Hornady XTP 45 Cal .451 230 gr Hollow Point: Precision Engineered for Uncompromising Performance

For anyone seeking the pinnacle of terminal performance and unwavering accuracy in their .45 caliber firearm, the Hornady 45160 XTP 230 grain Hollow Point bullet stands as an industry benchmark. This meticulously engineered projectile is not merely a component; it's a testament to Hornady's legacy of innovation, designed from the ground up to deliver predictable, devastating results when it matters most. Whether you're a responsible citizen preparing for personal defense, a law enforcement professional requiring absolute reliability, or a dedicated hunter pursuing challenging game, the XTP (eXtreme Terminal Performance) bullet has earned its world-class reputation through countless real-world applications.

Why Choose Hornady XTP for Your .45 Caliber Needs?

The decision of what bullet to load into your firearm is critical. For self-defense and hunting scenarios, bullet performance is paramount, directly influencing safety and effectiveness. The Hornady XTP answers this call with a design that expertly balances controlled expansion, deep penetration, and superior accuracy, addressing common questions such as: "What is the most reliable self-defense bullet for a .45 ACP?" or "How can I ensure my hunting rounds perform consistently?"

Engineered for Controlled Expansion: The Science of Serrations

At the heart of the Hornady XTP's legendary performance lies its innovative design, particularly the precise serrations that divide the bullet's jacket. Unlike many hollow points that might deform inconsistently or fail to expand at lower velocities, the XTP's strategic weakening of the jacket ensures immediate and controlled expansion upon impact. These serrations act as pre-determined break points, allowing the bullet to open up symmetrically into distinct, sharp petals. This mechanism is crucial for:

• Optimizing Energy Transfer: By expanding rapidly, the bullet creates a larger wound channel, transferring kinetic energy efficiently to the target. This rapid energy dump is fundamental to achieving significant stopping power.
• Preventing Overpenetration: While achieving adequate penetration is vital, overpenetration can be a concern, especially in self-defense scenarios where collateral damage is a risk. The XTP's controlled expansion helps mitigate this by expending its energy within the target, maximizing its effectiveness.
• Consistency Across Velocities: A common challenge for hollow points is their performance variability across different velocities, which can occur due to various barrel lengths or firearm types. The XTP's design ensures reliable expansion even at lower impact speeds, a critical factor for consistent real-world performance.

Gilding Metal Jacket and Core Uniformity: The Foundation of Accuracy and Stability

Beyond controlled expansion, the XTP bullet's structural integrity contributes significantly to its renowned performance characteristics. The gilding metal jacket is a robust alloy, typically a blend of copper and zinc, which provides several benefits:

• Nose Protection: The jacket protects the nose of the bullet, particularly important for hollow points, preventing deformation during feeding in semi-automatic firearms and ensuring consistent ballistic performance.
• Enhanced Bearing Surface: A uniform jacket contributes to a smooth, consistent bearing surface as the bullet travels down the barrel, minimizing friction and promoting accuracy.

Coupled with the jacket, the total uniformity of the lead core density is a hallmark of Hornady's meticulous manufacturing process. This uniformity is not just about weight; it's about the consistent distribution of mass throughout the bullet. This precision ensures:

• Balanced Expansion: A perfectly uniform core allows for the XTP's characteristic balanced, symmetrical expansion, which is key to its predictable terminal performance.
• In-Flight Stability: Any imbalance in bullet mass can lead to yaw or wobble during flight, degrading accuracy. The XTP's uniform core ensures exceptional in-flight stability, contributing to the tight groups that competitive shooters have come to expect. This stability is directly reflected in its excellent ballistic coefficient (.188) and sectional density (.162), indicating its aerodynamic efficiency and penetration potential.

Real-World Applications: Where the Hornady XTP Excels

The versatility and dependable performance of the Hornady XTP 230 grain .451 Hollow Point make it an ideal choice for a variety of critical applications.

Personal and Home Defense: Unwavering Confidence

When considering "the best ammunition for self-defense," reliability and terminal effectiveness are paramount. The .45 ACP caliber, when paired with a high-performance hollow point like the XTP, delivers substantial stopping power. For those asking, "What .45 ACP bullet should I use for home defense?" or "How important is bullet expansion in a self-defense scenario?", the XTP offers compelling answers:

• Proven Stopping Power: The 230-grain weight, combined with the XTP's controlled expansion, generates significant energy transfer, which is crucial for neutralizing threats quickly and effectively.
• Reduced Risk of Overpenetration: In a home environment, the controlled expansion helps ensure that the bullet expends its energy within the target, reducing the risk of projectiles passing through walls and harming unintended individuals.
• Reliable Feeding: The XTP's robust design and gilding metal jacket promote smooth, reliable feeding in a wide array of semi-automatic pistols chambered in .45 ACP, minimizing the chance of malfunctions during a critical moment.

