Opinions on Hornady XTP for defensive use?

[.455_Hunter]

Greetings,

What are people's thoughts on XTP loaded rounds for defensive use?

I am interested in Hornady's factory loaded "Custom" and "TAP" series, as well as other third party ammo companies who load XTP rounds (Black Hills, Georgia Arms, etc.).

The bullet design is offered from .25 ACP thorugh .500 S&W- Quite a range!

Please comment.

Thanks,

Hunter

 

[strat81]

From gelatin results I've seen, the XTP does not expand as much as some of the other big name HPs, but it does expand with a good degree of reliability.

That being said, the XTP has a reputation of being one of the more accurate bullets available. I have had good accuracy results with it when reloading it for 9x19.

I carry Hornady TAP FPD 124gr 9x19 in my Glock. Very reliable feeding, very good accuracy. A friend carries the .45ACP version in a Kimber. Another reason I like the TAP FPD besides the bullet is the black case. They are very slick and aid in reliable feeding.

I've seen some Fiocchi loads with the XTP lately too.

 

[mavracer]

hornady makes great stuf. every bullet I've ever used of their's has performed, rifle and pistol.

 

[CZF]

Double Tap offers the XTP in a variety of loadings.

http://www.angelfire.com/amiga/hakan/DOUBLETAP40.html

 

[Ala Dan]

I carry the 200 grain Hornady TAP w/ XTP bullet in my 1911's, and have
had 0 malfunctions in a variety of these pistols. I've never had too
shoot anyone, so I can't comment on expansion in human flesh~!

 

[Shooter973]

Hornady XTP's

I think the Horndy XTP's are some of the finest bullets made! They are accurate and they do everything I want a pistol bullet to do.
No issues with XTP's at all, feed, shoot well, expand and penitrate just fine for me.
Hornady doen't make anything but Ammo, no handguns, no rifles, no shotguns, all they do is make EXCELLANT Ammo and bullets.

 

[ZAT]

Of the JHP ammo I tried the XTP and TAP were the most reliable and accurate out of my P30, HK45 and G21. Dont see any issues.

 

[Bezoar]

well the hornady XTP is an excellent bullet. I havent used any in a handgun, but in 44 mag form a lever gun, they really expand and blow through old stumps rather well. And in my muzzleloader when using the same powder charge, the 185 grain xtp sabot load in .50 inline will hit a metal post at 86 yeards and CRACK it at impact point, 305 grain jsp merely DENT the same post.
diferent results in different weapons. if its accurate and feeds in your gun, try using it.

 

[Deer Hunter]

I believe Doubletap is using Gold Dots in their ammo now.

 

[wuluf]

i've also had great sucess with them in a 3" kimber 1911 style pistol. No failures of any kind and very (scary!) accurate. I use the 200 gn.

 

[whatbrick]

I believe Doubletap is using Gold Dots in their ammo now.

Double Tap uses a variety of bullets for their loads, the XTP being one of them...along with (as you said) Gold Dots, Golden Saber, Nosler, Barnes XPB, and others I'm sure. I've got my Glock 21 loaded with some Double Tap XTPs.

I've always found the XTP bullet to be very accurate and reliable in my 10mm and .45 ACP loads. It wasn't too bad on the wallet, either, compared to some other bullets that I've bought in the past. I would have no problem relying on it for a self-defense round.

 

[strat81]

Hornady doen't make anything but Ammo, no handguns, no rifles, no shotguns, all they do is make EXCELLANT Ammo and bullets.

They make reloading equipment too.

And pretty much the only thing Winchester Ammo (Olin), Winchester Powder (Hodgdon), and Winchester Guns (ummm... who owns it today?) have in common is the name.

Not that it matters. Federal, Speer, and CCI are all owned by Alliant Techsystems that is a large defense contractor making much more than small arms ammunition. I'd buy Sara Lee ammo if it performed well.

 

[MCgunner]

From gelatin results I've seen, the XTP does not expand as much as some of the other big name HPs, but it does expand with a good degree of reliability.

