[mclaren]

I see alot of talk about Ranger T's and HST's and Gold Dots. I think these are all great i have carried Gold Dots in a few different calibers.

Why no love for the XTP? I have tested these in these caliber/weights.

.357 Sig: 147 and 124 grain
.45 ACP: 230 grain +P, Custom and TAP, both XTP.
10 mm: 155 and 200 grain
.44 Magnum: 180 and 240 grain
Muzzle loader .50 cal: .429" 240 grain XTP

I have tested these through deer, denim and water jugs. I realize its not Gelatin but its the best I can do.
100% of these rounds expanded with boring consistancy. The jacket has never separated. They always penetrate like crazy. It has been very difficult to capture the .357 sig bullets. I always underestimate the number of jugs it takes to stop one.

When the show is over, there are no talons, not really any petals, no gold dot just good old fashioned reliable expansion. I am not trying to take away from any other bullet design. There are alot of great ones out there.

A lesson I learned in Fishing is that alot of times fisherman buy lures that they think look good, that appeal to them, rather than judging them by performance in a given application.

I think maybe people are distracted by the prettiness of bullet expanded through gel in perfect conditions. I think the XTP doesnt get as much attention because they dont fold open with 6 mini chainsaws or dont release diamond tipped throwing stars in the target. Too boring.

Just a thought. These bullets never cease to amaze me.
Anyone have better/worse experience with these?

[SDGlock23]

I really really like the XTP. It's not fancy, but it works very well!

[Zombie Steve]

If you look at my reloading supplies, you'll find about 5 times the amount of XTP's compared to any other hunting / defense bullet. Affordable, consistent, accurate, and like you said, they perform well. It's not bonded, but it doesn't fall apart either.

Also, I don't mind sending a little money back to my home state.

[cmspeedy]

XTP's make great hunting rounds IMO. I find them to be the most accurate hollow points I shoot.

There is nothing wrong with them at all - but your right they are boring and don't have the accompanying man shredding claws(talons), explosive expansion (HST), beautiful star shaped recovered slugs (HST & DPX), and most of all MARKETING HYPE. They work, work well, and are proven in the real world. If a deep penetrating hollow point is desired - I would look no further.

Don't overlook the marketing part - I'm guilty of it too. I am always looking for the next best thing in bullet technology. When I first started shooting I was obsessed with it. Now, as long as it's a proven HP from a major manufacturer I worry less about terminal performance as they all work pretty well nowadays. Now, after verifying function in my gun and reading up on real world shootings stats I could care less if I have an XTP, Gold Dot, Talon, HST, Golden Sabre.......

[fredj338]

The 200grXTP is my fav. short bbl 45acp load. It will penetrate as deep as most 230gr & w/ slightly less recoil from a smaller/lighter pistol. The 124gr/9mm as loaded by BH is a pretty good performer @ +P vel. I like it in my G26.

[voyager4520]

It's in the top three of my choices for self-defense ammo. I just wish they made a 165gr TAP FPD or Custom load. The other two would be HST and Ranger T, though I haven't gotten my hands on any HST yet. I'd like to do my own ballistic testing with each of them. I wouldn't put them in any particular order because I haven't done my own testing with them yet.

I'm also quite interested in the new .40 165gr. Critical Defense load they have, but I haven't seen it in my area and have only seen a few home-made tests done with the cartridge in other calibers.

[thegriz18]

I tested the .40 S&W 180 grain TAP FPD load. I wasn't very impressed. The bullets expanded very well against bare wet pack, but did not expand much at all against 4 layer denim. I think I would like to give the 155 grain XTP a try and see what that round can do.

[481]

I think the XTP design is one of the best kept SD ammunition secrets. It offers excellent accuracy, deep penetration and expansion to ~1.5x caliber.

I carry the 147 gr. XTP in my Glock 17 and 19 and the 230 gr. XTP +P in my HK USP45. Both selections fit the parameters of what I want in an SD round:

A JHP
(1) in the heaviest practical bullet weight in the caliber
(2) moving between 800 fps and 1,000 fps
(3) that provides ~14 inches of terminal penetration.

[mongo356]

I saw a rumor one time that they use a harder lead alloy and that is what contributes to them holding together and penetrating better?? I cannot confirm that but it would make sense.

They do work really well for me, I have tried them in several calibers .357Mag, 40, 10mm, .380acp Critical Defense and they seem to do a good job in my hillbilly tests.

I am looking forward to the 165 in 40S&W to see how they do.

[481]

Originally Posted by mongo356

I saw a rumor one time that they use a harder lead alloy and that is what contributes to them holding together and penetrating better?? I cannot confirm that but it would make sense.

Could be.

S'pose you could give Hornady a call and ask although I wonder if they'd be willing to discuss it.

[Gunnut 45/454]

The 200 gr 45 ACP is my carry round, 110 gr in 38sp, 90 gr in my .380ACP! They work and work well!

[PghJim]

I think XTP HP's are good for faster calibers, but I had a difficult time getting the 230gr 45 ACP to expand. I works great out of my 460 Rowland at 1,300 fps. I think they are great hunting rounds and I use them as such in 357, 44 mag, and 500 S&W Mag. I do not think they make a good defensive bullet, with others like the HST and GD out there. Black Hills loads XTP's and I have not be able to get them to expand much in bare milk jugs of water, which should be ideal for expansion.

