xtp performace?

[38-44HD45]

First, understand that I am mostly a big fan of Hornady products. I use nothing else in my .308 Scout rifles, and presently have a big order placed for their new 6.5 Grendel ammo. That said, while the Hornady XTP chart is pretty, you'd best not rely on it. In the testing I've done, XTPs need to be driven much faster than the low ends of their ranges on the chart. For instance, they show the .410/210 expanding down to about 825fps., if my old eyes read it correctly. I tried working up a 950-975 fps. load in my Model 58, and got zero expansion in water at 975, and only minimal expansion when I went up to 1075. I've gotten excellent accuracy, and I LOVE their bullets in my .460 Rowland. For slower stuff, I won't use them if I need expansion.

 

[Skip Sackett]

38-44,
Do you think I will get too much expansion at the velocity I am driving these at? I'm with you on the lower end of things. Seen it first hand.

 

[38-44HD45]

Skip, which XTP and how fast? I couldn't tell what load you're talking about from the previous posts; could be my density.

FWIW, with my primitive testing methods for expansion in water, what I've found is that the threshold for expansion to start happening in XTPs is higher than listed by Hornady, and that there is a fairly narrow window between where they expand and where they start to fragment. In my .460 Rowland 185gr. XTP loadings, they fragment every time, running at about 1500 fps., if I recall correctly. With the 230 gr. .460 loads, running about 1300 fps., they fragment about half the time in water, but at least they expand every time. The little bit of testing I've done with the 230s in fairly hot .45 ACP loads showed little to no expansion, at velocities in the 875-900 fps. range. It should be noted that the .460 loads are both well beyond the recommended velocities in the Hornady chart, but the ACP loads are smack in the middle. I should also mention the fact that water, as an expansion medium, is not the best predictor for performance in flesh, so the ACPs might expand well in flesh, and the .460s might not fragment. Haven't shot critters with either one yet, so I don't know.

 

[LouisianaJoe]

I have had good results with the 240gr XTP/MAG over 46gr H110 in my .460 S&W. I always thought that the XTP's were for higher power loads. I also use the 300gr XTP/MAG in the .454 Casull and the .460

 

[Skip Sackett]

I must be getting old!

Skip, which XTP and how fast? I couldn't tell what load you're talking about from the previous posts; could be my density.

FWIW, with my primitive testing methods for expansion in water, what I've found is that the threshold for expansion to start happening in XTPs is higher than listed by Hornady, and that there is a fairly narrow window between where they expand and where they start to fragment. In my .460 Rowland 185gr. XTP loadings, they fragment every time, running at about 1500 fps., if I recall correctly. With the 230 gr. .460 loads, running about 1300 fps., they fragment about half the time in water, but at least they expand every time. The little bit of testing I've done with the 230s in fairly hot .45 ACP loads showed little to no expansion, at velocities in the 875-900 fps. range. It should be noted that the .460 loads are both well beyond the recommended velocities in the Hornady chart, but the ACP loads are smack in the middle. I should also mention the fact that water, as an expansion medium, is not the best predictor for performance in flesh, so the ACPs might expand well in flesh, and the .460s might not fragment. Haven't shot critters with either one yet, so I don't know.

38-44,
Sorry for the confusion. I have another thread on this forum about going hog hunting. Here: http://smith-wessonforum.com/reloading/116755-boar-ram-hunting-oklahoma.html

In the first post I tell what my velocities and loads are going to be.

Thanks,

 

[38-44HD45]

Skip, you didn't say whether you're using the HP or FP 158, but I'm betting on fragmentation with the HP, and maybe with the FP. You are well beyond the high end of Hornady's range, especially with getting 2 grand out of the HP. Might be surprised, though.

 

[Skip Sackett]

The reason for the question is this:

Skip, you didn't say whether you're using the HP or FP 158, but I'm betting on fragmentation with the HP, and maybe with the FP. You are well beyond the high end of Hornady's range, especially with getting 2 grand out of the HP. Might be surprised, though.

I don't want injured game running around because my load/component selection isn't adequate to do the job.

