[DAVIDSDIVAD]

I have a bunch of both, and I'm having a tough time deciding which one to load my gun with.


Any thoughts on this?

[EHL]

I'd go with the DPX, provided that it's the 185 grain variety and not the 160 grain one. I've heard alot of bad things about that lighter grain load. Although, the DPX is loaded to +p pressures, I'd much rather prefer the Taurus Hex Copper bullet over the DPX since it's loaded to normal pressures and still has the Barnes bullet. These copper bullets are great, they go thru anything like a hot knife thru butter. Wouldn't waste my time with the Hornady TAP though.

[johnle]

DPX!

[RyanM]

Much as I hate Winchester, I'd go with law enforcement-only 230 grain Ranger Talons instead.

Though if the two you mentioned are the only options, probably 185 gr DPX.

[BlindJustice]

What's the bullet weight and velocity for each?

What is the bullet type of the HST ?

Randall

[HGUNHNTR]

Don't put too much thought into it, they will both work just fine.
Choose one like you would choose a soda at the convenience store.

[GRIZ22]

Which feeds best and is more accurate. Those are the two biggest criteria for SD ammo which probably can be met by a dozen other brands of ammo. After you meet feeding and accuracy it's all which manufacturer's sales pitch you think is best.

[springmom]

This is probably heresy to someone here ;) but I use CorBon after having repeatedly been unhappy with TAP. I've tried it in 9mm and in .45acp, the 9mm in both a BHP and a Bersa. The stuff is not as accurate (for me) as the CorBon.

And I've tried it several different times, out of different shipments, so it wasn't just an odd batch from the factory.

FWIW.

Springmom

[DAVIDSDIVAD]

I'd go with the DPX, provided that it's the 185 grain variety and not the 160 grain one. I've heard alot of bad things about that lighter grain load. Although, the DPX is loaded to +p pressures, I'd much rather prefer the Taurus Hex Copper bullet over the DPX since it's loaded to normal pressures and still has the Barnes bullet. These copper bullets are great, they go thru anything like a hot knife thru butter. Wouldn't waste my time with the Hornady TAP though.


Yeah, it seems that any SD bullet worth looking at is loaded ++PPP+PP+ these days, :).


Thanks for the Taurus suggestion.

EDIT: I just bought a bunch of the Taurus so I can pseudo-test all three at the same time.

[DawgFvr]

EHL:

I've heard alot of bad things about that lighter grain load.

May I inqurie as to what you "have heard"?

160 grain DPX is a great load designed for short barrel compact frames. It is not + P by the way. This is all I carry and I've had fabulous results. Please educate me.


http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Corbon%20160%20gr%20DPX.htm

[EHL]

The 160 grain bullet as made by Corbon has a design flaw. Most people who have bought it have experienced mixed results, at best. THe consensus is that this round does not chamber very well. Look at the reviews at the Midway website from guys who bought that load.
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=185491
These guys also complained about set back, especially in the 160 grain.
http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=200201&page=2
You are correct about it being a standard pressure round. Most of the DPX line is +P. That being said, I still own the DPX in both .380 and 9mm and carry them in both calibers. I think it's great ammo. I think in the 45 acp, the Taurus is a better made product. The casings are nickel for smoother feeding, and it's not +P. Although conventional wisdom is that for shorter barrels, a lighter grain is needed for proper expansion. Since velocity is lost on the bullet from a shorter barrel, it is feared that it will not acheive the speed necessary to initiate expansion, thus it will be relagated to nothing more than an FMJ. This is true only of less than premium ammo. Ranger T's and HST's, two of the best SD rounds on the planet aren't even made in lighter grains for the 45 acp. Yet shoot either of those rounds out of a 3" inch barrel and you will see expansion at it's finest.:D I fired them from 1.5' away from geletin and they expanded very quickly. Good SD ammo is designed to expand no matter what. I'm not saying there isn't something to the lighter grain bullets in a smaller barreled gun, I used to do it in my Kimber Ultra Eclipse. After I tested the HST and Ranger T's, I ditched the lighter grains and am now packing 230 grains out of my 3". THis isn't saying that I don't still fear loss of velocity. So I make sure that both of these bullets are +P to compensate for that. I do still load the Taurus Hex Bullets in my 3" Kimber as well. I also load it in my 5" Springfield, with my other standard pressure Ranger T's and HSTs.
Again, I think the DPX is a great bullet, I own them myself and recommend them, but I am careful with certain loads that are offered by them, especially the 160 grain. If you do use it, please make sure it works in YOUR gun.
Happy shootin!:)

