185 gr XTP results

[curtis41]

185 gr Hornady XTP HP
6.4 gr HP-38 (equivalent to new WIN 231)
CCI large pistol primer
Starline regular 45 new brass

SIG Sauer P220 - 829 +/- 16.1 fps

Glock G21 - 846 +/- 30.1 fps

N=17 shots at 10 feet through a calibrated optical chronometer, 75 degree morning.

Note: Had to use 1.205 inch O.A.L for the SIG, slightly longer bullets did not fit the magazine well, nor feed well. These XTPs are kind of fat at the same point as on a round nose bullet. They load in the magazine, feed and eject well, no problems, no failures to fire or eject.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Curtis...Have you tried WSF? I load it and 185 grain XTP/HP for my Kimber UCC II 3" barrel. Clean burning.

7.8 grains of WSF
CCI-300 or WLP primers
Winchester or Federal Brass
875 fps (ES of 45 fps)

 

[918v]

But how does it group?

 

[snuffy]

Why so slow? My Hornady manual says you could go to 7.2 WW-231, for 1000 fps. The idea of a 185 in 45 acp is speed. Speed + equals expansion, and flatter trajectories.

If your +/- 16.1 is extreme spread, that's pretty good, but how many shots in a string? OIC, 17 for both? 30.1 is about normal for an auto pistol.

Whats an optical chronometer? If that means chronograph, they all optical nowadays. (electric eye).

 

[unclesam099]

Hi snuffy, could you confirm that Hornady suggests 7.2gr of Win231 as a max? And what OAL do they recommend for that load?

 

[snuffy]

Hornady volume 1 5th edition, page 738. COL 1.230 win 231 starting @ 5.9 , 6.3, 6.8, and max @ 7.2 Case used, Hornady. Primer Winchester WLP.

Velocity is 1000, not 1100, I'll edit that after posting here. That's what I get for trying to remember the #'s from the loading room to the computer. Sorry for misleading anybody.

 

[rcmodel]

How about this.
Hornady #6 says 7.2 grain W231 is max.
OAL is 1.230".

But Hodgdon says 5.9 HP-38/W231 is max with a "Hornady 185 JSWC" at 1.195" OAL.

To further complicate matters, Lyman #49 says 6.1 grains W231, or 5.8 grains HP-38 is max with the 185 XTP seated 1.175" OAL.

Seems somewhere between 5.9 and 7.2 grains, seated somewhere between 1.175" and 1.230" is MAX!!!

rc

 

[The Bushmaster]

In my case it was 5 shots to a string, Snuffy...Accuracy with my load and handgun at 25 yards bench resting was around 1 1/2" spread. At 7 yards a nice cloverleaf all touching.

 

[unclesam099]

Thanks rcmodel, I read the Hodgdon data for that projectile and figured it might be about the same as the 185gr XTP. I was going to use somewhere between the mfg and the Hornady data.

 

[curtis41]

More info on the 185 gr XTP O.A.L.

Had to use the shorter O.A.L. for the SIG P220, the Glock G21 would take the longer rounds into the magazine just fine. The XTP 185 gr is kind of fat at the corresponding point on a RN bullet, so the shorter O.A.L. worked perfectly in the P220, good mag feed, chambered well and ejected well. The mag is kind of rounded at the bullet tip in the SIG and the "regular" lengths did not work, they jammed in the magazine. I also realize that you can send this bullet a lot faster, but had several thousand and wanted some relatively mild loads to shoot. Turning out about 300-400 an hour on the Hornady Lock-N-Load press. This press works great once you have it set up properly, and it holds the settings very well. Because of changing dies, this press suits me just fine. Loading some 32, 380 (son-in-law's weeny guns, I guess for shooting flies on the ceiling), 9mm, 38 SPL, 357 mag, 45 and 223. Will be adding a 40 die set shortly. Right now, loading mostly 9mm, 45 and 223.

To answer the other question, these are results from 17 shots from each handgun, using the optical chronometer, properly calibrated. The statistics are standard deviation. These were nice, reproducible, mild loads for the P220. A longer O.A.L. would be appropriate for the Glock, but I was reloading a round that could be used in either gun.

 

[snuffy]

Well curtis41, I've never seen an optical chronometer, do you have a picture, or a place I can buy one? My chronograph is old, I need something else.

I understand mid power loading, I just thought the reason for a lightER than normal bullet AND a hollow point was for higher velocity. To each his own I guess.

 

[curtis41]

Oehler chronograph

Oehler is ramping up production once more of their 35P, they were out of production, but many are in service from the mid 1980s and have never needed service. Don't know if it will be available without the printer, this one is with the printer. Very expensive, but a good chronometer. I got this chronograph, also no longer in production, from a gunsmith, who has worn the hats of FBI firearms instructor, swat team member and policeman. He helped set up the press, and knows as much about firearms as I have in my little finger. He had that press fully adjusted in under 15 minutes and it has worked flawlessly. He increase the crimp, shortened the bullets for the 45 ACP and set up the pawls correctly. Mostly Chronys are sold now. Be sure to check at least 10 rounds for decent statistics on your loads.