Do standard loadings of 45c or 45acp xtp bullets expand

[AJC1]

I haven't bought either of these bullets yet but I've always got reasonable performance when driving xtps basically to the limit or cheating and running them in carbines. Do the 45 caliber bullets function decently at the 850 fps that normal loadings provide... I carry the federal 210 loading in 45 for SD because they seem well designed and open at low speeds.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I don't see why not. Go to the Hornady site and check the bullet rating to see for sure.

 

[jmorris]

I have shot bullets that, other than the rifling marks, look unfired, when recovered. Others I have, in my collection are several times, expanded, over original diameter. What they hit and how fast they are going is the important part.

 

[Mycin]

Hornady doesn't seem to list the rated velocity range for their bullets, anymore. My notes, from back when they still listed this, say that the 250gr 45 Colt XTP is rated at 800-1600fps. I always assumed that the closer you are to either end of the range, the less consistent things get, but have no direct experience to point to.

 

[41 Mag]

I've loaded them in some caliber since they were introduced. Like the previous poster I've recovered some that looked like they could be loaded and shot again while others turned almost inside out.

Most of my uses were in hunting loads and usually ran in the upper data range. While they are a great bullet, I've resolved most all of my social ammo to the Gold Dot. I've also used them for hunting out of the same firearms and the ones I have recovered all look like their picture on the box. I just find that encouraging.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Hornady makes two different 240gr XTP’s in .45.
One is the mentioned 800-1,600 version for the .45Colt. The other for the .454Casull and .460S&W. Expansion is non existent on .45Colt levels.
At 850fps the expansion with the low pressure/velocity version is still minimal.

For my purposes, a 255gr RFN cast is superior. Approximately 100fps greater velocities are possible at same pressures and with a softer alloy, expansion is just as likely as with much more expensive jacketed bullets.
My cast 255’s (Lee 6-cav mold) cost me practically nothing. (Scrap lead).
Though, I have a quantity left from 20yrs ago when I bought 1,000 XTP blems…
Over 19.8 gr of #2400 (Ruger ONLY max load; Nosler Manual), they shoot <2”groups at 100yds from my Winchester M94 XTR @1,700fps.
I’d recommend LongShot powder for the .45colt. It under either a 255gr Lee WFRN or RCBS 270gr SAA SWC. It’s what I use in my S&W M25 Mountain Gun.

 

[AJC1]

Hornady makes two different 240gr XTP’s in .45.
One is the mentioned 800-1,600 version for the .45Colt. The other for the .454Casull and .460S&W. Expansion is non existent on .45Colt levels.
At 850fps the expansion with the low pressure/velocity version is still minimal.

For my purposes, a 255gr RFN cast is superior. Approximately 100fps greater velocities are possible at same pressures and with a softer alloy, expansion is just as likely as with much more expensive jacketed bullets.
My cast 255’s (Lee 6-cav mold) cost me practically nothing. (Scrap lead).
Though, I have a quantity left from 20yrs ago when I bought 1,000 XTP blems…
Over 19.8 gr of #2400 (Ruger ONLY max load; Nosler Manual), they shoot <2”groups at 100yds from my Winchester M94 XTR @1,700fps.
I’d recommend LongShot powder for the .45colt. It under either a 255gr Lee WFRN or RCBS 270gr SAA SWC. It’s what I use in my S&W M25 Mountain Gun.

This is exactly what I was thinking. The colt bullets only functioning in ruger only or encore only speeds. I may step the carbine up to 20kpsi but I'm not going full magnum.

 

[lordpaxman]

Handgun Self-Defense Ammunition - Ballistic Testing Data

Lucky Gunner tests more than 110 different 9mm, 45 ACP, 40 S&W and 380 ACP handgun self-defense ammunition loads in ballistic gel with analysis and video.

www.luckygunner.com

They show some XTP data with a Vavg and the resulting expansion given their media.

 

[GooseGestapo]

The .451” XTP’s: 230’s and lighter are indeed designed for .45acp velocities and do expand in media.
For some reason I thought we were discussing the 250gr XTP for the .45Colt, often called. 45 Long Colt….
My experience is with the 250gr XTP with a cannelure.

Hornady XTP Bullets 38 Cal (357 Diameter) 158 Grain Jacketed Hollow

Hornady XTP bullets were designed for hunting, self-defense, and law enforcement. One of the great things about the XTP bullet is reliable performance,...

www.midwayusa.com

Hornady XTP Mag Bullets 45 Cal (452 Diameter) 240 Grain Jacketed

Hornady XTP bullets were designed for hunting, self-defense, and law enforcement. One of the great things about the XTP bullet is reliable performance,...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[BBarn]

Hornady's Handbook of Cartridge Reloading lists the intended velocity ranges for their bullets. The 250gr XTP bullet and the 300gr XTP bullet with twin cannelures are recommended down to 800fps. The lower limit of the XTP bullets for 45 Auto are from 600fps to 750fps depending on the bullet.

 

[Charlie98]

The .451” XTP’s: 230’s and lighter are indeed designed for .45acp velocities and do expand in media.

Exactly that. The right bullet for the right job.

In most calibers, a bullet is a bullet... but with the .45's that's not quite true, and it took me some years to realize there were bullets for .45ACP, .45 Colt, and then the Big .45's that were coming out at the time. One is not the other... because of the velocity expectations, and very likely the use.

 

[mcb]

I don't have any experience with 45 ACP XTPS but I have shot a bunch of the 45 Colt 300gr XTP-HP and 300 XPT-MAG in my muzzle loader and have gotten very poor performance from them at ~1400 fps. They have failed to expand in deer on several occasions. Similarly with the 38 cal 158gr XTP no expansion on several occasions despite being in the velocity range recommended. XTP are tough bullets and it seems to get reliable expansion you need to be operating at the top end of the particular bullet's recommended velocity range.

 

[hdwhit]

I think the first question here is what does the OP mean by "expand"?

At even modest velocities, any .451 hollow-point bullet would be expected to expand somewhat (perhaps .451 to .465) depending on the tissues it encountered in the target.

In general, higher velocities are required for greater expansion (the faster the tissues of the target fill the hollow, the more pressure there is to push the inside of the nose outward) and that means selecting a powder to get that higher velocity while still maintaining accuracy and consistency.