Testing a 158gr XTP through a 4" GP 100 .357...on a cold day

[RugerGP]

For a few weeks I have been waiting to save enough containers to fill with water and test my 158gr XTP reloads in my GP 100. Well today I finally had enough time and had enough jugs. I lined up a Tropicana juice container, three gallon water jugs, a windshield washer fluid container and another gallon water jug. I walked back about 20 paces and bang. Hit the jugs dead center. The bullet traveled through the first container, all three gallon water jugs and stopped inside the heavier plastic windshield washer fluid container. There were no fragments inside and the round retained all its weight, cam ut weighing 158.4 gns any of the jugs and the impact it knocked the last water jug off the table.

The load was a low end magnum round with 6 grns of bullseye. Next I may try this with my Alliant 300MP powder reloads but I think ill need more jugs and a longer table for that one.

Unfortunately I don't have a chronograph yet and my micrometer died and I don't have another battery to measure it.

Some pictures for entertainment:



Next to a 124grn HST 9mm just for fun.

 

[Deplorable Me]

Thanks for the test report. I really like XTP bullets for my handguns. I use 2400 for my .357 loadings.

 

[Marine Cpl]

What's with the other bullet there? Federal HST?

 

[togmaster]

What primer. Did you use?

 

[RugerGP]

I put the federal HST there just to do it. No real reason. It was a test fire out of my 9mm XDS 4.0 I carry the 124s and 147.

I want to try as unique or power pistol for medium loadings but I just have always used bullseye for 9mm and .38/.357. I did load up some .38+p with 4.5 grns I believe and want to try that too.

I do want to try 2400 for full magnum loadings also, I've heard it's great. I just have the 300MP right now and I like it for the most part..it has alot of bark tho. I used a CCI 500 small pistol primer with all my Magnum loads.

 

[RugerGP]

Just tested out the XTP 158 with 18.4 grns of Alliant MP-300. Took two attempts. The first round I lost, It bounced off the sixth jug. One the second attempt I had to use some smaller water containers but I caught the XTP in the 6th jug. Retained weight was 137.7 grain. I found some lead but could not tell if it was from the first or second shot so I did not collect it. The round expanded back to the cantilever and did not lose any petals.

Picture is attached. Bullet is on the left. The bullet on the right is the previous XTP I shot as stated above.

 

[RandallOfLegend]

Looks like you had a lot more velocity. Also. 18.4 grains is a heavy charge. I am surprised it fits in the case. Is it compacted?

 

[RugerGP]

Looks like you had a lot more velocity. Also. 18.4 grains is a heavy charge. I am surprised it fits in the case. Is it compacted?

Yes it is significantly more velocity and a real heavy magnum charge. It is a little compressed if I remember correctly, I loaded them a while back. Alliant's max charge is 18.6 with a Speer Gold Dot. 1,686 FPS out of a 10" barrel with a Fed 100 SPP. They are rockets out of my Rossi M92 lol.

 

[HighlandLofts]

Nice review, I like the added pictures. I'll have to start saving the plastic gallon milk jugs for targets. I might make up a piece of 2x10 or 12 with a little inch board rim to hold the jugs in place.

How many gallon jugs are needed for 357 mag? six, seven jugs.

 

[RugerGP]

Ya I need to make a better table to hold them and do it better. I really like doing it, I even had my wife help me today lol. It is just simply fun.

With the .357 Mag I would put up seven jugs.The issue is sometimes if the shot is to high or a little off the round will hit the side of a jug and bounce off instead of going in. I did not have one go past the 6th jug with .357 mag. I usually catch 9mm in the 4th or 5th also. Next I need to try out some 158gr XTP .38+p I loaded with bullseye 4.5 grns I believe. I use other jugs besides milk jugs also, basically anything that holds water. Milk jugs are the most convenient and consistent however. I took a video, if It lets me upload it I will put it on.

 

[RugerGP]

Just tested my .38 special +p load with 4.5 grns of bullseye 158 gr XTP. Ill post some pictures. Went through four jugs and broke into the fifth jug but stayed between the fourth and fifth. Retained all of its weight. Also put a picture of the .38+p, .357 mag 6rns bullseye, and .357 mag with 18.4 grns MP300. Left to right.

