For the range, they should be fine. They are built as a competition bullet, though I see no reason for a hollow point bullet in IDPA, USPSA, or similar.
What is your intended use?

 

Range, self defense

 

Never use reloaded ammo in your self defense/carry weapon. If you ever have to use it.... and there is any question of whether it was justified, the Lawyer will argue that you created a "SPECIAL" round designed to kill.... there are cases where this has happened and the shooter was found guilty.

texashaag

 

Personally, I wouldn't roll my own for self defense. As for range use, those should be just fine but I think there are less expensive alternatives that would serve just as well. Check out Berry's bullets. I've used 'em for years in my 40's for the range and they've performed just fine. I run Hornady Critical Defense for my carry ammo.

 

I second the suggestion of Berry's Bullets. Just finished loading about 100 Sig 357s. No problem, this was my first time loading this round. Very straightforward. I used standard Round nose bullets.

Larry

 

I checked out my supplies i had on hand for 9mm. I dont have anymore 9's only 40, 45 and now 357 sig. I found alot of 115 gr RNs and 125 gr powder coated RNs about 500 each. I made a few V crowns and RNs just now. ill try the powder coated next. I should be good on bullets for awhile now. Anyone try the powder coated bullets?

 

Anyone try the powder coated bullets?

Powder coated bullets are a great and less expensive alternative to plated bullets such as Berry's for range fodder.

 

What is it that I see at the case mouth on the left bullet standing up?

 

I found that bullet and its a mark in the copper jacket. I cant scratch it off.

 

I've been buying the HAPs for around .10 each bulk. Berry plated are that much or more. IMO plated bullets do not perform as well and are not as consistaint as std jacketed bullets but I haven't tried every brand or type. I don't see them listed at midway any longer but they were always hard to pull up with a search. They have a heavier jacket than a self defense type HP and the HP is more uniform with the copper rolled in towards the opening.

The 125grn flavor are the ones I typically use. The weight, diameter, and length diviation is better on these than your typical HP type bullets. I use them for target loads in carbines and handguns including 9mm and 357mag but still dont load as many of the HAPs as I do cast for the 38/357. If you load cast w/ gas checks the cost is not that much difference since gas checks are so high now.

The reason they have HPs is so that the bullets CG is corrected for better fleight characteristics and not for expansion but they will open up some at mag velocities.

 

I've been buying the HAPs for around .10 each bulk. Berry plated are that much or more. IMO plated bullets do not perform as well and are not as consistaint as std jacketed bullets but I haven't tried every brand or type. I don't see them listed at midway any longer but they were always hard to pull up with a search. They have a heavier jacket than a self defense type HP and the HP is more uniform with the copper rolled in towards the opening.

The 125grn flavor are the ones I typically use. The weight, diameter, and length diviation is better on these than your typical HP type bullets. I use them for target loads in carbines and handguns including 9mm and 357mag but still dont load as many of the HAPs as I do cast for the 38/357. If you load cast w/ gas checks the cost is not that much difference since gas checks are so high now.

The reason they have HPs is so that the bullets CG is corrected for better fleight characteristics and not for expansion but they will open up some at mag velocities.

^^^^^^Exactly! Nothing more I would add.

 

And for 123.99 you can get almost twice as many Berry's 124 grain Target Hollow Points.

124 Grain 9mm Hollow Tips | Hollow Point Bullets

Our 124 grain 9mm targeted hollow point bullets are the best 9mm bullets for accuracy and precision. Shop bulk 9mm hollow tips at Berry's Bullets!

www.berrysmfg.com

99.9999% of shooters will not see enough of a difference between the two bullets to need to buy the more expensive ones.

 

Do you have to control your velocities with plated bullets, like you do with lead?

 

Please be so kind as to provide some links to these cases.

 

Can't provide what has never existed.

 

Same type people that come up with crap like - did you load it before hand, did you cock it first, did you aim it, ...

Guess the answer would be - no I just walk around with an unloaded gun cocked and aimlessly just wave it around and pull the trigger if someone trys to mug me.

