Hornady Custom .38 Special 158 Grain XTP: Unrivaled Performance for Self-Defense, Hunting, and Precision

For handgun enthusiasts and responsible firearm owners seeking the pinnacle of performance and reliability in .38 Special ammunition, the Hornady Custom 158 Grain XTP stands as a benchmark. This meticulously crafted ammunition is engineered to meet the stringent demands of personal protection, small game hunting, and consistent target practice, delivering the confidence you need when it matters most. Are you looking for the best .38 Special ammunition for your revolver or pistol? Do you need reliable defense rounds that perform consistently? Or perhaps you're an ethical hunter seeking effective ammunition for small game? The Hornady Custom line, particularly with the 158 grain XTP bullet, is designed to answer these questions with superior results.

The Legacy of Hornady: Precision and Innovation

Hornady has built an esteemed reputation over decades as a leader in ammunition manufacturing, synonymous with precision, innovation, and unwavering quality. Their commitment to excellence is evident in every round of Hornady Custom ammunition. Unlike mass-produced alternatives, each box of Hornady Custom .38 Special 158 Grain XTP undergoes rigorous inspection and quality control processes. This ensures that every component – from the meticulously selected brass casing to the precisely formulated propellant and the iconic XTP bullet – works in perfect harmony to deliver the consistency and terminal performance that discerning shooters demand. This dedication to quality means you can trust your ammunition to perform exactly as expected, whether for critical self-defense situations or achieving ethical one-shot stops on small game. It’s this attention to detail that sets Hornady apart and makes their ammunition a trusted choice among professionals and enthusiasts alike.

Understanding the XTP Bullet: Engineered for eXtreme Terminal Performance

At the heart of this exceptional ammunition is the Hornady XTP (eXtreme Terminal Performance) hollow point bullet. This isn't just any hollow point; it's a testament to advanced ballistic engineering. The XTP bullet is renowned for its precisely controlled expansion across a wide range of velocities, ensuring optimal energy transfer and penetration without over-penetration. Its jacketed design provides structural integrity, preventing bullet deformation upon impact with harder materials and ensuring straight-line penetration.

Key features of the XTP bullet include:

• Controlled Expansion: The XTP's unique design ensures reliable and controlled expansion upon impact, creating a larger wound channel for effective energy transfer and stopping power, crucial for self-defense and hunting applications. This isn't about violent fragmentation but rather a measured, effective mushrooming.
• Deep Penetration: Despite its expansion, the XTP maintains sufficient mass and integrity to achieve adequate penetration depths, essential for reaching vital organs in hunting scenarios or mitigating threats in defensive situations.
• Superior Accuracy: The concentricity of the jacket and core, combined with Hornady's manufacturing precision, contributes to exceptional accuracy, allowing for tighter groupings and more confident shot placement.
• Dependable Feeding: The streamlined profile of the XTP bullet, while a hollow point, is designed to feed reliably in a wide variety of handgun platforms, minimizing the risk of malfunctions when it matters most.

The 158-grain weight of this particular XTP bullet is a classic for the .38 Special cartridge. It strikes an excellent balance between delivering substantial kinetic energy and managing recoil, making it suitable for a broad spectrum of shooters, including those who carry smaller, lighter revolvers. What does 158 grain mean for you? It means a heavier bullet that carries more momentum, often resulting in deeper penetration and effective energy transfer, especially important for defensive situations where consistent performance is paramount.

Ballistic Performance: Muzzle Velocity and Energy Explained

The Hornady Custom .38 Special 158 Grain XTP boasts impressive ballistic figures that translate directly to real-world effectiveness. With a muzzle velocity of 800 feet per second (fps) and a muzzle energy of 199 foot-pounds (ft lbs), this ammunition delivers a potent combination of speed and force.

• Muzzle Velocity (800 fps): This indicates how fast the bullet leaves the barrel. For the .38 Special, 800 fps with a 158-grain bullet is an optimized velocity that allows the XTP to reliably expand while still being manageable in terms of recoil. It ensures a relatively flat trajectory over common handgun engagement distances, contributing to accurate shot placement.
• Muzzle Energy (199 ft lbs): This represents the kinetic energy the bullet possesses at the moment it exits the muzzle. Higher muzzle energy generally correlates with greater stopping power. For a .38 Special, 199 ft lbs is a significant amount of energy, sufficient for effective self-defense and dispatching small game humanely. This energy, coupled with the XTP's controlled expansion, ensures that the bullet transfers its energy efficiently into the target.

These figures are not just numbers; they are indicators of performance. When considering ammunition for personal protection, you want confidence that your chosen round will incapacitate a threat effectively. For hunting, you need to know the bullet will perform ethically, minimizing suffering. The Hornady Custom 158 Grain XTP provides that assurance.

