Anyone out there using this as their deer or other game hunting bullet in the Max?
Curious about the performance on deer (or larger) size game with the 10" and/or 14" and interested in your load data (velocities) would be appreciated.

I just tested some for expansion this afternoon and did NOT measure any expansion using my normal method!

180 XTP expanded and reacted with testing media with the same load (25.8 gr. WC 680 14" barrel).

THIS IS NOT A LOADING RECOMMENDATION, just what shoots in my gun.

LouisB

Louis,

What speed were those SSP's going at? I know Hornady has said they like to have them started at about 2000 FPS for good performance.

I've tended to stay with the 180 XTP's instead in the Max. Not as good a ballistic shape but I think they will mushroom at lower velocities and still hold together well at woods ranges. Running the 180 XTP's at 1850+ out of the 10" Max/Bellm rechamber I have.

Regards

[ 02-17-2003, 04:29: Message edited by: Headstamp ]

I have a 21" and get 1970 fps with 21 gr. H110. Only used on groundhogs but anything this caliber will work on them.

My 10" Fox Ridge Outfitters .357 Maximum did very well on two deer this year, both were one shot kills at about 40 yards, and both deer made about 30 yards before they expired.
The wound channel was about the size of a softball, and with both deer no bones were hit with pass through shots, so I cannot comment on how much the bullet expanded.

The loads I used were approached very slowly, and are not in the charts.

180gr. Hornady HP/XTP, powdered with 23.0gr. of H110, and chronographed an average of 1950fps.
The crimp is moderate at the first cannalure from the base of the bullet.

I have not detected any signs of excess pressure on the primers, or cases with this load.

At 200 yards I was able to break 3 clay piegons in succession that were leaned against a cardboard box.
This combination has proven to be very accurate fo me.