Hornady 451 XTP 185 GR

[adelmo]

Recently purchased Hornady Classic Reloading kit and will be receiving 500 .451 XTP 185GR Bullets as part of offer.

Looking to punch paper and new to Reloading.

Would this bullet would work and if so what is your recomendation.

Thanks, Alan

[Hoot]

Early on, I tried the 230gr non-Mag XTPs and they shed some jacket shards coming out at the velocities the 450b is capable of. The Mag versions held up well and shot reasonably accurate. If I were you, I'd only load up a few and see how they hold together.

Hoot

[pitted bore]

Recently purchased Hornady Classic Reloading kit and will be receiving 500 .451 XTP 185GR Bullets as part of offer.
Looking to punch paper and new to Reloading.
Would this bullet would work and if so what is your recommendation.
Thanks, Alan

Alan-
If you're new to reloading, then the 185-grain bullets probably are not the best way to start working with 450 Bushmaster loads. Hornady has published loading data only for their 250-grain FTX, 240-grain XTP/Mag, and 300-grain XTP/Mag bullets. There are good reasons why they limited their recommendation to those weights. Working with lighter bullets gets into some problems that are not easily solved. You can find threads on this forum where "wildcatter", the developer of the 450B round, has issued specific warnings about bad blow-ups that can occur with the difficulties that are common to light-bullet loads.

If you look at some of the early threads in this forum, starting in June 2009, you'll find 6 or 7 sequential reports of my attempts to work with a Hornady 185-grain SWC. If you care to muddle through them, post your questions here, and I'll try to answer them. Where I mess up, the other forum wizards can help get you straight.

--Bob

[adelmo]

Thanks for the archive info and guidance. I will try the 185 GR for my 45 pistol.

Will focus on the 250 and 300 XTP for the 450 Thumper.

Alan

[Hoot]

Thanks for the archive info and guidance. I will try the 185 GR for my 45 pistol.

Will focus on the 250 and 300 XTP for the 450 Thumper.

Alan

The 225 FTX are excellent pills. Half the price of the 250 FTX. Within a few pennies of the 240 XTP Mag bullets. I can not stress enough NOT to use the non-Mag XTP bullets. They come apart at 2-3 times their intended velocity. I still have pieces of jacket embedded in my chrony from the non-Mag XTP bullets.

Hoot

[adelmo]

Thanks Hoot for the tip on the FTX bullet and staying with the Mag XTP version bullet!

[Hoot]

Thanks Hoot for the tip on the FTX bullet and staying with the Mag XTP version bullet!

240 gr XTP Mag Bullets 26.5 cents each (Midway)
225 gr FTX Bullets 28.5 cents each (Midway)

Watch for sales.

Do your part and the 240 XTP Mags can do this at 100 yards:



but the 225s can do this at 100 yards:



Hoot

[adelmo]

Hoot: Is this the 225gr FTX you used?

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?p ... ber=192444

Alan

[Hoot]

Hoot: Is this the 225gr FTX you used?

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?p ... ber=192444

Alan

Yes it is Al. Great bullet for this caliber. They launch out of my rifle at 2250 fps with 38 gr Lil Gun and a hot primer like the WSR or Rem 7 1/2. As for penetration, they go through 3 milk jugs full of water and come to rest in the 4th. Look here for more information on the FTX bullet performance.

Hoot

[adelmo]

Hey Hoot

Thanks for the link and excellent review of the FTX.

Alan