Questions for Hornady 185 XTP in 45acp

learfxr · February 11, 2015, 07:29 PM

I'm working with the Hornady 185 XTP's in 45acp cause they sent me 700 for free after buying their stuff this winter.

I loaded some with 5.5 and 6.0 of Bullseye. My major question is about COL for those that have used it. I'm at 1.230 right now and they appear kinda short just looking at them. They list a min length of 1.213

My Sig 1911 had a few fail to feed out of the 40 that I made in those two powder levels. I've had lots of issues with fail to feed in my other 45 loads using 185 FP plated bullets and 5.5 of bullseye. I was hoping to see better results with the Hornady bullets. I want to experiment with the COL and could use some recommendations. I need better consistency in my reloads for 45acp. It's no fun when you're lucky just to get through a mag without the gun jamming. I'll likely buy some 230 RN bullets next, but I have a bunch of these that I'd like to run through first

Thanks

Steve R20 · February 11, 2015, 07:42 PM

I loaded 500 with 5.8gr bullseye at the same length and had no issues with a taurus 1911. Maybe your gun doesnt like hollow points.

learfxr · February 11, 2015, 08:03 PM

It doesn't seem to like my 185 FP bullets from Extreme. It did better with the Hornady XTP's so far, but not amazing

I just hope to find a way to make these work out since I have 700 of them.

Maybe the wife will let me get a M&P45 to shoot them in

Steve R20 · February 11, 2015, 08:35 PM

Explain how it will benefit both of you to get a new gun.LOL

MightyMO1911 · February 11, 2015, 08:52 PM

My sig 1911 doesn't like 185's either. You're right. They look Goofy and wicked short. Lol. Anyways. Try loading them a little longer see does that help any. It did in mine.

Sharkbite · February 11, 2015, 11:32 PM

Id try some loaded longer as well. Your listed COAL is pretty close to min. Not sure how long you can go with that bullet but sometimes just a cpl extra thou can change feed angles and make a huge diff.

buckit · February 13, 2015, 06:58 PM

Not sure if this will help but factory loaded hornady 230 grain xtp's are 1.244.

burrhead · February 13, 2015, 07:37 PM

I shoot a lot of the 185 XTPs with a healthy load of Titegroup and an OAL of 1.195. SD is about 9 and they're very accurate out of my G36. 1.230 is way too long.

learfxr · February 14, 2015, 12:15 AM

I made a few more rounds with 6.0 and 6.4 of Bullseye.

I have a few boxes of 185 Zombie Max stuff from Hornady to compare my 185 XTP's with. They bullets are pretty close to the same shape. I'm seating really close to the same as what they are. We'll see how it goes.

snolden · February 15, 2015, 09:27 PM

I Have run the XTP's at 1.200 in my XD's. Both 230 gr and 185's.

That is over 8.6 gr of blue dot.

JimDandy · February 16, 2015, 01:01 AM

I've also got Sig 1911's and mine fed fine I think I loaded them a little longer, but I can't remember exactly and would have to go back and measure. I'll get around to that soon I hope, my reloading stuff is a little packed up at the moment. If I do, I'll COAL them and come back and let you know.

TheFineLine · February 16, 2015, 02:04 PM

Hornady changed the ogive on the .451 XTP and HAP bullets a couple of months ago due to feeding issues in 1911s. The new recommended oal is 1.235 to 1.245.

**Unclenick** · February 16, 2015, 02:14 PM

Yes, but that's for a different nose shape with less blunt taper.

learfxr,

You can explore different COL's, but what it likes best may be shorter or may be longer. I don't think you can predict it easily.

One thing I would do, if the gun is new, is run maybe 500 rounds of hardball through it to wear it in. Another thing I would do is leave the loads where they are now, since you are using Hornady's recommended COL, and paint a few bullets up with Magic Marker and find out where they are rubbing and where in the gun is doing the rubbing. You may be able to polish and round the contact location a little.

You can also get a reliability package done on the gun to improve its feeding, but that means getting in line with a gunsmith and spending some money on having the warranty voided by that work. My own guns will feed empty cases, but I had to modify the feed ramps. It can be done, though.

