Henry Rifle Forums

45 ACP ! Was comparing the Hornady 45 FTX 200 gr. bullet today to my .45 ACP load specs. and made up a dummy round.
If I trim down the flex tip like I did on the 45 Colt loads and seat the bullet to about .015 BEFORE the crimp groove I end up with a 1.260 COL and the amount of bullet depth inside the case is the same as my 230 gr. hardball load and the Hornady 230 gr. XTP bullet.

Now what is even better is that the amount of the straight part of exposed bullet or the crimp zone area happens to measure .446 so it will chamber
easily into my 1911 or XDE pistols and .45 ACP cylinder of my Bisley Blackhawk! Nice when the bullet specs. stack up in your favor!

So now to decide on the powder load using 200 gr. JHP 45 ACP data and for a gel test between this load and my 230 XTP load.

I had loaded up all my Hornady 230 gr. XTP bullets a while back and of course you can't find any right now so I can load these if my ballistic test proves out.

Got 10 loaded up with 7.0 gr. of Unique and will test them in my HiPoint carbine. Think that's the gun I will use them in given the barrel length for a bit more speed. Will compare to the 230 gr. XTP load.
Got an email from Hornady and they are saying that they will start making the 230 gr. XTP bullets for .45 ACP within 1 to 2 months for reloaders.

Very interesting... I wonder if 45 cap would have the velocity to expand an XTP..

Oldbrass wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 15, 2021 8:33 pm

Very interesting... I wonder if 45 cap would have the velocity to expand an XTP..

Yes the 230 gr. XTP bullets expand nicely in the 850 FPS range in typical 3.3-5 inch pistols. It is the load I carry with 6.3-6.5 Unique.

Will be interesting to see what these 200 gr. FTX bullets do in the carbine and compare to my 230 gr XTP load.

Picture shows 230 gr. XTP expansion after water jug test shooting my Springfield XDE with 3.3 barrel.