Loading Hornady XTP 180 gr. How much is enough?

[4given]

Just musing here .... hoping to spur some thoughtful discussion ...

I have always loved the XTP bullet. Accurate, tough, dependable and always seems available for purchase.    Always liked them in my 44 mag revolvers and 1240 FPS 9mm loads.

Looking at all the load data, it is pretty easy to load them to 1250 - 1300 FPS with several kinds of powder.  My question is, in your opinion, how much velocity is enough for this bullet when loading 10mm?  When looking at various gel testing online it seems that the 180 XTP .400 bullet is a relatively shallow penetrator (13 - 14 inches) for a hunting/general purpose woods load when loaded to these velocities. 

Perhaps these bullets were designed with 40 S&W velocities in mind?

Any advantage to pushing them beyond 1300fps? Maybe the mushroomed portion of the bullet might fragment and the core continue to penetrate further?

Load 'em just under 1200 fps for more penetration?

Maybe the 180 gr XTP is only good for self defense and light skinned game and a guy should stick with WFN hard cast for general woods carry?   

Attached is a Hornady chart I assume many of you have seen that shows effective velocity ranges for various XTP bullets. Seems the 10mm XTP to be good for about 1450.

What do you all think?



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[Graybeard]

Lucky Gunner Labs ran factory Hornady 180s through clear ballistics gel using a G20. 16.9" of penetration at 1158fps. https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/10mm-auto-self-defense-ammo-ballistic-gel-tests/
Amazingly consistent penetration and plenty for 2 legged threats.

I load 180gr XTPs at a shade over 1300fps out of a 5" 1911. While there are other very good bullets out there, the speed range of the XTP is really what I like about them. I don't really think Hornady has .40 velocities in mind if they're saying 180 XTPs will hold together up to 1450fps. If someone wants to send me some clear ballistics gel, I'd be happy to run some though my 10mm AR at 1450 and above to test that out

[The_Shadow]

This was included in a box of my Hornady 10mm XTP bullets

[4given]

Shadow that looks very similar to  the velocities on the chart I posted

[Spudmeister]

One of the nice things about the 10mm is you can run from mild to wild without much of a problem.  While a Speer Gold Dot can be run very fast, it's degree of expansion varies a lot with velocity. Nuclear loads will flatten out like a pancake with full size guns. Not so much with the XTP.  Less expansion and greater penetration is typical.  Just a matter of what you want.

My suggestion is to start your loading with the intent to match the Hornady factory 180 gr XTP ammo.  From there you can decide on accuracy & recoil since that will be enough velocity for expansion. 

[4given]

Lucky Gunner Labs ran factory Hornady 180s through clear ballistics gel using a G20. 16.9" of penetration at 1158fps. https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/10mm-auto-self-defense-ammo-ballistic-gel-tests/
Amazingly consistent penetration and plenty for 2 legged threats.

I load 180gr XTPs at a shade over 1300fps out of a 5" 1911. While there are other very good bullets out there, the speed range of the XTP is really what I like about them. I don't really think Hornady has .40 velocities in mind if they're saying 180 XTPs will hold together up to 1450fps. If someone wants to send me some clear ballistics gel, I'd be happy to run some though my 10mm AR at 1450 and above to test that out

Greybeard I have seen those lucky gunner tests.  I have seen other tests where 180 xtp loaded around 1250 only penetrated 13" or so.  I too would enjoy shooting some gel!

[4given]

Here is a test with a 180 XTP hand loaded to 1290 fps and shot into organic gel:

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=180+gr+XTP+10mm+tests&view=detail&mid=2A93F0DF93CD372E73DB2A93F0DF93CD372E73DB&FORM=VIRE

[4given]

Here is a test with a 180 XTP hand loaded to 1300+ FPS in  clear gel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Jh21VQWu0k

[Spudmeister]

Here is a test with a 180 XTP hand loaded to 1300+ FPS in  clear gel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Jh21VQWu0k

That is mighty nice performance.  Personally I found the 9.5 gr Longshot loads with this bullet to be a bit much in my G20 but felt great in the G40.  However I do think it is the max load for this bullet in the Hodgon website. 

[4given]

Here is an interesting video from shootingthebull410 where he tests and compares Clear Ballistics Gel to calibrated 10% ordinance gel. Dr. Roberts has stated that shootingthebull410 is "the best of the internet bunch". Check it out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kjcoFaobeo

[sep]

My general impression after looking at a variety of gel tests and what has been posted on this web site is the 200 grain XTP will get you a little deeper penetration than the 180 grain XTP. The 200 grain WFN hard cast will go even deeper than the 200 grain XTP. So, I guess it's a matter of what type of performance you want from the pistol.

I load both the 200 grain XTP and 200 grain WFNPB hard cast for woods defense. The WFNPB is what I usually carry as they will really penetrate and that's what I want for woods carry against bears. I would carry an entirely different bullet for "social work" with people. The 200 grain loads would penetrate too much in a crowded shopping mall against a human assailant.           

[Kenk]

Unless there were 3 bad guys lined up with a wall behind them 😀

[4given]

Here is a video in which Brass Fetcher gets different results than shootingthebull410:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pqPBnSYTIc