357 180 xtp

[AJC1]

Is this bullet lost on 357 mag or is it really ment for something like 357 max or another 35. It seems to me like a jsp would be a better option if deeper penetration was the goal or even hardcast. When would you choose to load this bullet over other options. I had a box at bps begging to go home but I'm trying to stay more purpose oriented.

 

[bluejay75]

I find that they are better in my 357 rifles. Going to run them in my 358 Winchester soon though.

 

[WrongHanded]

I had a quick look around. Didn't find much info, but I'd have thought they'd be at home in a rifle. And for hunting in places where an expanding bullet and straight walled cartridge are required, they'd probably be a good choice. I'm thinking maybe 1600fps should be achievable from a rifle.

Unfortunately, they are conspicuously absent on the XTP velocity/expansion chart.

 

[AJC1]

I had a quick look around. Didn't find much info, but I'd have thought they'd be at home in a rifle. And for hunting in places where an expanding bullet and straight walled cartridge are required, they'd probably be a good choice. I'm thinking maybe 1600fps should be achievable from a rifle.

Unfortunately, they are conspicuously absent on the XTP velocity/expansion chart.

1450 was max in a 16" carbine according to hornaday with 2400 listed as their best performance powder over h110 at 1400fps. Their 158 barely makes 1650 in the same book with most powders capable of 1600fps. The 35 rem pushing that 158 to 2100ish fps. And no 180 load listed. I'm no speed junky but I dont see any advantage in the 180 even in a carbine.
If subsonic that may be something worth investigating but then expanding is in question.

 

[Captcurt]

I like them in my GP100. I get deeper penetration and have not recovered a bullet in the 8 deer that I have taken with it. All one shot kills. Put it where it needs to be and it will work.

 

[WrongHanded]

1450 was max in a 16" carbine according to hornaday with 2400 listed as their best performance powder over h110 at 1400fps. Their 158 barely makes 1650 in the same book with most powders capable of 1600fps. The 35 rem pushing that 158 to 2100ish fps. And no 180 load listed. I'm no speed junky but I dont see any advantage in the 180 even in a carbine.
If subsonic that may be something worth investigating but then expanding is in question.

300-MP might get it there. It'll push a 158gr Speer GD to over 1825fps in my 20" Henry. I haven't checked the Hornady data though. I just worked up to Alliant's max.

 

[AJC1]

300-MP might get it there. It'll push a 158gr Speer GD to over 1825fps in my 20" Henry. I haven't checked the Hornady data though. I just worked up to Alliant's max.

I am recieving the trapper but I also have a cowboy. The trapper is the right size to teach junior to shoot offhand and position. Its tiny in my hands.

 

[AJC1]

I like them in my GP100. I get deeper penetration and have not recovered a bullet in the 8 deer that I have taken with it. All one shot kills. Put it where it needs to be and it will work.

Do you suspect that it's not expanding. A pass through seems to deify bullet design.

 

[WrongHanded]

I am recieving the trapper but I also have a cowboy. The trapper is the right size to teach junior to shoot offhand and position. Its tiny in my hands.

I just went over to look at ballistics by the inch. If you look at how up and down the velocities are at the upper end of the barrel length range, it seems that anything beyond around 16" isn't necessarily doing much good. Meaning that even with the trapper length, you could probably see pretty good numbers with the right powder.

One of the other members was getting about the same velocities I am from an 18.5" barrel using 300-MP (same charge) and a 158gr XTP. There's a sweet spot to barrel length and I reckon it's somewhere between 16-18".

 

[Captcurt]

Do you suspect that it's not expanding. A pass through seems to deify bullet design.

I tested them by shooting into a clay bank and they did expand some. I want a pass through because 2 holes leak better than one. I once shot a buck from a tree stand with a 45 cal muzzleloader using a 158gr Speer in a sabot. Hit it in the back and got no exit. Took a while to find that one with very little blood trail. I want something that goes through.

 

[joneb]

The Hornady .357 180gr xtp seats a bit to far in the case for my liking, I get a nasty bulge in the case from the base of the bullet.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

I lean towards heavy-for-cartridge bullets, probably because I shoot cast almost exclusively.

Heavy bullet equals more momentum. More momentum equals penetration.

I want a relatively slow, heavy bullet. It doesn't beat me up shooting it, and there is usually less muzzle blast. In my experience, it will do anything I want to do. I view 180--ish grains as perfect for 357 Mag.

I've never been much of a fan of light, fast bullets. I'm not the guy that shoots 125gr in a 357 Mag.

Don't get me wrong, light bullets with light powder charges have their place - at the target range, or hunting small game.

My opinion, worth exactly what paid for it.

 

[AJC1]

The Hornady .357 180gr xtp seats a bit to far in the case for my liking, I get a nasty bulge in the case from the base of the bullet.

I've observed the same issue. Remmington 357 brass seems a no go for my cast 180. I'll be trying several brands to see which work best.