Good Alternatives to XTP?

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rockhound758

rockhound758

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Good Evening from Columbus, OH!

I searched and searched on THR and didn't find any thread like this, so if there is one my apologies, and just point me in the right direction. :)

I'm getting back into reloading after 10 years and experiencing some mild sticker shock along the way. I always loaded XTPs before, but the prices are nuts right now (not sure if that will change or not) and they're hard to find. I load in .357, .40, .45 and .44. I'm using them primarily for range (not competition), and while I've got some Ranier HPs in these calibers I'd like to also have a good supply of the JHPs.

I'd like to pick up about 700-1000 of each of these (more of the .44s...my favorite) and was just wondering if you folks had any bullets you felt compared favorably to the XTPs. I've been on Midway, Graf, etc. sites and I just don't know that much about some of these other brands.

So, suggestions on alternatives to XTPs?

Thanks in advance, and again, apologies if I missed an earlier post addressing this question.

P.S. I am ALSO pretty &#(@! frustrated as the LNL press bullet offer is pretty good, BUT to get the newer version of the press they apparently won't be offering the bullet weights I'm looking for (esp. 240/.44), AND the current LNL is all sold out. Grrrrr.... :banghead:
 
I don't know where you're at but around here XTP's are the easiest to find and the cheapest JHP bullet of them all...I use them in my 45 acp loads, and will not change until there are no more .
 
Second Ridgerunner's opinion, XTP is on the shelves here, but I am also curious about your choice of bullet for range use.

There is merit to practicing with the bullet you use for self defense.
But why use a jacketed hollow point for common range practice? JHP are rather expensive compared to lead, plated, and fmj. Those alternatives are much cheaper so you can get twice the practice for the same money.

Cheaper jhp are made by Zero (get at ghostholster.com) and Remington or Winchester bulk (available from MidwayUSA and Cabelas, etc.) and Montana Gold (buy direct) and Speer Gold Dot (same as Remington) and I think Hornady sells jhp in bulk. Also try Powder Valley and Wideners and Rose Distributing for bulk jhp. All are cheaper than buying a box of 100 down at the store.
 
"ants" gave you some good advice.

If you want HP bullets anyway, when I need a HP bullet I use Remington SJHP bullets since they can be found fairly cheap in bulk boxes and are accurate enough for the price.
 
Guys:

Thanks for the advice, and I'll check into the sources you mentioned.

As to my choice of XTP for range, the local ranges here won't let you shoot lead indoors (of course I still have a couple of 500-round boxes but they're good to have around for outdoor use, etc. I guess). I've got several thousand plated and that's fine for the .40 and .45, but from what I've read the plated might not hold up well under full house loads from the .357 and .44 (especially)--if that's not the case please let me know. The XTPs (or a reasonable alternative) for the .44 are really just so I can make some pretty fun loads (and BTW I do know what to look for re: pressure, etc.).

Anyway, thanks again and I'll check out those bullets and vendors (I definitely like to buy in bulk). And damn it's fun to be getting back into this again! :)
 
For what it's worth, the Montana Gold JHP bullets appear to have the same profile as the Hornady JHP. At least in 9mm and .45 they do from my experience.
 
I've substituted the Magtech 240g SJSP for the 240g Hornady XTP. Accurate for me and shoots well with the same load as the XTP. I backed off 5% and worked it back up. Online shopping like ants mentioned is your friend. I picked up 1000 of these at Graf's on sale, so they're a good bullet and cost effective. A little shopping and you should be able to find best price for Rem/Speer/Nosler/Magtech that'll work for you.
 
The main reason that I use the XTP in my Handi and marlin 44 is that both rifles have a 'generous' bore and the XTP are a little larger than almost anything else. MagTec SJSP work fine in my Ruger rifle but are not as accurate as the XTPs in the other two. The only weight XTP that I am having trouble getting locally is the 240 gr.

RJ
 
Hornady makes "Hornady Action Pistol" bullets or something, which are the same shape, weight, length, etc., as XTPs, just without the jacketing cuts, so they're a little cheaper to make, and they sell a little cheaper. Only available in a few weights and calibers, though.
 
