the reason I asked is when I was bullet shopping for things my .45 calibers might like I saw these and my first thought was ... too small. No heavier then my 30-06. But no where near the speed. So I purchased 200 grain XTPs instead. I found them accurate, but again a little voice in my head made me doubt their ability. So these tests are a great help!

All these tests by Ron cater to penetration first - expansion 2nd and breakage 3rd. I lean to the side of Hornady when rating their XTP models for toughness. This 200 gr version is rated the worst, when judging 40-44-45 caliber handgun bullets, as for use in muzzleloaders. It's prone to bust-up at ML speeds.

Muzzle Velocity Range (fps) for it gives it ONLY a 700-1200 rating...... low-low-low. This was the first 40-cal bullet I considered when first shopping for 40s last January. It was also the first one I disqualified. I would not purchase any XTP, that does not merit at-least a 1600 rating. Then right after the speed rating, I look at density ratings. Then if I like the density/speed ratings of a XTP model, then I eliminate the need to purchase the tougher 240 or 300 Mag models, for deer are all I hunt these days.

So the bullet I ended-up purchasing last month was heavier than I wanted. But I trust the 44-cal 300 grain XTP to easily get the job done at higher speeds and not prone to break-up. The 240 was my 2nd choice. I did not like any of their XTP 40-cal offerings. The 185 model is tougher than the 200, but is less dense than the 200.

I never factored-in projected range with any of these models. I believe the differences are negligible. I also understand the liking to the 40-cal 200 gr, for it being the longest/narrowest of the group, which allows it to fly longer and straighter ..... but marginably thou.

What an absolutely unscientific statement!! You cannot know, what you wrote.

You can only know the test results.

Please show me the load data for a 10mm shooting a 200gr bullet at over 1200fps. There is no sense in rating your bullet faster if the cartridge can not achieve that velocity. What cartridge do you suppose they based their rating on? ;)

The 401 Herters PowerMag is basically dead so 10mm is the hottest commonly found cartridge for this bullet. It will also most commonly be shot in a semi auto handgun and not something like a Contender single shot which can achieve a little more velocity. Even in the Contender around 1500fps is max and that would be considered a very hot load.

The 180gr bullets can obviously be shot faster than the 200gr in the 10mm. So of course they will be rated higher.

Using Hornady's .199 BC which seems inflated, a 200gr XTP leaving the barrel at 1800fps is impacting around 1450fps at 100 yards. By 125 yards its under 1400fps. Using Nosler's .163 BC for their 200gr 40cal is probably closer to the truth.

I only used it's fps rating to align it with Hornady's toughness rating - its comparison to other XTPs.

Use any bullet you desire. But I would never purchase a 1200-rated bullet for a ML rifle that may need 150 yard shots. Yet some on this board seem to like this bullet for a-lot longer shots than that. Whatever!

Hey, but who am I to judge bullets? I'm great at picking the wrong ones to purchase. Perfect example is my last purchase of 250 gr. Deep Curls. I never knew two different nose variations of the Deep Curl existed. I found out about 12 hours after my bullets arrived at my doorstep.

Lesson learned there.

So, you changed your mind about the 180gr QT by Precision rifle? I cant imagine it holding up much better than either 40cal XTP or the 180gr Speer Golddot.

You do realize that both Hornady and T/C have packaged those 40cal XTP bullets with sabots in the past? Im not recommending them. Im just saying Hornady's recommended ratings is a poor way to base your opinion on a bullet you have never used.

Wrong! There are different tests other than water. I seldom hit soft tissue only- unless I produce a belly shot. I shoot offhand.... remember? No sticks, blinds, bait piles, no private land.....etc.

The 185 gr XTP disintegrated after hitting a soft pine tree trunk last December. My lead bullets produced nice mushrooms and stuck to the tree.

Without blinking an eye, I would use my 185 Precision QT Polymer Tips over a 185 / 200 gr. XTP on deer. No doubt whatsoever! I aim for double lung shots, but hit bone often. Goes with being 63 years-old - nerves of glass...lol.... eyesight of bifocal proportions.... lol

So you have evidence a PR QT 40cal 180gr soft lead bullet performs better than either 40cal XTP or GoldDot on deer?

I would like to see it.

All circumstances considered it has no chance. 195 Barnes has no chance either. The XTP will win in most cases on Deer size game.

Depends on your definition of hunting and placement, which mine is obviously different than yours. So in my case, yes I have Huron National Forest evidence left behind, but not-that of the Gold Dot.

From all indications here, XTPs would easily win a poll that judged the XTP vs the Gold Dot. So may be you ought to quiet-down on your Gold Dot recommendations. Speer sure has.