TheFineLine · February 16, 2015, 02:19 PM

1.213 on the right, 1.235 on the left. Correct OAL on all new Hornady .451 is 1.235-1.245.

learfxr · February 16, 2015, 02:19 PM

Thanks for that update. I was reading the posts showing loading at 1.19ish lengths and thinking there's no way. I look at my bullets and if I go any shorter than about 1.23ish then I'll have brass sticking up past the sides of the bullets. I still need to hit the range and try the more recent loads and see how it goes. I'm matching the length of the Hornady factory ammo of the 185 gn Zombie Max or whatever they called it. The bullet shapes are very similar and I've shot a few of those in the Sig so far with no issues. I'll try to test mine in the next couple days if I can

learfxr · February 16, 2015, 03:01 PM

If winter would stop trying to make a come back I would already be at the range testing my 45 loads and sighting in my 30-06 for future hog killing. Had some days in the 70's and now in the 20's.

Jeffm004 · February 16, 2015, 03:45 PM

Somewhere here is a long thread on this with really good pictures. 90% sure you are too short. Make them as long as possible and still fit in the magazine. Work back from there.

ymmv

learfxr · February 17, 2015, 07:05 PM

Went to the range today with my recent reloads and was not thrilled with the results.

Still using the Hornady 185 XTP with mixed brass and Bullseye

Made up a batch of rounds with 6.0 gn of bullseye and 6.4 gn

My OAL is 1.230 which is as short as I can load these. It is a very close match to the Hornady 185 gn Zombie ammo I have

Shot the 6.0 bullseye loads first and they were good. I ran through all of those with no issues. I started the 6.4 loads and had numerous issues with them. The only difference was the amount of powder and a little bit of a dirty gun at that point. No changed were made to the press other than powder amount

I took several pics of the issues since I was the only person on the pistol range today

Most of these issues were after a couple rounds were fired, some were while trying to drop the slide on a new mag. Some times it would happen more than once in a mag and sometimes I could get through a full mag. It was pretty bad today

learfxr · February 17, 2015, 07:06 PM

learfxr · February 17, 2015, 07:08 PM

learfxr · February 17, 2015, 07:09 PM

I shot about 60 rounds of my reloads and then left for a late lunch. Picked up a box of PMC 230RN in town and went back to the range. One of the gun club board members was there shooting his reloads and I talked to him about my issues. Showed him the line in my barrel ramp and talked about my ammo. When I dropped the slide on the very first round of the PMC 230 RN it jammed just like my reloads. I stopped and showed it to other person at the range and then cleared it. I kept that round and 2 rounds that were never taken from the box so I have ammo to compare with. I went on to shoot the rest of the box without any other issues. The gun is nice and dirty now and I'm still confused. I had a batch of reloads that seemed fine, then a batch that was junk. I had the very first round of 230 RN fail to feed but they were fine after that. I'm not sure if I should spend time reloading some more 6.0 gn loads and try another batch

I picked up a box of 230 gn RN Hornady bullets from the local shop when I picked up the box of PMC range ammo. I can try loading up some 230 RN ammo for testing I guess.

So far, not a good day at the range. I love this Sig, but I really need to figure out what is happening. I don't have any more factory range ammo to feed it right now, but I really need to figure out if it's just my reloads or if it's related to the feed ramp flaws. I showed the other gun club member my barrel feed ramp and he recommended sending it off. It really does look like crap in person. The store/range I bought the gun from has a gunsmith in house and I will prob take it to him for a look over. I'm not saying anything about reloads to them though.

