This is yet another Hornady XTP load from Wilson Combat. Much like some folks struggle trying to decide between a fast 115-grain and a slow 147-grain 9 mm load, .45 ACP shooters often toil with the choice between a 185- and 230-grain load. For the .45 ACP, 200-grain bullets are the compromise weight. Wilson Combat advertises this load as achieving 975 fps from a 5-inch barrel, but also suggests it is optimized for compacts—meaning the load will cycle and function in smaller .45 ACP handguns. The 200-grain load demonstrated typical Hornady XTP bullet performance with its deep penetration and moderate expansion. Interestingly, the terminal performance of this bullet is very similar to that of the 125-grain Barnes TAC-XP in DoubleTap's .40 S&W load.
Load | MV (fps) | PEN (inches) | EXP (inches) | RW (grains) |
.45 ACP Wilson Combat 200-grain XTP HP | 955 | 17.25 | .59 | 184 |