Hornady xtp 230gr or 240gr xtp Max?

[Insttech1]

Just saw the Max. Didn't even know they existed til few minutes ago. Wondering who has experience with these two or even something similar.
I have not had great luck with expansion of polymer tips with muzzle loader or shotgun sabots. So no ftx for me right now. Wanna try something different.
Accuracy is first priority.
Expansion is second.
Speed is third. I don't need super hot loads.
This is for a bolt gun so length is irrelevant. I lean toward long and tapered over short and flat lol!
Thanks for your input!

[plant_one]

dont use the regular XTP rounds in the 450. they're not designed for the kind of velocity and pressure the caliber produces and can cause not only terminal impact issues, but possible bullet deformation issues while still in the bore leading to a potential KABOOM event.

the XTP MAG bullets are the only ones designed to withstand the kind of pressure's we're working at.

i had contacted hornady directly about the 250 XTP and this was their reply - its probably safe to assume the other XTP (non MAG ones) face the same design limitations.



HTH

[Al in Mi]

What plant said, stick with the mag versions in 240 or 300gr.

Also don't forget about the barnes 200 and 275gr.

Here is a 200gr from last week. viewtopic.php?f=16&t=15508

[Hoot]

What plant said, stick with the mag versions in 240 or 300gr.

Also don't forget about the barnes 200 and 275gr.

Here is a 200gr from last week. viewtopic.php?f=16&t=15508

+1 on the Barnes 200gr though they cost more than the XTP Mag bullets. They are my Go-To whitetail bullet and later this winter they will get used on hogs, when I go on my Bucket List hunt down in TX.

Hoot

[Insttech1]

Thanks everyone!!
Will stay away from the standard xtp's.
Trying to learn what I can before I get started.
Dies should be here on Friday.
Also looking into the Speer deep curl.
Will continue searching all the posts too.
Thanks Again!

[Rklenke]

A "jacket bulge" could be the reason my 250 grain XTP reloads are 200 fps faster than the Hornady book says they should be. However, my Hornady Black average at 2280. On the other hand, 300 grain XTP mags averaged 100 fps over the book. Both grouped decently at about 1.5 MOA, I think I can do better though. Either way, I haven't had issue with the normal XTP bullets so far, and they expand much better (vs soft skin animals ie deer) than the Mags. I have 300 grain normal XTPs coming in the mail, I'll let you know how they do.

[plant_one]

A "jacket bulge" could be the reason my 250 grain XTP reloads are 200 fps faster than the Hornady book says they should be.

i'm going to assume that this was a typo and you meant 250 FTX. There is no 250gr XTP load data for the 450 bushmaster in either hornady's 9th or 10th - it does not exist for the caliber, likely for the reasons posted in my screenshot above.

if you're discussing the 250 FTX (#45201) and not the 250 XTP (#45200) as for reasons of velocity gains, it could be several reasons - minor bore diameter difference, barrel coatings (Melonite, etc), rifling difference (5R/5P vs traditional cut/button rifling), a tighter chamber, shorter OAL, longer barrel (their data is from a 20" barrel) style/ammount of crimp(s) applied to the brass, neck tension due to cleanliness (or lack there of) or a combination of these things.



without knowing more about your individual firearm and your loads and loading processes, its just something nobody will be able to speculate as to the why on.

if you'd care to share some more data and clarify some things for us - maybe we can pinpoint why you're seeing velocity's exceeding book data by so much.

[Rklenke]

You are correct, using FTX load data for the XTP, both 250 grain. Shooting on my 18" AR, no special polygonal rifling or anything like that. 37.9 grains LilGun, 2.015" oal, taper crimped to .476 in the cannelure.

If the load data for the 300 grain XTP mag, which is in the reloading manual ,is based on a 20 inch barrel, then that's where things don't make sense.

All I was trying to get across to the original poster is that I've shot the regular XTPs and they shoot and group fine, albeit a bit fast for optimal expansion. The 300s should be better though.

[Insttech1]

Thanks for the info and discussion gents. Still not going5to use regular xtps. I am seriously leaning towards the speer deep curl now anyway. But still keeping an open mind haha. I was going to order all supplies this weekend but went a bit overboard shopping today and have more to do.
So I have some time yet.
Thanks again!

[Hoot]

Thanks for the info and discussion gents. Still not going5to use regular xtps. I am seriously leaning towards the speer deep curl now anyway. But still keeping an open mind haha. I was going to order all supplies this weekend but went a bit overboard shopping today and have more to do.
So I have some time yet.
Thanks again!

In the spirit of Christmas, I have somewhere between 15-20) 300gr Deepcurl bullets on hand that were left over from my experimentation, that you can have for you own experimentation. PM me your address.

Hoot