That being said, the XTP has a reputation of being one of the more accurate bullets available. I have had good accuracy results with it when reloading it for 9x19.

These are the reasons I use the XTP. I load a 90 grain XTP in .380 to about 200 ft lbs out of a 3" barrel. I load the 115 grain XTP over 6.5 grains of unique for 1262 fps/410 ft lbs out of a 3" barrel in 9x19. I know that I will get expansion AND penetration with the bullet in these loads. My ammo is loaded at the MCgunner custom ammo company, FOB south Texas.

I also load a 300 grain .45XTP in .45 colt to just under 1200 fps out of a 4 5/8" blackhawk for hogs and such and a 180 grain Hornady XTP in .357 to about 1401 fps/785 ft lbs out of a 6.5" .357 Magnum Blackhawk for hunting.

All loads are give me:

1) 100 percent function
2) extreme accuracy

I sorta like that.

 

[P. Plainsman]

I like 'em for defense -- in the right chamberings. The XTP does best with a good head of steam on it, so I avoid the XTP in slower calibers like .38 Special. Gold Dots and Golden Sabers are the way to go.

(I don't mind the XTP in .380 ACP, because I think penetration is more important than expansion in that cartridge. But in .38 Special you can reasonably hope for strong expansion and adequate penetration with the right bullet.)

At appropriate speeds, the XTP seems to give you reliable, moderate expansion. Stephen Camp says "caliber-and-a-half" is typical, e.g., .355 9mm slug expands to .510 or so. It penetrates well (usu. better than Gold Dots) and tends to be very accurate.

I carry Black Hills's 124 grain 9mm+P ammo in my CZ pistols. It uses XTP bullets. Good hot load of around 1200 fps. Love the accuracy. Reliability is excellent.

 

[DENALI]

I've never had to shoot a human with any load but I have taken a 6-point Whitetail with my Springfield and the 200gr TAP +P and it worked better than I expected dropping him within yards of the shot. But the bullet did not expand at all....

 

[Pumpkinheaver]

I carry a 5 inch Kimber during the colder months. It is loaded with 200gr hornady ammo. I trust my life to it should the feces ever hit the rotary wind propulsion machine!

 

[jlficken]

Like others have said they are reliable, accurate, and easy on the wallet compared to others. I use 200gr +P in my Kimber Ultra CDP II 45 Auto and 155gr in my Glock 23 40 S&W. The +P's are a little snappy but other than that I really like them. The 155gr work just as well. Plus Hornady is only 20 miles from where I live so I like giving them business.

 

[buttrap]

From what I have seen the XTP is lacking on expansion, they do fantastic if you want penetation though. It seems more of a big game load vs 2 legged game if you want to see the things really expand.

 

[critter]

I have a 180 gr XTP (shot from a GP 100 4") recovered from a feral hog. It is as perfect a mushroom as you ever see in bullet ads. Hog was DRT! Good enough for me!

 

[MCgunner]

Plainsman has my thoughts on the .380 load 90 grain XTP. I don't really want it to expand much, maybe flatten a little. Penetration is of concern in this caliber. The bullet is so accurate and reliable, I stick with it and prefer it to any bullet that might expand too much. I don't have a concern about my other loads expanding.

The 300 grain .45 colt load really doesn't NEED to expand much and as I might be shooting a BIG hog with it, I appreciate its reputation for penetration. My .357 180 grain load is stepping out at 1400 fps and I have no doubt would do a decent job, though I've only shot game with a 158 SWC so far. But, this bullet is more accurate than my cast load. It'll clover leaf groups at 25 yards out of that Blackhawk and at 100 yards with iron sights I can keep 'em in 6" on a paper plate. With my old eyes, that's outstanding. I could improve that, no doubt, with a scope.

 

[HammerG26]

Carrying Hornady 230 gr +p TAP as we speak... great reliability, great accuracy, love them...
here is hoping I never have to test the "stopping power"....
Hammer