Okay, good suggestions (and I was wondering about Magtech). I'll just keep an eye on things, and buy in bulk when sales arise. Midway has some decent prices right now but like I've read, their shipping IS expensive. I had priced out a shipment of about 3k bullets of different calibers from Cabelas and their shipping was less than $20...with Midway it was close to $60. Ay carumba!

Non-related note...got to shoot the XDM .40 that I bought 30 minutes after exercising my right to vote on 11/4 (just haven't had time since). Very sweet, and I can't wait to see how different loads perform in it!
 
I've always used the Remington or Winchester bulk bullets for jacketed ammo at a low cost. I buy Honrnady XTP's, Sierra's or Speer jacketed bullets for hunting loads.
 
Sorry, I don't have a favorite online resource..

Midway charges too much for shipping. I don't order from Cabela's or Sportsman guide very much. -Unless I see a particular sale and and bundle that shipping cost with something else.

I usually buy jacketed bullets from a place in Tacoma, WA. "SPORTCO" when I'm in town. Or Cabela's when I'm in the store. Otherwise, I pour my own lead for plinkers to hunting solids and practice Bullseye rounds. I buy my LSWC Bullseye rounds from a guy here in WA.

-Steve
 
Rocky -
When you get pretty hot loads, the plated bullets can come apart. You'll see little holes all around the bullet hole in the target where copper plating is flying off.

Let me second Montanna Gold. Those are great jacketed bullets!
http://www.montanagoldbullet.com/

Another place is Delta Precision. Their web site is hard to navigate, but they have jacketed bullets and reloaded ammo.
http://www.precisiondelta.com/products_new.htm

The problem with buying from a store right now is that there was a lead shortage last summer. Now prices are dropping. So what a retail site has on the shelf now was ordered while lead was at all-time high prices.
 
Wobbly:

Thanks for the info. I've got some Ranier plated in .40 (180), .45 (185) and .44 (240) that I got at a good price. I looked up the loading data and think I'm fine with the 40 and 45--they should be good practice rounds. I'll use the .44s as a target round as well and just pick up jacketed .357s and .44s as I see deals, and/or as the prices (hopefully) start to come down, albeit slowly. I like hot loads for the two latter calibers--more fun to shoot.
 
"P.S. I am ALSO pretty &#(@! frustrated as the LNL press bullet offer is pretty good, BUT to get the newer version of the press they apparently won't be offering the bullet weights I'm looking for (esp. 240/.44), AND the current LNL is all sold out. Grrrrr.... "

Call them and ask about your needs on the free bullets. I had good luck doing that.
 
Here in KS we're kinda sandwiched between both manufacturers - Hornady's in Nebraska adn Sierra's in Missouri, so we never run out of bullets from either.

I can say that by and large the Hornady bullets run a little cheaper than the Sierras across the board. Accuracy? Well, none of them are bad bullets, it's your firearm that chooses what it likes.
 
Iron:

Thanks...I actually called Tuesday morning and talked with them and got the same response that it sounds like you did. I figured it couldn't hurt to try and it didn't. Nice folks to deal with! Now all I need to do is to decide to buy it rather than the Classic Turret! I have to admit the CT has the appeal of simplicity for someone like me that only reloads 4000 or so a year, but the bullet deal is also VERY compelling!

In any case, Iron, thanks again for the note and suggestion.
 
Sorry, any sampling of Montana Gold I've ever had was only good enough for shootin steel plates and bowling pins. Take some and roll them on a good sheet of plate glass, video tape them. Replay slower. Well, the ones I had didn't need to be video'd.

Bullets are supposed to be round.

-Steve
 
Jaholder, you're not in Wichita are you? I lived there for 11 years and have fond memories of the ranges, shows at the Cotillion, etc. :)
 
Osage City. Smack dab between Emporia and Topeka.

Wichita's fascinating to watch from afar, from the BTK killer to the Wild West World debacle, but I couldn't live there.
 
Jaholder:

I lived there for 11 years and liked it fine. With a few exceptions the nicest people I've ever lived around, but I think in general Kansans are great. Down to earth folks who like shootin'! :)

Okay, off to order some HAP bulk and some 180 gr. .357...those should be fun to shoot! :)

Larry
 
Being as I have to pass by it today any way I am going to stop at the St. Louis area Cabelas and pick up some XTPs, some Mag Tec and other goodies that might catch my eye. It doesn't hurt that they are having a good in store sale.

RJ
 
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