Hornady HAP 9mm .355 115 GR Hollow Point Bullets: The Ultimate Choice for Competitive Pistol Shooters and Precision Reloaders

Are you a dedicated action pistol competitor, a high-volume target shooter, or a meticulous reloader striving for the pinnacle of consistency and accuracy in your 9mm ammunition? If you're constantly seeking to optimize your loads for flawless feeding, superior precision, and reliable performance round after round, then the Hornady HAP (Hornady Action Pistol) 9mm .355 115 Grain Hollow Point bullets, available in convenient 500-count boxes, are engineered precisely for your needs. These projectiles are not merely bullets; they are a testament to Hornady's commitment to competitive excellence, meticulously designed to give you an undeniable edge on the range.

What is Hornady HAP and Why Was It Developed?

The Hornady HAP bullet is a specialized projectile born from the legacy of the renowned Hornady XTP (eXtreme Terminal Performance) bullet, but with a critical divergence in purpose. While the XTP is celebrated globally for its controlled expansion and devastating terminal ballistics in self-defense and hunting applications, the HAP bullet is singularly focused on competition and target shooting. Hornady recognized the distinct demands of action pistol sports like USPSA, IDPA, and Steel Challenge, where flawless feeding, pinpoint accuracy, and consistent velocity are paramount, rather than expansion. The HAP bullet, with its Model 355281 designation, represents Hornady's answer to the competitive shooter's call for perfection.

The key innovation lies in what Hornady removed from the XTP design to create the HAP. The XTP utilizes specific folds and a cannelure (a groove around the bullet) to facilitate controlled expansion upon impact. For competition, expansion is not only unnecessary but can sometimes compromise the streamlined geometry needed for reliable feeding in high-performance semi-automatic pistols. By eliminating these features, Hornady created an ultra-sleek, perfectly balanced projectile. This refined design, featuring a protected nose that mirrors the XTP's robust profile without its expansion-aiding characteristics, ensures exceptional consistency and virtually eliminates feeding malfunctions that can cost crucial seconds in a match. The result is a bullet that feeds with unparalleled reliability, shot after shot, allowing shooters to focus on their technique rather than equipment failures.

Unpacking the Precision Design of the 115 Grain HAP

Every element of the Hornady HAP 9mm .355 115 Grain bullet is engineered for performance in the competitive arena. Let's delve into the specific features that make this bullet a standout choice:

• The 115 Grain Advantage: For 9mm Luger competition, the 115-grain bullet weight is a popular choice for many shooters. It often allows for lighter recoil impulses compared to heavier projectiles, enabling faster follow-up shots while still easily making power factor requirements in most divisions. This balance of manageable recoil and sufficient energy makes it ideal for rapid-fire strings and dynamic shooting stages.
• Optimal .355 Diameter: The .355 inch diameter is the standard for 9mm Luger projectiles, ensuring a proper fit within the bore of 9mm firearms. This precise diameter is critical for consistent bullet seating in reloading, uniform pressure development, and ultimately, superior accuracy downrange. Hornady's tight manufacturing tolerances ensure that each bullet meets this exact specification, shot after shot.
• The "Hollow Point" for Reliability, Not Expansion: It's important to understand that while the HAP bullet is technically a hollow point, its design differs fundamentally from defensive hollow points. The "hollow" refers to the specific cavity in the bullet's nose, which, in the HAP's case, is strategically engineered not for terminal expansion but for improved aerodynamics and, crucially, consistent feeding. This protected nose profile helps guide the bullet smoothly into the chamber, reducing the likelihood of jams or stoppages during high-speed operation – a non-negotiable trait for competitive success.
• Lead Core and Copper Jacketing: The HAP bullet features a lead core, providing the necessary mass and density for effective energy transfer and stable flight. This core is encapsulated by a durable copper jacket. This full copper jacket protects the bore of your firearm, minimizes lead fouling, and ensures bullet integrity during the reloading process and while traveling down the barrel. The combination results in clean shooting, reduced wear on your firearm, and repeatable ballistics.
• Exacting Ballistic Coefficient (.129): The ballistic coefficient (BC) is a measure of a bullet's ability to overcome air resistance in flight. While pistols shoot at relatively shorter ranges compared to rifles, a consistent and known BC allows reloaders to precisely calculate trajectories and maintain predictable performance, especially in precision target scenarios. The HAP's sleek design contributes to a respectable BC for a pistol bullet of its weight.
• Consistent Sectional Density (.130): Sectional density relates a bullet's mass to its cross-sectional area. A consistent sectional density across all bullets in a batch is a hallmark of quality manufacturing and is vital for uniform flight characteristics and, by extension, accuracy.

