady 38 special 158 Grain Non +p #90362 (20 rds boxes) factory loaded ammunition.

I looked at the Hornady website and they show 800fps/199 ft-lbs out of a 4" test barrel.

Also there does not seem to be any clear cut information out there on the internet regarding expansion/penetration for this ammunition.

I will be shooting a M10 4" barrel: For self defense purposes what say you? Anyone have experience with this ammo?

CTG_COLLECTOR · Mar 21, 2015

Hornady's XTP bullet design is a mid-late expansion style bullet, thus it tends to drive deeper into tissue before expansion starts. The 38Spl 158XTP is too heavy and slow for much expansion. IMO it would be a poor SD load.

badge 851 · Mar 21, 2015

ken p said:
Hi Everyone

I have been considering Hornady 38 special 158 Grain Non +p #90362 (20 rds boxes) factory loaded ammunition.

I looked at the Hornady website and they show 800fps/199 ft-lbs out of a 4" test barrel.

Also there does not seem to be any clear cut information out there on the internet regarding expansion/penetration for this ammunition.

I will be shooting a M10 4" barrel: For self defense purposes what say you? Anyone have experience with this ammo?

Here is a video of that load...
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5pWEU8qX7g[/ame]

During the first half of this 6 minute video the narrator refers to this load as a +P. This is erroneous and he realizes that fact half way through the video, and declares it to be that standard pressure load (which is what you asked about). Pretty impressive performance from a 2" snubby!

Kframerbluvr · Mar 22, 2015

I bought some of these to serve as reloads for my carry service size and J-frame .38s because my preferred 158 grain LHP loads get their bullet noses mashed in when carrying them on a strip in a pocket. They may not be the number one choice, but I would take them over the old 158 round nose "widowmakers" every time...

phonejack · Mar 22, 2015

This ought to help

Kaedan · Mar 22, 2015

badge 851 said:
Here is a video of that load...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5pWEU8qX7g

During the first half of this 6 minute video the narrator refers to this load as a +P. This is erroneous and he realizes that fact half way through the video, and declares it to be that standard pressure load (which is what you asked about). Pretty impressive performance from a 2" snubby!

Didn't get full expansion, but certainly nothing to sneeze at. And out of a snub no less.

ken p · Mar 23, 2015

Well I hope someone tests it.

The Hornady expansion chart from post #5 seems to indicate that it will expand as slow as 700FPS.

The Hornady website show their test data for their loaded ammunition as follows:

Test Barrel (4 V") Velocity (fps) / Energy (ft-lbs)
Muzzle 50 100
800/199 765/183 735/168

So I guess Hornady's "data" implies that it would expand. Unfortunately the local gun ranges where I live won't allow people to do do testing in blocks of gelitan, water jugs, newspaper, etc...

PeterPocket · Mar 25, 2015

Hornaday XTP rocks

There are tests on Hornaday's website and also on YouTube under a series (or channel) called "The Ultimate Self Defense Round" or something like that.

The best rated round in terms of accuracy, reliability, expansion, and cleanliness is the Hornaday FTX. Now, the 125gr @ 900fps puts out 224 FPE and the 158gr @ 800fps puts out 199 FPE.

Even though the 158gr is slower, it produces a bigger wound cavity and has less penetration.

Now, the hottest non +P JHP is the Aguila SJHP 158gr. that puts out 284 FPE at the muzzle traveling at @900fps. But, I don't know anything about Aguila's quality and reliaibility vis-a-vis Hornaday. For that, you have to view the reviews.

The Winchester SXT 130gr yields 247 FPE @ 925fps. That might be my #1B to the Hornaday's #1A.

ken p said:
Hi Everyone

I have been considering Hornady 38 special 158 Grain Non +p #90362 (20 rds boxes) factory loaded ammunition.

I looked at the Hornady website and they show 800fps/199 ft-lbs out of a 4" test barrel.

Also there does not seem to be any clear cut information out there on the internet regarding expansion/penetration for this ammunition.

I will be shooting a M10 4" barrel: For self defense purposes what say you? Anyone have experience with this ammo?

Otreb · Mar 25, 2015

I wouldn't count on it in a snubby, velocity is on the 600fps range.

PeterPocket · Mar 25, 2015

The 158gr has less power than the 125gr. but makes a bigger wound channel

158gr @ 800fps = 199 FPE.
125gr @ 900fps = 224 FPE.

This is data from a 4" barrel, according to Hornaday's website. Not exactly a Snubby barrel here.

But, that's at the muzzle. The slower but larger 158grain XTP does "Xtra" damage at close range.

badge 851 said:
Here is a video of that load...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5pWEU8qX7g

During the first half of this 6 minute video the narrator refers to this load as a +P. This is erroneous and he realizes that fact half way through the video, and declares it to be that standard pressure load (which is what you asked about). Pretty impressive performance from a 2" snubby!

Safestuffer · Mar 25, 2015

I tested some reloads using hornady 158gr xtp's, loaded to max standard pressure, not +p
In a 442 I was getting just over 700fps, and some expansion in wet newspaper, if I remember right the HP opened up to a little more than bullet diameter. Penetration was good.
The 125gr xtp's were a little faster and expanded a little more, although didn't penetrate as well.

The XTP's start expanding well at about 800fps, and start blowing apart at about 1300fps, in my experience, with a sweet spot right at about 1150fps. That's in wet newspaper though, I have no experience with other mediums.

Opinions: Hornady 38 Special 158GR XTP non +p

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