Opinions on 158 grn Hornady XTP for snub

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C-grunt

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Whats your guys opinion of the 158 XTP from a 442? Does anyone know of any testing? Got the Speer 135 +P now but just want to look into alternatives as well.
 
I like the bullet quite a bit, however Hornady loads it rather mild at only 800fps. Would love to see a +P load with that bullet at around 950 FPS.
 
for short barrels like snubs...too heavy & too slow without a true SAAMI +p powder charge
 
This round is Hornady's biggest blooper. The XTP is a deep-punch slug. It has no business being loaded in 38spl at all. I know of NO tests where it's done OK in any weight, any speed...but the 158 is the worst.
 
Try This

From Buffalo Big Bore. You may want to try these loads developed specifically for short barrels.

http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm#standard38

Others good for snub nose.
Speer Gold Dot 135 gr for short barrels.
COR BON DPX 110 gr.


Heavy .38 Special +P Short Barrel Low Flash

Item No. 20A/20 158 gr. L.S.W.C.H.P.--G.C. (1,000fps/M.E. 351 ft.lbs.) Per Box of 20
$20.99
Order Now
Item No. 20B/20 125 gr. L.V. Speer Uni Core (1,050fps/M.E. 306 ft.lbs.) Per Box of 20
$20.99
Order Now

About Buffalo Bore Heavy .38 Special +P ammo

The new Buffalo Bore Heavy 38 SPL+p ammo will maximize the effectiveness of your 38 SPL revolver. The powders are flash suppressed so as to not hinder your vision should you be required to drop the hammer in low light.

Item 20A/20 is the terrific SOFT lead semi wad cutter hollow cavity bullet, however we've added a gas check to stop the leading that this load typically causes with other manufacturers version of this bullet.

Item 20B/20 uses the low velocity (LV) Gold Dot bullet that is designed to expand at as little as 800 fps, so you will get expansion out of very short barrels.

Whether you prefer the very soft semi wadcutter lead bullet, or a very soft JHC, (jacketed hollow cavity) these HVY 38 SPL+p loads will turbo charge your 38 SPL revolver.

The tactical reload: Short (2 to 2.5 inch) barreled revolvers have short ejectors. Those short ejectors typically used on 2 inch to 2.5 inch barreled revolvers are not long enough to fully eject 357 magnum brass. So if you are forced into a situation where you need to reload your weapon under fire, you will find yourself picking your fired/empty 357 brass out of the cylinder one at a time—this is very bad. On the other hand, 38SPL brass is shorter than 357 brass and those short ejectors will often fully eject 38SPL brass. We have experimented a great deal with short barreled revolvers and have found that 38SPL brass normally offers an advantage if you need to reload your “snub nose” revolver, in a hurry.

Check out the below velocities that I fired from my personal revolvers. We believe that real world, stock, “over the counter” guns, give real world results, so we don’t advertise velocities that are fired from long test barrels.

These 38SPL+P loads are generating low-end 357 magnum, ballistics. If you have an older or more fragile 38SPL, or if you are recoil sensitive, consider using our HVY Standard Pressure 38SPL ammunition. It is safe to be fired in any 38SPL revolver and it still packs much more punch than ordinary 38SPL ammo.

Item 20A: 158gr., very soft cast, semi wad cutter, (Keith) hollow cavity, with a gas check. This bullet will mushroom violently on impact and will penetrate roughly 14 inches in human flesh. Again, this bullet is gas checked and will not lead your barrel.

S&W mod. 60, 2 inch—1040 fps (379 ft. lbs.)
S&W mod. 66, 2.5 inch—1059 fps (393 ft. lbs.)
Ruger SP101, 3 inch—1143 fps (458 ft. lbs.)
S&W Mt. Gun, 4 inch—1162 fps (474 ft. lbs.)

Item 20B: 125gr. Speer Uni-core (Gold Dot). This is the Low velocity version designed to expand under 800 fps. It will mushroom violently and penetrate roughly 12 inches in human flesh.

a. S&W mod 60, 2 inch—1072 fps (319 ft. lbs.)
b. S&W mod 66, 2.5 inch—1108 fps (341 ft. lbs.)
c. Ruger SP101, 3 inch—1180 fps (386 ft. lbs.)
d. S&W Mt. Gun, 4 inch—1258 fps (439 ft. lbs.)
 
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