a .357 expansion test

[black timber]

I'm sure this has been done over and over, but I figured I would throw it out there anyway...

Here are some expanded XTPs and a 180 hardcast out of a 4" gp100. I've been using wine boxes lined with plastic bags filled with water and backed by soaked phone books. The wine boxes are easier to get than milk jugs... All loads shot over a chrono 15' from the muzzle and impact was at 25 yards. Slugs left to right are: 158 XTP HP @ 1280 fps, 180 TXP @ 1160 fps & 180 CP WFNGC @ 1160
The velocity is what these loads are averaging. The XTPs penetrated about 16" of water and an inch or two of phone book with the 180 beating the 158 by an inch or so. The 180 CP went through 16" of water and about 12" of phone book (all of them) and a couple inches of dirt behind it all. I'm suprised that the 180 xtp didn't penetrate much farther than the 158 and will do this test again to confirm. Oh, powder is AA#9.
This is also a good simulation of the downrange performance of these bullets out of my 1894C (yours too) Thanks.

158xtp, 180xtp, 180CP

158xtp, 180xtp, 180CP

 

[Jesse Heywood]

Did you drink the wine and forget to add the pics?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Yup, the pictures will be helpful...

 

[black timber]

Ah yes, the pics would help. I don't know what happened there, I could see them on my screen...?

158 xtp, 180 xtp, 180 CP

158 xtp, 180 xtp, 180 CP

 

[Funshooter45]

Well done and very informative. All 3 of them are pretty impressive, doing exactly what they were supposed to do. Naturally, the 180 gr XTP would penetrate more if you boosted the velocity a bit. The hard cast bullet did what they are supposed to do. Great penetration, no expansion, no deformation. I am kind of surprised that the gas check remained attached.

 

[janobles14]

been using wine boxes lined with plastic bags filled with water and backed by soaked phone books. The wine boxes are easier to get than milk jugs...

LOL i see someone in your house drinks like my ex wife!

hehe and no offense meant of course! just tickled me!

 

[joneb]

I'm suprised that the 180 xtp didn't penetrate much farther than the 158

Hornady makes the XTP in HP or FP, you could try the 180gr XTP/FP

 

[rcmodel]

If a bullet expands, it will never penetrate as far as a hard cast flat-point that doesn't expand.

Expansion does the same thing as popping the drag-chute on a top fuel dragster.
It puts a stop to things going real fast.

rc

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Hornady makes the XTP in HP or FP, you could try the 180gr XTP/FP

Actually, for some unknown reason, Hornady doesn't make a FP bullet in their 180gr XTP. They do for the 125gr and 158gr but not the 180gr... IMO that's weird, no??