Real-World Applications and Why HAP Excels

The Hornady HAP 9mm .355 115 GR Hollow Point bullet isn't just a component; it's a performance enhancer for specific shooting disciplines:

• Competitive Action Pistol Shooting (USPSA, IDPA, Steel Challenge):
  • Flawless Feeding: In the rapid-fire, high-stress environment of competitive shooting, a single malfunction can end a stage or even a match. The HAP's optimized nose profile and lack of expansion-aiding features ensure incredibly smooth and reliable feeding in a wide array of 9mm semi-automatic pistols, including popular models used by competitors.
  • Superior Accuracy: Consistency is king in accuracy. The precision manufacturing, balanced design, and uniform weight of HAP bullets contribute directly to tighter groups and higher scores. When your reloads are built with Hornady HAP, you can trust that the bullet is doing its part to hit the mark.
  • Consistent Power Factor: Reloaders can meticulously dial in their powder charges to achieve specific power factors required for various divisions, confident that the consistent bullet weight and dimensions of the HAP will lead to repeatable velocities.
• High-Volume Practice and Training:
  • Cost-Effective Bulk: The availability of 500-count boxes makes the Hornady HAP an economical choice for serious shooters who go through thousands of rounds annually. Buying in bulk reduces per-bullet cost and ensures a consistent supply of premium components for ongoing training.
  • Identical Feel to Match Loads: For reloaders, using the same bullet type for practice as for competition is crucial. The HAP allows you to train with ammunition that mirrors the feel and ballistics of your match loads, reinforcing muscle memory and ensuring a seamless transition from practice to performance.
  • Reduced Fouling: The copper jacket minimizes lead fouling in your barrel, leading to cleaner firearms, less maintenance time, and more consistent accuracy over extended shooting sessions.
• Precision Target Shooting:
  • Even beyond dynamic action pistol, for static target shooting where absolute precision is the goal, the Hornady HAP's inherent accuracy makes it a top-tier choice for crafting the most precise 9mm ammunition. Its consistent concentricity and uniform construction contribute to predictable flight paths.

The Hornady Difference: A Legacy of Quality

Hornady Manufacturing has a long-standing reputation as a leader in ammunition and component production, built on a foundation of innovation, quality control, and a deep understanding of shooter needs. When you choose Hornady HAP bullets with UPC 090255706864, you're not just buying a component; you're investing in decades of ballistic expertise. Hornady's rigorous manufacturing processes ensure that each 115 grain, .355 diameter HAP bullet meets stringent specifications for weight, dimension, and concentricity, providing the consistency that serious reloaders and competitive shooters demand. This commitment to excellence translates directly into improved performance on the range and greater confidence in your equipment.

For those who meticulously handload their ammunition, the Hornady HAP bullet provides a predictable and consistent component to work with. This predictability is essential for developing highly tuned loads that optimize velocity, accuracy, and reliability for specific firearms. Whether you're experimenting with different powders, primers, or seating depths, the consistent base of the HAP bullet ensures that your variables are truly isolated and measurable, leading to more efficient and effective load development. When every shot counts, choose the bullet designed to deliver on that promise.

These premium Hornady HAP bullets, Model 355281, are available at DEGuns.com, providing competitive shooters and reloaders with easy access to the components they need to achieve their best performance. DEGuns is committed to supplying high-quality shooting sports products, and the Hornady HAP line is a prime example of their dedication to serving the serious firearms enthusiast.

Specification	Detail
Brand	Hornady
Model	HAP (Hornady Action Pistol)
Caliber	9mm
Bullet Type	Hollow Point (Competition Design)
Weight	115 Grains
Bullet Diameter	.355 inches
Rounds Per Box	500
Application	Match / Target / Competition Reloading
Core Material	Lead
Bullet Coating	Copper
Jacket Material	Copper
Ballistic Coefficient (BC)	.129
Sectional Density (SD)	.130
Manufacturer Part Number (MPN)	355281
SKU	84978
UPC	090255706864