 

For range work and competition, the HAP projectiles are probably very tough to beat. Although they are, on paper, designed as hollow points, Hornady did not design and does not make them with expansion in mind. I believe the two reasons for making them hollow points instead of FMJs is that, all factors being equal, hollow-pointed tail-heavy projectiles tend to be very slightly more accurate than FMJs. And, with hollow, deformable points, they tend to mash shut on steel targets, and are far less prone to ricochet than cast or FMJRNs.
I never actually read that FROM Hornady, but I'd bet serious beer money on it being right.. If memory serves, Doug Koenig uses a FMJ (plated?) HP made by Zero bullets in competition. Whether it's b/c those PARTICULAR HPs shoot more accurately, or if it is b/c HPs GENERALLY shoot better evades me, but I'm inclined to believe the latter.
FRANKLY, I think Doug Koenig could out-shoot most people if the JHPs in his ammo were loaded upside down, so the actual difference may only be evident in shooters of HIS skill level.

 

The specific reason Hornady made the HAP bullets is to mimic the more costly XTP bullets for practice and load development. The HAP bullet is the XTP bullet before the expansion scoring is performed. Work up your loads with HAP, then when dialed in, switch to the XTP for your final intended use...whatever that may be (self-defense, shhh!).

 

What about the 45 GAP? Is that loadably in the 45 acp?

 

Hornady does say that are made via the xtp design. The front is a little more like a TC bullet with a small hp nose though. Think the hollow nose helps weight bias and stabilization similar to hp match bullets nose but those are just long drawn out copper. The hap bullets are cheaper and shoot well so I use some in guns that dont like cast bullets. I have a few different hp cast molds but they dont seem to print as well as cast solids for me. TC cast seems to do the best for me - even better than traditional rfp (in larger bores anyway) about the same as the HAPs.

 

No im talking about the projectile itself. Is it loadable in the 45 acp shell. I see 45 gap bullets for sale but never buy them cuz im not sure if i can use them with the 45 acp shell.

 

yes
I don't know that I have ever seen a bullet, by it's self, being identified as a GAP bullet.

 

I carry my reloads in my SD pistols, as does my wife and two sons. My reloads are meticulously loaded each step at a time, no worries about one not functioning as it should, unlike factory ammo which I have experienced squibs and OAL that varies widely. The arguments against using your reloads are nothing but paranoia in my opinion...what, are they going to argue that you purposely loaded them to "make them more deadly"? That's the sole purpose of a bullet...

My reloads are more accurate, more reliable and more consistent, why in the world wouldn't I carry them? If your "shoot" is a good one, the ammo will never even be brought into the equation.

I buy my JHP bullets from Rocky Mountain Reloading, they recently developed a 9mm JHP that reliably expands at a lower velocity than most. Saw a post otnight that they are now getting ready to start making 10mm and .45 bullets in house as well. Their .224 bullets in 69 and 75gr are my absolute favorites.

 

If your "shoot" is a good one, the ammo will never even be brought into the equation.

I agree - and have nothing but handloads - for range or defense.

 

I buy my JHP bullets from Rocky Mountain Reloading, they recently developed a 9mm JHP that reliably expands at a lower velocity than most. Saw a post otnight that they are now getting ready to start making 10mm and .45 bullets in house as well. Their .224 bullets in 69 and 75gr are my absolute favorites.

My last experience with RMR bullets was not very good, but I do have to admit that it has been quite a while. I bought some of their 124 grain 9mm bullets and the weight was all over the place. Maybe I should give them another chance!

 

I weighed 20 of their 124gr 9mm 'Multi-purpose rounds" just now, 10 were spot on 124gr, 3 were 123.9, 5 were 124.1, had one 123.8 and one 124.2

 

Literally the absolute BEST bulk bullets I have ever used are Xtreme plated bullets.

Very consistent weight, excellent plating and very accurate.

 

Always been a fan of Xtreme Bullets. I have some 1911's for whatever reason, new or just tight, that won't digest a .452 bullet. xtreme offers both .451 and .452 - and I'll be darned if they don't live up to that spec. Same with thier 9mm line up. They have booth .355 and .356. A .356 will not work (without setting it too far back) in Javis custom 9mm barrels.

 

That is a lot better spread than I got - maybe 8-10 years ago, they ran from 119 to about 126. It was right after they starting making their own so might not had it down yet!! I still have them out in my reloading building as a "just in case" kind of thing.