February 11, 2015, 07:29 PM	#1
learfxr Member Join Date: January 11, 2015 Location: TX Posts: 27	Questions for Hornady 185 XTP in 45acp I'm working with the Hornady 185 XTP's in 45acp cause they sent me 700 for free after buying their stuff this winter. I loaded some with 5.5 and 6.0 of Bullseye. My major question is about COL for those that have used it. I'm at 1.230 right now and they appear kinda short just looking at them. They list a min length of 1.213 My Sig 1911 had a few fail to feed out of the 40 that I made in those two powder levels. I've had lots of issues with fail to feed in my other 45 loads using 185 FP plated bullets and 5.5 of bullseye. I was hoping to see better results with the Hornady bullets. I want to experiment with the COL and could use some recommendations. I need better consistency in my reloads for 45acp. It's no fun when you're lucky just to get through a mag without the gun jamming. I'll likely buy some 230 RN bullets next, but I have a bunch of these that I'd like to run through first Thanks

February 11, 2015, 07:42 PM	#2
Steve R20 Junior Member Join Date: January 21, 2014 Posts: 10	185 xtp I loaded 500 with 5.8gr bullseye at the same length and had no issues with a taurus 1911. Maybe your gun doesnt like hollow points.

February 13, 2015, 07:37 PM	#8
burrhead Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 1999 Location: Chihuahuan desert, Texas Posts: 1,148	I shoot a lot of the 185 XTPs with a healthy load of Titegroup and an OAL of 1.195. SD is about 9 and they're very accurate out of my G36. 1.230 is way too long. __________________ Join the GOA, SAF and the TSRA I'm offended by people that are easily offended.

February 16, 2015, 02:14 PM	#13
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	Yes, but that's for a different nose shape with less blunt taper. learfxr, You can explore different COL's, but what it likes best may be shorter or may be longer. I don't think you can predict it easily. One thing I would do, if the gun is new, is run maybe 500 rounds of hardball through it to wear it in. Another thing I would do is leave the loads where they are now, since you are using Hornady's recommended COL, and paint a few bullets up with Magic Marker and find out where they are rubbing and where in the gun is doing the rubbing. You may be able to polish and round the contact location a little. You can also get a reliability package done on the gun to improve its feeding, but that means getting in line with a gunsmith and spending some money on having the warranty voided by that work. My own guns will feed empty cases, but I had to modify the feed ramps. It can be done, though. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

February 11, 2015, 08:03 PM	#3
learfxr Member Join Date: January 11, 2015 Location: TX Posts: 27	It doesn't seem to like my 185 FP bullets from Extreme. It did better with the Hornady XTP's so far, but not amazing I just hope to find a way to make these work out since I have 700 of them. Maybe the wife will let me get a M&P45 to shoot them in

February 11, 2015, 08:35 PM	#4
Steve R20 Junior Member Join Date: January 21, 2014 Posts: 10	Explain how it will benefit both of you to get a new gun.LOL

February 11, 2015, 08:52 PM	#5
MightyMO1911 Senior Member Join Date: February 8, 2014 Posts: 122	My sig 1911 doesn't like 185's either. You're right. They look Goofy and wicked short. Lol. Anyways. Try loading them a little longer see does that help any. It did in mine.

February 11, 2015, 11:32 PM	#6
Sharkbite Senior Member Join Date: November 4, 2013 Location: Western slope of Colorado Posts: 3,679	Id try some loaded longer as well. Your listed COAL is pretty close to min. Not sure how long you can go with that bullet but sometimes just a cpl extra thou can change feed angles and make a huge diff.

February 13, 2015, 06:58 PM	#7
buckit Member Join Date: March 2, 2008 Location: North Florida Posts: 62	Not sure if this will help but factory loaded hornady 230 grain xtp's are 1.244.

February 14, 2015, 12:15 AM	#9
learfxr Member Join Date: January 11, 2015 Location: TX Posts: 27	I made a few more rounds with 6.0 and 6.4 of Bullseye. I have a few boxes of 185 Zombie Max stuff from Hornady to compare my 185 XTP's with. They bullets are pretty close to the same shape. I'm seating really close to the same as what they are. We'll see how it goes.

February 15, 2015, 09:27 PM	#10
snolden Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2006 Location: N. E. AZ Posts: 387	I Have run the XTP's at 1.200 in my XD's. Both 230 gr and 185's. That is over 8.6 gr of blue dot.

