Load data for Hornady bullet

C

ColoradoGunNut

Inactive
Wondering if anyone out there has load data on a Hornady bullet. I own the Hornady 9th edition and the Lyman 49th edition handbooks but no joy in either of them. Nor could I find anything on line. Bullet is a Hornady XTP 38 cal .357 hollow point 180 grain. I am wanting to load it for 357 magnum with Alliant Unique powder.
 
First book I grabbed, Hornady 7th, which does list the 180 XTP-HP, but does NOT list any Unique loads for it.

Nor does that manual list any Unique loads for any jacketed bullets. It does list Unique for lead bullets.

This does not mean that Unique is unsuited for jacketed bullets, it just means that Hornady didn't bother to test and list loads for that powder and jacketed bullets.

If you can't find any data for Unique and that bullet, I would suggest taking the starting load for a jacketed bullet of the same weight, reducing it the usual 10% and then carefully working up a load in your gun. using all the usual safe practices.

DO NOT just take top end data for another bullet (or that one) and start there. Odds are high that if you do, you won't be happy with the results.
 
The problem is that you have NEW manuals and NEW manuals focus on NEW powders and/or "high performance" loads. So old powders are often ignored since you can always get an older manual for those powders...
If you have data for a jacketed 180gn or heavier bullet, you have your data. Start at the start load and work up. You can always use data for a heavier bullet.
You can also use .38 Special data. Even 3.5gn of Unique won't stick a bullet in the barrel.
You can call Hornady and ask them. They almost certainly have tested, but not reported for the NEW manual.
I would start at 5.0gn and work up to 7.0gn, if desired.
 
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I will dig into my older manuals and see if they list that bullet type and powder.

I have a pretty decent library of one older Hornady as well as others.

That said, an identical bullet from another mfg and start with a low load would be safe.

If you look, you will see than Hornady lists a number of different bullet type shapes (boat tail, flat base etc)
 
I called Hornady and they suggested a different powder altogether. He said they had not tested Unique with that heavy of a bullet. I have 300 of the 180 grain bullets on hand and wanted to use them. No jacketed bullets of that weight in either of my manuals to use as a reference. May just leave the bullets on the shelf till next time I buy powder.
 
It's not surprising that the combination is not published.
Unique reaches max pressure too quickly to be able to push the bullet to max potential velocity. As such, it isn't listed much with heavy bullets. And when it is, the listed velocities are typically lower than other powders.

If you want to run Unique, go for it. Just don't expect to safely achieve the velocities advertised for other powders with that bullet.
Change powders, or settle for lower velocity.
 
Sierra lists Unique loads for their 170gr and 180gr bullets in the 357 Mag. Unique gives up about 50fps to the slower powders at max loads in their data.
 
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I'm curious what is your load purpose (hunting, target shooting, etc.) and what gun will be shooting these? Specifically, the barrel length.

What kind of performance are you expecting?

The 180gn XTP is a very heavy for caliber bullet. It is usually reserved for hunting with a lever-action, carbine-type rifle; using slow "magnum" type propellants (W296, N-110, 2400, MP-300, that sorta stuff) to deliver maximum ballistic and terminal performance. This is the primary reason why you are having problems finding load data for it. Simply put: Unique is not well suited for that bullet. It's a very fast propellant relative to the bullet weight.
 
Nick_C_S that clearly explains my problem with finding load data. I am new to reloading I had these bullets on the shelf from a purchase I made of a bunch of reloading equipment from a guy getting out of the hobby. I was planning on using the loads for target shooting in a Taurus model 66 357 mag /38 special with a four inch barrel. I had the powder and bullet on hand and time on my hands so I thought I would see if I could load up a few rounds to use next weekend at the range. Obviously I have the wrong combination of item to load 357 today. Thanks everyone for all your input and knowledge on this topic. I will wait till I have a better combination of ingredients to load for my 357. Probably going to purchase some Xtreme plated bullets and a different powder that will work better for 357.
 
My son wants a lever action rifle so I may end up using the bullets in a new rifle in 357 mag caliber.
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If you wind up using those in a rifle, step up to something like W296/H110 or, my favorite, IMR4227.

I love Unique, and I know I've loaded cast 180grn .357 loads with it before, many years ago, but everyone is right... there is a better powder than Unique with a heavy jacketed bullet.
 
Probably going to purchase some Xtreme plated bullets
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Well if you purchase some 125 grain flat points, that Unique you have will serve them very well. Now that's a good bullet/powder combination - in both 357 Magnum and 38 Special.
 
I may end up using the bullets in a new rifle in 357 mag caliber.
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A word of caution about that. First, of course is making sure the bullets are flat/round nosed enough not to be a danger in a tubular magazine. If you're bullets are the ones I'm thinking of, it should not be an issue.

HOWEVER, overall loaded length COULD be. Some of the .357 lever guns (Marlins in particular) can be very picky about overall loaded length. It is possible to load ammo too long to feed from the tube magazine into the chamber. I've seen it happen.

A fellow I knew loaded some 210gr LRN slugs in .357 cases, stuck 2 in the tube, and wound up bringing me the rifle to take apart so he could get the ammo out of it, it was jammed tight.

Hornday XTPs are probably fine, but CHECK CAREFULLY in your gun, before you just load them up and find out too late there's an issue.


It was said a couple times, correctly, the 180s are heavy FOR CALIBER. It's not only the weight, I use Unique to drive 240/250gr slugs up to 1200fps in .44 and .45 cals, and could even go a bit more, but choose not to.

For .357, I don't shoot 180s, but 158s get 2400 or W296/H110 for full performance.
 
ColoradoGunNut said:
I called Hornady and they suggested a different powder altogether.
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Generally the conclusion I have whenever I cannot find, or find very little, published info for a particular bullet/powder combo. Folks that test such for a living generally have a good idea of what works and what doesn't. They also generally only have so much room in their manuals to list recipes, so those that don't perform, get left out.
 
Alliant 2005 Paper Handout Manual

.357 Mag
180gr JFP
MAX Load Unique = 7gr for 1125fps @ 33,800 PSI
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That's pretty good numbers considering I barley reached 1100fps using 2400 powder and the 180gr xtp out of a 6" barrel . I believe that's 11gr but don't quote me on that . I did go all the way to 12gr but thought I may be having some sticky extractions . I'm new to the cartridge and still getting a feel for what constitutes sticky extraction so I'm not 100% 12gr was doing so and just settled on 11gr because it shot well .

As to the OP I like the 2400 for the 180gr xtp . Seems to run pretty clean compared to the H-110 .

Although I've not used it , I like the numbers I see with the heavy 357 bullets and 300-mp powder ?? Anyone using it in there 357mag loads ?
 
I checked one of my old manuals and it had Unique up to 160 grs. That was in the 1200 fps area.

If a combined powder is desired or want to use the Unique it looks possible.

I have a couple more to dig up and see.

I am guessing better powders came along, the Unique would be a bit slower for 180 of course.
 
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