[unit1069]

Originally Posted by 481

I think the XTP design is one of the best kept SD ammunition secrets. It offers excellent accuracy, deep penetration and expansion to ~1.5x caliber.

I don't do my own testing so I rely on the testimony of those who do.

I do know that the 115-grain Fiocchi Extrema XTP round is by far the most accurate ammo I've shot in my PF-9, and that's why I carry this round in that pistol. One of these days I'll get around to comparing the 124-grain Extrema round in my larger 9mm pistol.

[glocksterr]

400gr. of XTP is nasty!




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJShbi-o7I4

[BMcDonald7]

I think its an ok bullet, it shoots good and will expand most of the time with good penetration. However I do think it is inconsistent in expanding against 4-layers of denim from what I have seen. I have some 230gr +P XTP I would use for hunting but not for SD as I think +P doesn't offer the 45 much except more recoil. For SD in 45 i stick to HST and Ranger-T. In 9mm i stick to HST and DPX.

[krunchnik]

Fiochhi Extrema-230gr XTP,thats all I carry in mine,accurate and very reliable I have found.And at $29.95 for a box of 50-price cant be beat.I wonder how much advertising contributes to a box of their competitors at $29.95 for a box of 20.

[glocksterr]

Originally Posted by BMcDonald7

I think its an ok bullet, it shoots good and will expand most of the time with good penetration. However I do think it is inconsistent in expanding against 4-layers of denim from what I have seen. I have some 230gr +P XTP I would use for hunting but not for SD as I think +P doesn't offer the 45 much except more recoil. For SD in 45 i stick to HST and Ranger-T. In 9mm i stick to HST and DPX.

i cant say much about the denim testing but itelll hurt ya'.


i think you have selected better options.

[SIGShooter]

It was one of the first bullets to meet the FBI's infamous protocols for duty ammunition.

It is underrated. No eye catching hot babes on the boxes, no pretty flowers of spinning nytrilium death, no uber bonding process electrochemically applied, no "TACTICAL" names...

One of the better kept secrets out there for SD ammo for sure! Expansion is nice, however, if that's all you get then you've missed your target...

Vitals hit means a bad person is stopped.

[fredj338]

Originally Posted by unit1069

I don't do my own testing so I rely on the testimony of those who do.

I do know that the 115-grain Fiocchi Extrema XTP round is by far the most accurate ammo I've shot in my PF-9, and that's why I carry this round in that pistol. One of these days I'll get around to comparing the 124-grain Extrema round in my larger 9mm pistol.

Give the BlackHills 124gr+P a try. It makes 1220fps in my G26 & expands nicely to 65cal in denim covered wetpack.

[RMTactical]

XTP's are good but they are kind of an older technology. Underrated? Probably.

I am sure that they would work. I have some I am gonna test with in .45.

[ajstrider]

I use a lot of XTP's for hunting and self defense too. I have never bothered shooting anything into gelatin or other media. But I have dropped several nice whitetails. In my experience the XTP seems to be more designed for penetration than expansion. If you want your XTP to expand better, you need to pick a lighter to medium weight bullet for your caliber so you get some more velocity. This is fine for me though, I much prefer penetration in my hunting rounds. One of my favorite things about the good old XTP bullets is their price. They are not terribly expensive which means you can practice with them more than if you were buying some of those $30 for 20 rounds.

[RWBlue]

My experiance with XTP bullets is mostly as a reloader, but i have also purchased at least one box of loaded ammo. I have shot XTPs in 9mm, 45acp/super and 44mag into multiple forms of gel and other fun targets.

There is not just one XTP bullet.
They have changed the bullet over the years and not changed the name.
(There are no free rides in physics)
The older bullets had greater (than new bullets, than other premium bullets) penetration.
XTP bullets are not bonded and can come apart.
XTPs can be pushed to slow and not expand (greater pen) or too fast (quick expansion behaive like round ball).
The factory load is in the correct window for expansion.

All in all they are a premium bullet. I will continue to use them in the 44mag, but choose a different factory load for 9mm & 45acp. The jury is still out on the 45super. I would like to find a nice 260gr bullet that expands at 1000fps.

[fredj338]

If you want your XTP to expand better, you need to pick a lighter to medium weight bullet for your caliber so you get some more velocity. This is fine for me though, I much prefer penetration in my hunting rounds.

At least in 45acp, going faster/lighter doesn't seem to matter for expansion. I've testd the 185gr @ 1000fps, 200gr @ 900fps & 230gr @ 850fps & all expand about the same; 65cal. I do find that the 185gr & 300gr will penetrate about as far as many other 230grJHP becuase of the smaller frontal diameter. I like the 200grXTP quite a bit for a SD round.

[SDGlock23]

155 gr XTP's running 1400+ fps from a G22 expands well and surprising it holds together very well.

[thegriz18]

Originally Posted by SDGlock23

155 gr XTP's running 1400+ fps from a G22 expands well and surprising it holds together very well.

You have some pics? Are those from reloads of factory loads? The factory XTP 155 load is spec'd at 1180fps IIRC.