Edit: DavidsDAd, let us know how your tests go. The Taurus is a great priced bullet isn't it?!

[DAVIDSDIVAD]

I will do so as soon as I get to the range. :)


I was surprised that I was able to find it for such a good price, even with shipping.


Hahah, by the way, I'm nobodies dad, I just spelled my name forward, then backwards, for lack of creativity. :D

[DevilDog0402]

Between the two, I would go w/ the TAP based on bullet weight alone. I like the 230 grainers...

[orionengnr]

DPX here.

[Ridgerunner665]

I reload my own to perform like a hot standard pressure TAP load...since Hornady doesn't see fit to load them in a non +P version.

Remington brass
7 grains of Power Pistol
CCI 300 primer
230 grain XTP bullet
1.23 OAL.

Gets 830 fps from my commander length 1911...which equates to a standard pressure load fired from a 5 inch 1911.

And they will group 7 shots into 2 inches @ 50 yards... all day, any day...from a Ransom Rest of course.

The pistol is a Baer stainless Stinger.

[.cheese.]

doesn't matter. They're both very good.

Personally, between the two I'd go with Hornady TAP FPD just because FPD stands for personal defense, which could be a good thing in court if G-d forbid you ever had to use it.

[Big Boomer]

DPX for sure! That's one of the loads I carry.

I am not fond of the XTP bullet for self defense, I've seen a lot of jacket core separation. I much prefer the Gold Dots to the hornady's.

That being said, I have just seen that double tap ammo loads the gold dot's at some impressive velocities. You should check them out.

I haven't ordered any yet...but soon.

[Walkalong]

TAP, because it feeds great, XTP's work, and it is a reasonable bullet weight. I am uninterested in sending a 160 Gr .45 slug down range. I don't care how fast it is. I don't want to hit them with a gimmic, I want to hit them with a big chunh of lead.

[kd7nqb]

Your choosing between the 2 of the 3 best personal defense ammo out there. Either is fine.

Shoot both in your gun and see which it likes better/ is more accurate.

[Old School]

Why the light lead?

[MICHAEL T]

DPX in all my 1911's

[Z-Michigan]

With the major price difference, for most people I would say TAP because they could afford to shoot a lot more of it. But since you said you already had a bunch of both, the tests I've seen suggest that DPX bullet works extremely well. TAP will certainly work well also, but price no object the DPX looks like a top pick.

Of course, if the reliability of feeding and going bang is not 100%, this goes out the window. And that's all a matter of testing it in your own gun.

[Huddog]

Test both for feeding reliability and accuracy. Decide which one your gun likes better and go with it. Since you have a supply of both, price as a consideration is out of the equation.

[DawgFvr]

The 160 grain bullet as made by Corbon has a design flaw. Most people who have bought it have experienced mixed results, at best.


EHL: Design flaw? Says who? I fire them all the time...always fired true in my weapon...but that is just my personal experience. Are you just spouting hear-say...or can you actually produce real evidence.

[Plink]

I know you mentioned having a lot of both, but I thought I'd pass on a suggestion just the same. Double Tap Ammo makes a very fast load that uses the proven Speer Gold Dot bullet. From a short barrel it outperforms +P loads shot from full length barrels. Most importantly, it does it at standard pressure levels. It also costs about the same as normal premium ammo, unlike Corbon. I've been carrying it in my Bersa U/C for years and it's amazingly accurate stuff. I use the 230 grain and get almost 950 FPS out of the 3.5 inch barrel.