Maybe I will have to "back her up" with the 30/06 or the 44Mag.

I am going to let her shoot her Marlin. Not that I could stop her at this point!

 

[38-44HD45]

Skip, if she whacks a porker with that XTP load, I really want to know how it performs. I've had some friends shoot hogs lately with bullets I just knew would break up prematurely (.223s of various sorts, mostly) and quite the contrary, they've penetrated through-and-through and made big exit wounds, even on gristle plate shots. The Hornady 60 gr. V-Max bullet has been the big performer for them. Happy hunting!

 

[Skip Sackett]

38-44,
Keep posted here, well, on the other thread that is!

I will have pictures and everything, maybe even a video! Like last time.

I wanted to take my AR and may still. I have a handload that uses a 69gr HPBT bullet at about 2800fps that shoots MOA groups. The ranch owner kind of sneered at it though. I may take it to take my ram with! Now that would be cool!

 

[NKJ nut]

Skip, if she whacks a porker with that XTP load, I really want to know how it performs. I've had some friends shoot hogs lately with bullets I just knew would break up prematurely (.223s of various sorts, mostly) and quite the contrary, they've penetrated through-and-through and made big exit wounds, even on gristle plate shots. The Hornady 60 gr. V-Max bullet has been the big performer for them. Happy hunting!

I don't believe the bullet makers are resting on their laurels. The XTP or V-max of a few years ago isn't necessarily the same IMHO. I have had excellent results with that 60 gr. V-Max on deer, but haven't popped any hogs with it. Way beyond expectations for a "varmint" bullet.

 

[dennis40x]

38-44,
I wanted to take my AR and may still. I have a handload that uses a 69gr HPBT bullet at about 2800fps that shoots MOA groups. The ranch owner kind of sneered at it though.

If by chance your AR-15 predates the absence of the bayonet lug there is always the option of cold steel. So what if the terminal ballistics isn't satisfactory. One has to get a little blood on their hands at some point. Where is that fighting spirit????.

 

[38-44HD45]

I can relate, Dennis. For Swinette Reno, the big boar whose head is mounted on my office wall, I used a knife to finish him after I shot him with a .44 mag. revolver. Pretty exciting few seconds, that!

 

[Skip Sackett]

Some say my fighting spirit is right where it used to be, on the surface!

If by chance your AR-15 predates the absence of the bayonet lug there is always the option of cold steel. So what if the terminal ballistics isn't satisfactory. One has to get a little blood on their hands at some point. Where is that fighting spirit????.

Dennis,
I have seen the youtube videos of the dogs that capture a hog then these girls jump on it's back and stab it to death with what looks like a Kabar too. Sorry, not for me!

Fighting spirit is there, the self preservation spirit seems to keep overcoming it though!

OORAH!

A little window into ol' Skiparoo. I am a reactionary. What I mean by that is that when a dangerous situation arises and I am not involved, I get involved.

Like the time when I was doing some work in a factory that molded rubber gaskets for automobile doors. Seems this new guy just had to clean the mold as it was closing and ended up getting his hand in the press as it closed. The molds were heated to 300*F + in order to cure out the rubber. They were closed with hydraulics and suffice it to say that he was fairly trapped.

I just couldn't stand there and watch the maintenance men fall all over themselves trying to get the guy out of there. I ran into the situation, told the maintenance guy to loosen this certain fitting and the individual would be released. I was yelling at the maintenance guy and giving directions to people while they all stood there dumbfounded.

The guy got released but not until his hand was quite cooked and crushed!

That kind of response just doesn't seem to come to mind though when talking about one of these tuskers that could weigh 300lbs though! Shinny up a tree seems to work for me. Run into the next county might be a good idea!

Maybe what would be the best scenario is to let it attack someone that was with me, then the paradigm would change!

By the way, no bayonet lug, Sarge!

 

[NKJ nut]

Maybe what would be the best scenario is to let it attack someone that was with me, then the paradigm would change!

If that happened you'd probably just jump on the porker and strangle it.