February 16, 2015, 01:01 AM	#11
JimDandy Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2012 Posts: 2,556	I've also got Sig 1911's and mine fed fine I think I loaded them a little longer, but I can't remember exactly and would have to go back and measure. I'll get around to that soon I hope, my reloading stuff is a little packed up at the moment. If I do, I'll COAL them and come back and let you know.

February 16, 2015, 02:04 PM	#12
TheFineLine Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2012 Location: The Great State of Texas Posts: 210	Hornady changed the ogive on the .451 XTP and HAP bullets a couple of months ago due to feeding issues in 1911s. The new recommended oal is 1.235 to 1.245.

February 16, 2015, 02:19 PM	#14
TheFineLine Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2012 Location: The Great State of Texas Posts: 210	1.213 on the right, 1.235 on the left. Correct OAL on all new Hornady .451 is 1.235-1.245.

February 16, 2015, 03:01 PM	#16
learfxr Member Join Date: January 11, 2015 Location: TX Posts: 27	If winter would stop trying to make a come back I would already be at the range testing my 45 loads and sighting in my 30-06 for future hog killing. Had some days in the 70's and now in the 20's.

February 16, 2015, 03:45 PM	#17
Jeffm004 Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2013 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 255	Somewhere here is a long thread on this with really good pictures. 90% sure you are too short. Make them as long as possible and still fit in the magazine. Work back from there. ymmv

February 17, 2015, 07:05 PM	#18
learfxr Member Join Date: January 11, 2015 Location: TX Posts: 27	Went to the range today with my recent reloads and was not thrilled with the results. Still using the Hornady 185 XTP with mixed brass and Bullseye Made up a batch of rounds with 6.0 gn of bullseye and 6.4 gn My OAL is 1.230 which is as short as I can load these. It is a very close match to the Hornady 185 gn Zombie ammo I have Shot the 6.0 bullseye loads first and they were good. I ran through all of those with no issues. I started the 6.4 loads and had numerous issues with them. The only difference was the amount of powder and a little bit of a dirty gun at that point. No changed were made to the press other than powder amount I took several pics of the issues since I was the only person on the pistol range today Most of these issues were after a couple rounds were fired, some were while trying to drop the slide on a new mag. Some times it would happen more than once in a mag and sometimes I could get through a full mag. It was pretty bad today

February 17, 2015, 07:06 PM	#19
learfxr Member Join Date: January 11, 2015 Location: TX Posts: 27

February 17, 2015, 07:08 PM	#20
learfxr Member Join Date: January 11, 2015 Location: TX Posts: 27

February 17, 2015, 07:09 PM	#21
learfxr Member Join Date: January 11, 2015 Location: TX Posts: 27	I shot about 60 rounds of my reloads and then left for a late lunch. Picked up a box of PMC 230RN in town and went back to the range. One of the gun club board members was there shooting his reloads and I talked to him about my issues. Showed him the line in my barrel ramp and talked about my ammo. When I dropped the slide on the very first round of the PMC 230 RN it jammed just like my reloads. I stopped and showed it to other person at the range and then cleared it. I kept that round and 2 rounds that were never taken from the box so I have ammo to compare with. I went on to shoot the rest of the box without any other issues. The gun is nice and dirty now and I'm still confused. I had a batch of reloads that seemed fine, then a batch that was junk. I had the very first round of 230 RN fail to feed but they were fine after that. I'm not sure if I should spend time reloading some more 6.0 gn loads and try another batch I picked up a box of 230 gn RN Hornady bullets from the local shop when I picked up the box of PMC range ammo. I can try loading up some 230 RN ammo for testing I guess. So far, not a good day at the range. I love this Sig, but I really need to figure out what is happening. I don't have any more factory range ammo to feed it right now, but I really need to figure out if it's just my reloads or if it's related to the feed ramp flaws. I showed the other gun club member my barrel feed ramp and he recommended sending it off. It really does look like crap in person. The store/range I bought the gun from has a gunsmith in house and I will prob take it to him for a look over. I'm not saying anything about reloads to them though.