Nosler 200gr ,180gr and 135gr HP Wetpack expansion test

[475/480]

I got to test some of the Nosler 200gr ,180gr and 135 gr HP's in wetpack this weekend.
Wetpack : phone books (recycled paper) thoroughly soaked overnight.
Nosler 200gr HP at 1230 fps; Nosler 180gr HP at 1310 fps; Nosler 135 gr HP at 1485 fps (CHL load), these velocities are at impact.
Diameters on the 200 gr -I measured across and then turned bullet 90 deg and measured again.
.722 x .705"- weight =194.5 (DOP) Depth of Penetration = 9.0"
.699 x .679"  weight =193.4 DOP = 7.8"
.700 x .689"  weight =194.3  DOP = 8.25"
Very consistant on weight retention for all 3 bullets.

[475/480]

Nosler 180gr HP at 1300 fps (impact);Look at the smaller diameter  of the 2 right bullets. Bullet on left shows that the other 2 have pealed back and lost considerable weight.
Diameters:
.654"  weight =168.2 . (DOP) Depth on penetration = 8.33"
.549 x .523" weight =123.5 . DOP = 8"
.549 x .542" weight = 126.5 . DOP = 8"
Looks like velocity over-powered bullet construction.

[The_Shadow]

Thanks for your posted info!  Good report! 

[REDLINE]

TYVM for sharing the results!

Because they don't have enough integrity to stay expanded without rolling back on themselves so much like an XTP I'm not finding much interest in them.

Really though they didn't do literally bad, just that for me I'm leaning toward other options.

[doverpack12]

Only the 180's rolled back.  I like the 200 grain option loaded to around 1200 fps the more testing I see. 

[sqlbullet]

Makes sense that the 200 grain would be a better fit with 10mm.  That bullet is really too heavy for 40 S&W.

[The_Shadow]

We would not be having this discussion if Speer was producing the Gold Dot in 200 grain configuration. 
By far the Gold Dot has been one of the best performing bullets and here is why...
They are bonded jacket to core, this is because it is a thick plated bullet.
The nose cavity is formed, then the jacket section is reshaped to for the proper nose profile in several striking steps, during the reshaping the bullet base is concaved.

For us 10mm guys we wouldn't need any other bullet for self defense!  We might want a cheaper alternative for target work.

Just saying!

[475/480]

Here is the Nosler 135gr HP at 1485 fps (impact). I carry this load on a regular basis. I might move up to Nosler 150 gr at 1400.
Weight :
L; 118.8gr , Depth of Penentration - DOP= 6.5"
R; 84.1gr + shrap (34.8gr), DOP = 6.0" ,Diameter = .513 x .537"

[Raggedyman]

If you're stuck on Nosler, go to 180 gr. In my testing, the 135 gr Nosler demonstrated terrible penetration and the several 155 gr bullets I tested failed to meet the 12" minimum. On the other hand, everything 165 gr and greater did just fine.


ETA: I concur on the bit about Gold Dot. Damn good bullets.

[REDLINE]

We would not be having this discussion if Speer was producing the Gold Dot in 200 grain configuration.

Just saying!

AMEN!

[475/480]

With the Holiday weekend coming up I will be going shooting again ,so I loaded some Hornady 200gr XTP's at 1220 fps and the Hornady 180 gr XTP at 1300 fps also will try a few of the Nosler 150 gr HP at 1450 fps just to see what they do in wetpack.

Sean

[REDLINE]

Sweet!

[Von]

The XTP was always a bullet that stayed together until Hornady revised it with a larger cavity opening . All of my older stock, 2 to 3 years has a smaller opening then what they make now. It is a strong bullet, or was with a heavy jacket. Look at all of the most powerfull calibers most are pushing the XTP.

[REDLINE]

I wish Hornady, in addition to the 200gr XTP, would add a 200gr wider-nosed expanding flat point with the integrity of their XTP MAG lineup.