Law Enforcement and Tactical Use: A Trusted Partner

Law enforcement agencies and tactical teams worldwide demand ammunition that performs without compromise in high-stakes situations. The Hornady XTP's reputation for consistency and terminal performance has made it a preferred choice for many professionals. Its ability to expand reliably and penetrate consistently through various barriers makes it a dependable option for duty carry.

Hunting: Ethical and Effective

While the .45 ACP is typically a handgun caliber, the Hornady XTP 230 grain hollow point is also suited for hunting appropriate game where handgun hunting is permissible and effective. This might include smaller to medium-sized game, or for pest control, where reliable expansion and energy transfer are vital for an ethical, quick harvest. Questions like "What caliber is effective for handgun hunting?" or "Which bullet offers reliable expansion on game?" find a strong answer in the XTP, provided it's used within its designed parameters for the specific animal.

Competitive Shooting and Precision Target Work

It might seem counterintuitive to use a hollow point for target shooting, but the Hornady XTP's inherent accuracy is so exceptional that it has garnered a following among competitive shooters. The precisely manufactured core and jacket contribute to outstanding consistency from shot to shot, allowing shooters to achieve tighter groups and refine their marksmanship skills. This is particularly appealing for those who want to practice with the exact same projectile they would use for defensive purposes, ensuring familiarity and confidence.

The Hornady Legacy: A Commitment to Excellence

Hornady Manufacturing has a long-standing reputation for producing some of the most innovative and highest-quality ammunition components and loaded ammunition in the world. Their commitment to extensive research and development, rigorous testing, and advanced manufacturing processes ensures that every XTP bullet meets stringent quality controls. When you choose Hornady, you're not just buying a bullet; you're investing in decades of ballistic expertise and a brand trusted by shooters, hunters, and law enforcement professionals globally. This dedication to excellence is what solidifies Hornady's position as a leader in ballistic science and what gives users the confidence they need in their ammunition.

Optimized Performance: Understanding Ballistic Data

Understanding technical specifications like Ballistic Coefficient (BC) and Sectional Density (SD) can further illuminate the performance characteristics of the Hornady XTP 230 grain .451 Hollow Point.

• Ballistic Coefficient (BC): At 0.188, the XTP's BC indicates its aerodynamic efficiency. While a handgun bullet will never have the high BC of a rifle bullet, a higher BC for a handgun projectile means it retains velocity more effectively over distance and is less susceptible to wind drift. For a .45 ACP round, a BC of .188 is quite respectable, contributing to the bullet's in-flight stability and consistency.
• Sectional Density (SD): With an SD of 0.162, the XTP demonstrates its ability to penetrate. Sectional density is the ratio of a bullet's mass to its cross-sectional area. A higher SD generally indicates better penetration for a given caliber and weight, as the bullet's weight is more concentrated over a smaller area. This balance of SD and the XTP's controlled expansion design allows it to achieve sufficient penetration for effective energy transfer without consistently overpenetrating typical targets.

These data points underscore the sophisticated design behind the XTP, ensuring that it performs predictably and effectively, whether at close range for personal defense or at extended handgun hunting distances.

Availability

The Hornady 45160 XTP 45 Cal .451 230 gr Hollow Point bullets are an essential component for handloaders seeking to craft premium ammunition. These bullets are readily available for purchase from reputable retailers like DEGuns.com, where you can find them in convenient 100-count boxes, or for those with higher volume needs, in cases containing 15 boxes. This bulk availability makes it easier for enthusiasts, competitive shooters, and law enforcement agencies to stock up on this critical component.

Summary of Key Features & Benefits:

• Controlled Expansion: Achieved through precise serrations, ensuring reliable and symmetrical expansion upon impact, even at lower velocities.
• Superior Accuracy: Total uniformity of core density combined with a gilding metal jacket provides exceptional in-flight stability, leading to remarkable precision.
• Proven Stopping Power: Designed for rapid energy transfer and effective incapacitation, suitable for self-defense, law enforcement, and ethical hunting of appropriate game.
• Reliable Functioning: Robust gilding metal jacket protects the nose and ensures smooth feeding in semi-automatic firearms.
• Versatile Application: Trusted by competitive shooters for accuracy, relied upon by law enforcement for duty, and chosen by responsible citizens for personal protection.
• Hornady Quality: Backed by decades of ballistic innovation and rigorous quality control from a world-renowned manufacturer.

When you're looking for ammunition components that deliver consistent, world-class performance for your .45 caliber needs, the Hornady XTP 230 grain hollow point bullet, UPC 090255245165, is an investment in confidence and effectiveness.

Technical Specifications

Characteristic	Detail
Brand	Hornady
Model	XTP
Caliber	45 Cal
Bullet Diameter	.451
Bullet Type	Hollow Point
Weight	230 gr
Core Material	Lead
Jacket Material	Copper (Gilding Metal)
Rounds Per Box	100
Boxes Per Case	15
Application	Defense / Hunting
Ballistic Coeff.	.188
Sectional Density	.162
SKU	45160
UPC	090255245165