 

[RugerGP]

 

[HighlandLofts]

This is interesting, I need to save up empty milk jugs, they are easy to obtain and would put the loads tested all on an equal playing field. I also need to pick up more 357 magnum brass, I've been buying 38spl ammo to shoot, so I don't have much 357 brass and you never find any at the gravel pits were people go to shoot. I did pick up a bunch of 9mm & 45acp brass then I bought 2,000 pieces of 45acp, 2,000 pieces of 40 caliber and 2,000 pieces of 9mm just because it was available a a decent price.
I found some 38spl brass for $35 for 500 pieces, I think I'll get about 1,500 pieces of them.
Then get looking for 357 brass. I did buy some 160 gr. FMJ projectiles and loaded up a bunch of 38spl using several different powders from min. charge to max. charge in groups of five to try out in one of the guns, not sure which one I'll use yet. I'm thinking of using either the 357mag Redhawk or the 357mag GP100. I have 160 bullets for this test and I bought a pistol rest to use. I might use water jugs for the first bullet just to see the penetration with the FMJ projectiles. I used Bulleye, Universal, Win231, Blue Dot, Unique, IMR4227 and Power Pistol. There has to be close to 200 rounds in 5 bullet incriments of each powder charge.
I plan on a good day up in the mountains with some cold coke on ice, a few decent sandwiches and warm, sunny weather. I'll shoot the five rounds, clean the revolver, shoot another five rounds, clean the revolver and keep going unti I test all of these bullets on targets and water jugs. I'll probably need about 36 milk jugs. One bullet for the jugs and four for the targets to see which combo is the most accurate for the gun.

I picked up some 158gr XTPs and 180gr XTPs, only one each (100 rounds), I'll pick up a couple of the 500 packs before I try them out in the Redhawk, GP100 and the Ruger 77/357 rifle. These three firearms will be my deer hunting guns in New York when this administration passes the NATIONAL RESIP LAW!.

Courious as to see what powder & bullet weight does best in each firearm. I need to pick up a few more pounds of powder to test these 357s out.


For the water jug table I think maybe I'll use a 2x12 as the base and either 1x10s or 2x10s for the sides and back to hold the jugs in place.

I'm happy you started this thread on here. It helped give me the drive to go forward with doing test shots in my pistols which I have plenty of.

 

[RugerGP]

NIce, sounds like a good plan. Post some pictures of your results. I just got my 700X and Power Pistol in the mail so I will be testing loads with them sometime in the future. Especially power pistol. I have a feeling that is going to be my .38+p powder and my hollow point 9mm is all factory 124 and 147 Federal HST. I plan on doing some deer hunting with my .357s this year also and we can only pray for the National Resp. Law.....I am eagerly waiting. I just line up shoot them, if you have a somewhat level platform they will stay put. I just try to make sure the jugs are all lined up and hit in the center. Sometimes if you pull a shot and hit to high you will lose the round (which sucks).

I haven't tried any other weights. I like the 158 xtp so I have stuck with it so far...but I am curious.

 

[HighlandLofts]

When I bought my Hornady Lock N Load Classic single stage press i opted for the 500 - 110 grain XTPs. To light for deer in my opinion. I'll be checking the manuals and see what powders want to pick up for the 357 and 44 mag. Once I get caught up a little I'd like to pick up a Ruger 77/44 rifle, I love the Ruger 77/357 rifle I picked up last summer,I need to pick up the scope I want to put on the 357. I'd like to get like a 2x7 or 3x9 illuminated.

 

[RugerGP]

Ya hornady has a nice promotion with the new bullets. When I eventually go progressive...someday I want to get in when they have their promotion....as far as 110 grain XTP, ya IMO that is too light for deer out of the .357 mag, I wouldn't try it. Maybe a good coyote round tho. I'd love a Ruger 77/357 on my list to buy someday. Have to stick with my Rossi 92 for now...still need to test my loads out in that for accuracy. Just have been shooting torso steel.

 

[HighlandLofts]

I have a blue 77/22 Hornet, a stainless 77/22mag I had a 77/22-250 with a redfield 6x18 and gave it to my oldest son then bought another. I gave that one to my second son, the next one is mine. My oldest son has the right combination in his 22-250, at 100 yds they are all in the same hole.
I almost bought a Rem. 700 in 22-250 but I am holding out for another 77/22-250.
I think I want the 77/44mag first thou to match up with my two 44 magnum Redhawks, I have an older 7 1/2" and a Super Redhawk 7 1/2". I'll be putting a scope on the Super Redhawk.

I' think I'll load up the 110 XTPs for the rifle, in the revolvers it would be a waste of time.

 

[RugerGP]

Nice set you have there. Yes matching 44s will be nice. 110s in a rifle would work well probably. They are pretty tough bullets I think they would hold up being pushed pretty fast. Now I have to add another firearm to my wish list lol.

 

[HighlandLofts]

Thank you, I like the model 77 Rugers, Very dependable guns.