Primary Applications: Where This Ammunition Excels

The versatility of the Hornady Custom .38 Special 158 Grain XTP makes it an excellent choice for several critical applications:

1. Personal Protection and Self-Defense: Your Reliable Guardian

When it comes to safeguarding yourself and your loved ones, reliability is non-negotiable. The .38 Special, particularly in a revolver, is a popular choice for concealed carry and home defense due to its simplicity and dependability. The 158-grain XTP hollow point is an outstanding option for self-defense because:

• Consistent Expansion: In a defensive encounter, you need a bullet that performs reliably. The XTP's design ensures consistent expansion, creating a significant wound channel to rapidly neutralize a threat.
• Reduced Over-Penetration Risk: Unlike full metal jacket (FMJ) bullets, which can pass through a target with too much energy, the XTP's expansion helps dump its energy within the target, reducing the risk of over-penetration and potential harm to innocent bystanders or property. This is a critical consideration for home defense scenarios.
• Proven Track Record: The XTP bullet has a long-standing reputation as a highly effective defensive projectile, trusted by law enforcement and civilians alike.
• Manageable Recoil: For a defensive round, especially in smaller, lighter handguns, the 158-grain XTP offers a balance between stopping power and manageable recoil, allowing for quicker follow-up shots if necessary. This makes it a suitable choice even for shooters who might be recoil-sensitive.

For those asking, "What's the best .38 Special ammo for concealed carry?" or "Which .38 Special round offers reliable stopping power?", the Hornady Custom 158 Grain XTP should be at the top of your list.

2. Small Game Hunting: Ethical and Effective

While often overlooked for hunting, the .38 Special, especially with a well-designed bullet like the XTP, can be highly effective for small game. This ammunition is ideal for:

• Varmint Control: From coyotes to groundhogs, the XTP's controlled expansion and energy transfer ensure quick, humane dispatch.
• Predator Management: For small- to medium-sized predators, the XTP delivers the necessary terminal performance without excessive damage to pelts if that is a consideration.
• Targeted Accuracy: The inherent accuracy of Hornady Custom ammunition allows for precise shot placement, essential for ethical hunting and maximizing the effectiveness of each round.

When hunting small game with a handgun, bullet performance is key. The Hornady 158 grain XTP provides the perfect blend of controlled expansion and penetration to ensure clean, ethical kills on appropriately sized game.

3. Consistent Practice and Training: Building Skills

While premium self-defense ammunition like the XTP is designed for critical situations, consistent practice with similar-weight projectiles is vital. While you might use less expensive FMJ rounds for general plinking, incorporating boxes of Hornady Custom 158 Grain XTP into your training regimen ensures that you are familiar with the recoil, feel, and point of impact of your defensive rounds. This familiarity builds confidence and proficiency, directly translating to better performance when it matters most. Knowing how your specific defensive ammunition performs in your firearm is an irreplaceable aspect of responsible gun ownership.

The Importance of Quality Components: Cases, Primers, and Propellants

Hornady's commitment to quality extends beyond the bullet itself. The performance of any ammunition depends on the synergy of its components:

• Brass Casing: Hornady uses only premium brass casings, known for their durability, consistency, and reloadability. A high-quality brass casing ensures reliable feeding and extraction, withstands the pressures of firing, and contributes to consistent velocities. For those who reload, these spent casings are a valuable asset.
• Primers: Specially chosen for superior handgun performance, Hornady primers provide consistent ignition, critical for reliable cycling and predictable ballistics shot after shot.
• Propellants: The propellants used in Hornady Custom ammunition are carefully selected and precisely measured to optimize the burn rate for the .38 Special cartridge, ensuring consistent muzzle velocity and minimal flash, which can be a significant advantage in low-light defensive scenarios.

This holistic approach to ammunition manufacturing is what truly differentiates Hornady Custom ammunition from other options on the market. Every element is chosen to contribute to the overall performance, ensuring a product you can stake your life on.

Why Choose Hornady Custom .38 Special 158 Grain XTP?

When evaluating your options for .38 Special ammunition, consider these compelling reasons to choose Hornady Custom:

• Unmatched Reliability: Every round is inspected to meet Hornady’s stringent quality and consistency standards.
• Superior Terminal Performance: The XTP bullet provides controlled expansion and deep penetration for effective energy transfer, whether for self-defense or hunting.
• Versatile Application: Ideal for personal protection, small game hunting, and a critical component of a comprehensive training regimen.
• Trusted Brand: Hornady is a name synonymous with precision and innovation in the ammunition industry.
• Optimized Ballistics: A perfect balance of 158-grain weight, 800 fps muzzle velocity, and 199 ft lbs muzzle energy ensures potent and manageable performance.
• Quality Components: Premium brass casings, reliable primers, and tailored propellants contribute to overall excellence.

The Hornady Custom .38 Special 158 Grain XTP is not just ammunition; it's a commitment to performance, reliability, and peace of mind. These products are all available at DEGuns.com, ensuring you have access to top-tier ammunition for all your shooting needs. Equip yourself with the confidence that comes from carrying and shooting Hornady Custom.

Product Specifications

Feature	Detail
Brand	Hornady
Model	Custom
	Caliber	.38 Special
Bullet Type	Hornady XTP Hollow Point
Bullet Weight	158 grain
Muzzle Velocity	800 fps
Muzzle Energy	199 ft lbs
Rounds Per Box	25
Boxes Per Case	10
Casing Material	Brass
Application	Hunting, Self-Defense
Game Type	Small Game
SKU	90362
UPC	090255903621