Unveiling the Hornady XTP: Precision Engineering for Critical Performance

Are you a dedicated handloader seeking unparalleled performance for your .38 Special or .357 Magnum ammunition? Do you demand a bullet that delivers consistent, reliable expansion for self-defense, effective stopping power for hunting, or unwavering accuracy for precision shooting? The Hornady 35740 XTP 38 Caliber .357 140 Grain Hollow Point bullet, available in a convenient 100-count box, is engineered precisely for those who refuse to compromise on terminal performance and ballistic excellence.

For decades, Hornady has stood as a beacon of innovation and quality in the ammunition industry. Their eXtreme Terminal Performance (XTP) bullet line is a testament to this legacy, renowned worldwide for its meticulously engineered design that ensures both superior accuracy and devastating effectiveness upon impact. The 140-grain .357 diameter XTP hollow point, specifically designed for a broad range of applications from personal protection to medium game hunting, offers handloaders the crucial component to craft cartridges that perform optimally when it matters most.

Unveiling the Hornady XTP: Precision Engineering for Critical Performance

The Hornady XTP bullet isn't just another hollow point; it's a masterclass in ballistic design. Every aspect, from its jacket material to its core density, is optimized to achieve a delicate balance between deep penetration and controlled expansion. This careful engineering is what distinguishes the XTP, making it a preferred choice for discerning shooters, whether they are reloading for competitive events, personal defense, or ethical hunting.

The Science Behind XTP's Controlled Expansion

One of the most defining characteristics of the Hornady XTP is its legendary controlled expansion. Unlike some hollow points that either over-expand and fragment or under-expand and fail to transfer sufficient energy, the XTP is designed for consistent, predictable performance across a wide velocity range. This is achieved through several key design elements:

• Precise Serrations: The bullet features a series of precisely engineered serrations or score marks along its jacket. These aren't merely decorative; they strategically weaken the gilding metal jacket into symmetrical sections. Upon impact, these serrations act as pre-determined break points, initiating and guiding the expansion process. This ensures the bullet opens up reliably without shedding excessive mass, retaining its structural integrity for effective energy transfer.
• Low-Velocity Expansion: A critical advantage of the XTP's design is its ability to initiate controlled expansion even at lower impact velocities. This is particularly vital for handgun cartridges, which often operate at a wider spectrum of velocities depending on barrel length and specific load data. For .38 Special loads, which typically have lower velocities than .357 Magnum, the XTP's design ensures reliable expansion, a factor that significantly enhances its versatility across different firearms and power levels.
• Gilding Metal Jacket: The durable gilding metal jacket serves a dual purpose. Firstly, it protects the soft lead nose of the bullet, preventing deformation during feeding in semi-automatic firearms and ensuring its ballistic integrity. Secondly, it provides the necessary strength to control the expansion process, preventing over-expansion and ensuring a consistent mushroom shape that maximizes energy transfer and creates an optimal wound channel.

Unrivaled Accuracy: Why Handloaders Trust the XTP

Accuracy is paramount for any bullet, whether it's destined for a target or a vital zone. The Hornady XTP has a storied history of precision, so much so that it was adopted by competitive shooters in its early days – a testament to its inherent accuracy. This level of precision is not accidental; it stems from Hornady's meticulous manufacturing processes:

• Total Uniformity of Core Density: Hornady employs advanced manufacturing techniques to ensure that the lead core of every XTP bullet boasts total uniformity in density. This consistency is crucial for ballistic stability. An uneven core can lead to an off-balance bullet, causing it to wobble or yaw in flight, thereby degrading accuracy. The XTP's uniform core ensures a perfectly balanced projectile that spins true, maintaining its trajectory and delivering repeatable point of impact.
• Aerodynamic Profile: While primarily designed for terminal performance, the XTP also features an optimized aerodynamic profile for a handgun bullet. This contributes to its in-flight stability, especially over typical handgun engagement distances, further enhancing its inherent accuracy.
• Consistent Weight: With a nominal weight of 140 grains and Hornady's stringent quality control, handloaders can expect remarkable weight consistency from bullet to bullet. This uniformity is vital for developing precise loads, as variations in bullet weight can lead to significant shifts in velocity and point of impact.

Real-World Applications of the Hornady XTP 140 GR .357 Hollow Point

The Hornady XTP's robust design and proven performance make it an exceptionally versatile bullet component for a multitude of scenarios. Handloaders crafting their own ammunition can tailor loads for specific purposes, leveraging the XTP's core strengths.

Self-Defense and Personal Protection

When it comes to personal safety, reliability and effectiveness are non-negotiable. The Hornady XTP bullet has earned a world-class reputation for its stopping power in self-defense and law enforcement applications. For those asking, "What is the best bullet for self-defense reloading?" or "How can I ensure my defensive ammunition is effective?", the XTP provides a compelling answer:

• Reliable Expansion: In a defensive encounter, the bullet must perform consistently. The XTP’s controlled expansion minimizes over-penetration risks while maximizing energy transfer within the target, crucial for neutralizing threats effectively.
• Proven Track Record: Its widespread adoption by law enforcement agencies and countless civilians speaks volumes about its trustworthiness and proven performance in critical, high-stress situations.
• Broad Caliber Compatibility: While this specific bullet is .357 diameter for .38 Special and .357 Magnum, the XTP line itself is available in many calibers, highlighting the design's adaptability and proven effectiveness across various handgun platforms.