I hadn't been to Double Tap's site in a while so I checked in last night. They now have the hottest .380 load that I've ever seen and even offer the perfect .44 special. I've been looking for a good .44 special load for years. I can't handload one to the level I wanted and I tried Corbon's DPX and was very unimpressed.

[EHL]

DawgfvrEHL: Design flaw? Says who? I fire them all the time...always fired true in my weapon...but that is just my personal experience. Are you just spouting hear-say...or can you actually produce real evidence.

EHLAgain, I think the DPX is a great bullet, I own them myself and recommend them, but I am careful with certain loads that are offered by them, especially the 160 grain. If you do use it, please make sure it works in YOUR gun.


Like I said in my original post, I recommend the brand, but stress the importance of it working in YOUR gun.

As far as "evidence" and whether I am merely "spouting hear-say", I guess I am since I am using various testimonials from other shooters who have not had a good experience with this particular load in the DPX. All this proves is that there are enough people that have taken the time to give negetive reviews about the bullet that it gives some impression of the load of ammo lacking something.

I congratulate you on the 160 grain DPX bullet working on your gun. Others have not been as fortunate. Check out the links I posted and you'll see for yourself. Again, if it works for you, God Bless. I ,however,won't be risking my life or that of my families with ammunition that has been recieving this mixed feedback. THere's plenty of other ammo that universally recieves praise from anybody who has shot it. (HST, Ranger T's, Ranger Bonded)
If you feel confident in your ammo, go with it. I'm not losing any sleep if you choose to use 160 grain DPX or not. I was merely passing on information that has been given by multiple users of this same load. I won't waste my time with anything that is that questionable. Maybe thier particular firearms are substandard, maybe they're not. I have premium firearms but I'm not gonna waste my time with such an iffy round when there's rounds or loads that recieve NOTHING except praise. I like the 185 grain copper bullets because frankly, I don't trust bullets in 45 that are lighter than that. If anybody else thinks differently, I'm not gonna lose any sleep over it. Good luck with whatever you decide to shoot.:)

[DawgFvr]

The 160 grain bullet as made by Corbon has a design flaw.

Your statement is spurious at best. There is no design flaw in that bullet. Your statement is a pure opinion based on hear-say, undocumented, personal experiences from some obscure weapon's forum where a 1911 advocate had problem feeding in his personal weapon. You thought that qualified you to point out that Corbon's 160 grain bullet had a "design flaw"?

Incredible.

[EHL]

Nice try DawgFvr. It wasn't a forum where the allegation of a "design flaw" was made, it was in the review section of Midway USA for this bullet. On top of that, with this many mixed reviews for what is supposed to be a premium SD bullet, one has to wonder if there is a design flaw. One would think that it would be common sense to not gamble ones life on such questionable round. You feel insulted that I questioned this particular bullets reliability. I appologize you feel that way. If it makes you happy, "The 160 grain Corbon DPX is the GREATEST SD round ever developed." Sorry you took it so personal. I'm not trying to attack you or your beliefs. Happy shooting.:)

[RONSTAR]

Id pack both if I were you I pack a mixture of 165 gr. powerball and 230 gr. speer golddot

[DAVIDSDIVAD]

Well, I'll make a new thread when I test them out, since this one is turning into a lot of nerd rage.

[RONSTAR]

Well, I'll make a new thread when I test them out, since this one is turning into a lot of nerd rage.
ROFL

[gp911]

I had poor luck with TAP as well. I tried the 200gr +P and it seemed to hit all over the place. Discouraging, given the price. The gun (G21SF) seems to like Gold Dots so far, but I'm still trying out different ammo before I give a full endorsement.

gp911