155 gr for anything?

[Labrat198]

So I have a bunch of 155 gr coming my way from Hornadys "Get Loaded" promotion and just wondering if anyone uses them to hunt, well, anything?

Purchased a Glock 40 with the intention of hunting whitetail in thick Mn woods as well as woods carry. Was figuring 180-200 grain would cover all my bases.  Got into reloading and now I have 500, 155 grain coming my way (only grain promotion listed in 10mm) that I dont know what to do with other than plinking or decimating squirrels. 

[Ridgerunner665]

I'd use the 155's for plinking, or maybe sell them and put the money towards 180 or 200 grain bullets to hunt with.

I'm sure 155's will kill even large northern deer if shots are chosen carefully (broadside, behind the shoulder).... But, I myself wouldn't be comfortable with the generally accepted level of penetration a 155 grain hollow point will provide.

Congratulations on the Glock 40, fine weapon, I really like mine.

[Ridgerunner665]

Unless you enjoy shooting coyotes....

If so, those 155's will be excellent for that.

[Labrat198]

Yotes might be fun if I can get close enough. I have some on my trail cams but have never tried to hunt them.

[Spudmeister]

The bullet weight is not the deciding factor here.  Up at 10mm velocities the 155gr Hornady XTP is known for deep penetration.  I have not taken game with this bullet but all the ballistic gel tests say that, for example, it trades some expansion to get deeper penetration.  So for deer and hog the 155gr XTP is a decent choice.  The 155gr Speer Gold Dot expands more and gives less penetration.  I honestly don't know exactly when each bullet is better but when hunting I default to penetration. 

My 155gr XTP factory loads chrono out of my G20 at (5 shot average) 1,338 fps.  Though I have not shot this load out of my G40, it probably does around 1,370 fps and that is quite a punch that still gives a lot of penetration.

The G40 is a great choice.  The 155 XTP is not my personal choice but is powerful, accurate and quite capable with medium game.  Good hunting!

[Labrat198]

Penetration and the ability to pass through a rib or shoulder blade are my main concerns. When it comes to expansion, my personal thoughts is that 10mm are already wider that most of the .270 bullets I have recovered from deer, so speed and penetration are priority.

If I could have my way I would get some JSP's in 180 and 200 to see what I shoot better, to bad nobody makes them... unless you want to dismantle Federals factory ammo.  Now I am stuck deciding between flat nose or hollow point...

That said, I have plenty of other critters to dispatch as practice with these.

[Walking Bear]

SIG makes a 155 that runs 1500 FPS should work for hunting at close range and shot placement

[Ramjet]

You did not say if it is the XTP?

If it is, deer and under you will be fine under these conditions;
Using 6" barrel to get the velocity up.
Keeping your shots on deer 75 yards and under.
Broadside or quarting away aiming for the heart and lungs.

I have taken deer with the 155 XTP but they were all under 50 yards the resorts were really good.

practice practice practice

I have a Hornady progressive press set up for 10mm only and shoot 7000 + pre year from various 10mm platforms. I am confident in my ability and absolutely love shooting.

[ram1000]

Why is there so much concern over the weight of a 155 grain 10mm?  I'm not a hunter but it seems to me the 357 mag at 157 grain was likely used for years before the current crop of whatevers???

[Ramjet]

Why is there so much concern over the weight of a 155 grain 10mm?  I'm not a hunter but it seems to me the 357 mag at 157 grain was likely used for years before the current crop of whatevers???

My rules would apply to the 357 158 grain load as well from a handgun.

[10mm-Admirer]

I've had the same question and thoughts recently.  I have quite a bit of Hornady 155 bullets I've gotten free from Hornady with die purchases.  I've seen people write they (155s) don't have the sectional density to penetrate effectively for self defense or hunting.  However, I had the same thought about the 125 and 158 gr .357 magnum loads that have been popular.  Seems like the 155 10mm loads would be similarly effective, especially for self defense.

[Rojo27]

My .02.....
Keep the velocity in the 1250fps to 1300fgs range for .52 to .60 expansion and decent pentration.  Don't over-juice them.  The Chpping Block tested the 155gr XTP by Underwood zipping along at 1450+fps and he got 10 pr 11" of penetration and .82 expansion.  Great for a coyote but far too shallow for medium size game. 

[anthaynes96]

Just my 2 cents but I haven't seen many deer that are thicker than 10 or 11 inches broadside so I'd say they would work purty awesome.

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[Rojo27]

Just my 2 cents but I haven't seen many deer that are thicker than 10 or 11 inches broadside so I'd say they would work purty awesome.

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Be sure to let us know how it works for you. 


Calibrated ballistics gel is a consistent analog media which permits reasonable comparisons of different projectiles (and velocities) terminal performance on a reasonably level playing field.  Which as discussed on this forum many, many times is anything but analogous to the performance on real world living creatures which are anything but consistent and uniform. 

Labrat:
I've never hunted MN whitetail but I understand they grow big up there.  Good luck hunting with your G40!

[sqlbullet]

Why is there so much concern over the weight of a 155 grain 10mm?  I'm not a hunter but it seems to me the 357 mag at 157 grain was likely used for years before the current crop of whatevers???

Because penetration is predicted by sectional density and velocity, not weight and velocity.

A 155 grain 10mm will be similar as far as penetration to a 125 grain .357, velocity being the same with no expansion.  The 10mm, due to it's weight, will arrive with more energy, again if velocity is the same.

Ballistics by the inch shows that 357 mag in a 5" barrel, including chamber, will make about 1500 fps with premium JHP loads in the 125 grain range.  Underwood also makes 1500 fps with premium 10mm loads in 155 grain.  So, we have apples to apples on velocity and sectional density, but the 10mm has a larger un-expanded diameter and a 150 lb-ft energy advantage.

In 158 grain JHP's, the 357 Mag has velocity advantage of 150 fps compared to the 200 grain 10mm, which pretty much normalizes out the energy budget at 688 to 684.  Apples to apples for sectional density and energy, but not velocity.

I would expect the 155 grain 10mm to perform more like a 125 grain 357, which is not a super common hunting load.  That said, the 155 grain has a huge energy advantage and is larger out of the gate, which will result in better terminal performance than the 125 grain 357.

No reason not to use those heads since that is what the OP has.  They will perform fine on whitetail as long as you take good shots.