Hunting Applications

For hunters who prefer using revolvers or pistol-caliber carbines for small to medium-sized game, the Hornady XTP 140 grain .357 hollow point offers an ethical and effective option. Questions like "Is the Hornady XTP good for deer hunting?" or "What bullet provides reliable expansion for handgun hunting?" are frequently posed by ethical hunters. Here's why the XTP excels:

• Deep Penetration and Controlled Expansion: The XTP’s design ensures adequate penetration to reach vital organs, followed by controlled expansion that creates a wide wound channel, facilitating a quick, humane harvest. This balance is critical for ethical hunting performance.
• Suitable for Specific Game: For creatures like coyotes, wild hogs (smaller ones), or even smaller deer at appropriate ranges, the 140-grain XTP can be an excellent choice, particularly when loaded to .357 Magnum velocities. Always check local regulations and ensure your load meets the energy requirements for the game you are pursuing.
• Ballistic Consistency: The predictable performance of the XTP helps hunters confidently place their shots, knowing the bullet will perform as expected upon impact.

Reloading for Sport and Practice

Beyond its serious applications, the Hornady XTP is also a favored component for handloaders focused on precision. While some might opt for cheaper full metal jacket (FMJ) bullets for sheer volume practice, those looking to replicate defensive or hunting loads for training, or simply striving for the utmost accuracy in their handgun shooting, will find the XTP invaluable. It allows for development of loads that closely mirror real-world performance, ensuring that practice truly translates to proficiency.

Understanding the Technical Specifications and Their Importance

Delving into the specifics of the Hornady XTP 140 GR .357 hollow point reveals more about its capabilities. Understanding these technical details helps handloaders optimize their loads and appreciate the bullet's inherent design advantages.

• Bullet Diameter (.357): This is the precise diameter of the bullet, ensuring a proper fit for .38 Special and .357 Magnum cartridge cases and barrel rifling. A consistent diameter is crucial for achieving a good gas seal and optimal bullet stabilization.
• Weight (140 grains): Measured in grains (gr), 140 grains represents a mid-range weight for .357 caliber bullets. This weight offers a good balance between manageable recoil, respectable velocity, and significant energy transfer, making it versatile for both defense and hunting.
• Bullet Type (Hollow Point): The hollow point design is fundamental to the XTP's performance. The cavity at the nose facilitates expansion upon impact, transferring kinetic energy efficiently to the target.
• Jacket Material (Copper): The gilding metal jacket is primarily copper, alloyed for optimal strength and ductility. Copper jackets are excellent for protecting the lead core, reducing lead fouling in barrels, and ensuring consistent expansion.
• Core Material (Lead): The core is made of lead, a dense and malleable material ideal for bullet construction. Hornady's advanced processes ensure the lead core's uniform density for superior balance and accuracy.
• Ballistic Coefficient (BC) (.169): The ballistic coefficient is a measure of a bullet's ability to overcome air resistance. A BC of .169 indicates how efficiently this 140-grain bullet will maintain its velocity downrange. While handgun bullets generally have lower BCs compared to rifle bullets, understanding this value is important for calculating trajectories, especially for longer handgun shots or when loading for pistol-caliber carbines.
• Sectional Density (SD) (.157): Sectional density is a ratio of a bullet's mass to its cross-sectional area, indicating its ability to penetrate a target. A higher sectional density often correlates with deeper penetration for a given caliber and weight. The .157 SD for this 140-grain .357 bullet signifies its potential for effective penetration necessary for both defensive and hunting applications.

Why Choose Hornady XTP Bullets for Your Reloading Needs?

When evaluating components for your handloaded ammunition, the choice of bullet is arguably the most critical decision. The Hornady XTP 140 grain .357 Hollow Point offers compelling reasons to be your top pick:

• Legacy of Excellence: Hornady has a long-standing reputation for producing high-quality, innovative ammunition components that shooters worldwide trust.
• Proven Performance: The XTP design has been rigorously tested and proven effective in countless real-world scenarios, earning the trust of law enforcement, competitive shooters, and self-defense practitioners.
• Versatility: Whether you're reloading for personal defense, hunting small to medium game, or seeking ultimate accuracy for target shooting, the XTP adapts.
• Consistency: Hornady’s commitment to stringent quality control ensures that each bullet delivers consistent weight, dimension, and performance, which is vital for precise handloading.
• Optimized Design: The unique combination of precise serrations, gilding metal jacket, and uniform core density sets the XTP apart, offering controlled expansion and deep penetration.

For handloaders seeking the ultimate in performance, reliability, and precision for their .38 Special and .357 Magnum loads, the Hornady XTP 38 Caliber .357 140 Grain Hollow Point bullet is an indispensable component. It offers the confidence that comes from using a world-class bullet, engineered to perform flawlessly when every shot counts. Elevate your handloading experience and the effectiveness of your ammunition with Hornady XTP.

Attribute	Detail
Brand	Hornady
Model	XTP
Caliber	.38 Caliber / .357 Diameter
Weight	140 Grains
Bullet Type	Hollow Point (HP)
Rounds Per Box	100 Bullets
Application	Self-Defense, Hunting, Law Enforcement, Reloading
Core Material	Lead Alloy
Jacket Material	Gilding Metal (Copper Alloy)
Ballistic Coefficient (G1)	.169
Sectional Density	.157
Manufacturer Part Number (MPN)	35740
Universal Product Code (UPC)	090255235746