Hornady 125gr XTP

[pasound]

I grabbed a couple of 100 round boxes of 125gr XTP's from Midway. Looking to duplicate the factory Hornady round. The Hornady 125gr XTP shoots well in my j's, and does expand in water jugs. But since the past year's experience, the 20-round boxes (expensive in 2019, but now...) basically don't exist. Hornady's reloading data states a starting load of 4.7gr of Universal nearly matches the velocity on the XTP box - 900fps on the factory, 918 on the reload. Using new Winchester or Sig factory brass, Federal primers. Factory equivalent?

 

[rwsmith]

Are you shooting .38 Special...

It sounds like you are. Those are pretty good numbers for a J frame. I have some old Sierra loads that I would use in a K frame, but that sounds like plenty of performance out of a J frame.

 

[pasound]

Factory numbers on the ammo box and the Hornady reloading data were probably done in a 6" test barrel or more - much longer than a j-frame, 1 7/8" standard. What I know is the factory 125gr XTP in my j's work well. Just wanting to replace them with an equivalent home brew, since they are not available (and if ever again, still too expensive).

Middle of the night post, as age gets me up at least once a night..

 

[Nevada Ed]

In my M49 snub nose with the Win & Rem 125 gr SJHP bullets I could get
from 833 to 952 fps out of powders like Red Dot, Green Dot, Unique & 800-x.

Unique at 880 fps was very accurate and shot at POA and was a Fac Dup loading for a 2" J frame.
903 fps was doable with Red & Green Dot for a full +P loading........
but the recoil climbed to 4.41 ft/lbs that would get your attention.

Safety note;
the 952 fps load was ment for my K or L frame test and I only fired three loads.

 

[Cdog]

I load the 125 XTP using 5.2grs of Universal for my wife's 642.

From memory, my chronograph shows velocities run much closer to 800fps.

 

[pasound]

This load is mostly for my 637 (light, yes) and my 60-15 (all steel, 3"). Hornady shows the max for Universal as 5.2, 1,019fps - good to know you've tried that. Staying away from Unique, as a lot of my practice is at an indoor range, and Unique is smoky. The range frowns on handloads...

 

[Nevada Ed]

On 6/19/2012 with my steel M49 and the win 125 SJHP bullet with a light crimp

Universal Clays with 5.7 grs of powder crossed my chrony at 889 fps with a ES of 30.

Most accurate powders for a light 830 fps loading for me came with w231 or Red Dot.
Lower fps did not do well in my revolver with a JHP design.

125 gr lead bullets worked from 530 fps up to 786 fps for light work and minimal recoil, out of the little J frame.

 

[Troystat]

If this is for a 38 special you can always use flaming dirt I mean Unique. 5.8 grains will be close to factory pressure, 6 grains will be a +P load.

 

[pasound]

Can't use Unique in my indoor range. Loaded 25 of the 5.2gr Universal today. Sorry thie pic is a little out of focus. These are the best copy I think handloading data has. Left is my handload using the Lee Factory Crimp. Right is the Hornady factory round.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Can't use Unique in my indoor range. Loaded 25 of the 5.2gr Universal today. Sorry thie pic is a little out of focus. These are the best copy I think handloading data has. Left is my handload using the Lee Factory Crimp. Right is the Hornady factory round.

No Unique but they allow Universal.................?? !!
That does not make any sense to me, since they have the same burn rate.
However I never shot Universal indoors.

I guess I will need to do add a "Smoke Test" on my powders to my bucket list.

 

[pasound]

They discourage handloads, period. Unique turns shooting into a smokepole session indoors. Literally looks like black powder going off. Universal "seems" no smokier than Winchester 130gr JFP and less than Remington 158gr+P LSWCHP. Have to make some ammo that looks "factory", at least to casual observation. And I want to have it as reliable as the factory original, and as identical ballistics as possible.

 

[Racer X]

They discourage handloads, period. Unique turns shooting into a smokepole session indoors. Literally looks like black powder going off. Universal "seems" no smokier than Winchester 130gr JFP and less than Remington 158gr+P LSWCHP. Have to make some ammo that looks "factory", at least to casual observation. And I want to have it as reliable as the factory original, and as identical ballistics as possible.

yes, because the no handloads rule is cleaner than a bulk pack of Remington Golden Bullet rimfire? That even adds "glitter" to the floor sweepings.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

Oh, I am so lucky! At the GHR&P there are no range masters, no desk, nothing to have to buy except targets at 10 for a $...

Open the door, the windows or the shutters if the smoke just gets too bad... Or, just go shoot outside?

On Wednesday mornings when the Black Powder Boys shoot from inside to outside it's a different story, though.

Cheers!

 

[rwsmith]

Yeah, I quit.....

This load is mostly for my 637 (light, yes) and my 60-15 (all steel, 3"). Hornady shows the max for Universal as 5.2, 1,019fps - good to know you've tried that. Staying away from Unique, as a lot of my practice is at an indoor range, and Unique is smoky. The range frowns on handloads...

Yeah, I quit using conventional lubed bullets at the indoor range after the first day I tried them. Moved on to coated bullets. Couldn't see in there for a while.

 

[pasound]

At the indoor range in 2019, I dumped 100 rounds of Remington Golden through my 617, 10 at a time, quickly. I wanted rid of them. The smoke was so thick, I had to go back to the hallway to run a brush through the clogged cylinder chambers. The clerk scowled at me.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

I would opine that the vast majority of those who regularly post on this forum shoot more in a typical month than the "average shooter" (Take your pick: gun nut, enthusiast, wide-eyed 2nd Amendment whack-o, etc.?) does in a year...?

For many, in their lifetime?

Cheers!

P.S. Reloading 10 rounds of 22lr 9 times "quickly" would be a sight to see!

 

[pasound]

A SpeedBeez and a 100 round loading block. Makes a 617 shoot like it's magazine fed. LoL