Author Topic: Hornady FTX bullets  (Read 1232 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Ruskin

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 365
Hornady FTX bullets
« on: November 04, 2010, 06:23:59 AM »
I bought some 357 140 grain ftx as a fluke.  I liked what I saw.  Now every place I look to buy some has the ftx on backorder.

Offline Graybeard

  • Administrator
  • Trade Count: (69)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 26939
  • Gender: Male
Re: Hornady FTX bullets
« Reply #1 on: November 04, 2010, 07:12:37 AM »
Is this just a comment on the shortage of them or a request to buy? If the former it should be in the reloading forum but if the latter then it's in the right place but you've really not stated that you want to buy.


Bill aka the Graybeard
President, Graybeard Outdoor Enterprises
256-435-1125

I am not a lawyer and do not give legal advice.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life anyone who believes in Him will have everlasting life!

Offline Ruskin

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 365
Re: Hornady FTX bullets
« Reply #2 on: November 04, 2010, 09:19:14 AM »
It is a comment on shortage.  Hornady released the bullets to loading community.  They have been discovered now a shortage exists.

Offline Graybeard

  • Administrator
  • Trade Count: (69)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 26939
  • Gender: Male
Re: Hornady FTX bullets
« Reply #3 on: November 04, 2010, 07:48:47 PM »
Dunno if they have them in stock but Midway's new flyer shows them I think. They weren't in yellow so that supposedly means in stock.


Bill aka the Graybeard
President, Graybeard Outdoor Enterprises
256-435-1125

I am not a lawyer and do not give legal advice.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life anyone who believes in Him will have everlasting life!

Offline buck460XVR

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 977
Re: Hornady FTX bullets
« Reply #4 on: November 05, 2010, 08:37:45 AM »
It is a comment on shortage.  Hornady released the bullets to loading community.  They have been discovered now a shortage exists.


IMHO, FTX bullets for the .357 mag are another prime example of marketing and  hype having more to do with  product sales than actual usage and/or practicality. I could see their use in a carbine/rifle for varmints and small predators, but for deer size game and larger they are too light and expand too quickly. Using them in handguns is a waste of money as the red flex tip has little or no impact in ballistics at handgun velocities and ranges.......and since handguns are not tube fed there is no need for the soft pointy tip. For SD/HD, there are other options as good or better. They sure look cool tho......
"where'd you get the gun....son?"

Offline Lost Oki

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 182
Re: Hornady FTX bullets
« Reply #5 on: November 07, 2010, 08:45:12 AM »
Read 357 compressed charge.  My original post and it is on the FTX bullet.  What I have found supports Buck460's opinion. 
For reloading, you can forget W296 or H110 for pistol or rifle, to get the speed and accuracy, you get into very compressed charges.
So far in my Marlin lever, even the mid weight powders are starting to show flattened primers.  I tried one in my Dan Wesson and see similar results.  SO, if you want to use them, you will need to down load Hornadays reloading data and buy the powders they have listed.  Think I will stick with the 158 grain flat points that I have been using.  just my 2cw.

Offline jaygibson

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 8
Re: Hornady FTX bullets
« Reply #6 on: December 15, 2010, 08:28:46 AM »
For the 500, Hornady lists H110 as one of the recommended powders.  Alot of other sources I have read say tha H110 is the way to go.  But, I'm only speaking with regards to the 500.

Offline smong2000

  • Trade Count: (45)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 376
Re: Hornady FTX bullets
« Reply #7 on: December 15, 2010, 01:10:35 PM »
No shortage of them up my way.  I loaded up a bunch of 200 gr .358 FTX bullets for my .358 Win.  Boy do they shoot well out of it.  Couple weeks ago I shot a nice 178lb buck with the loads and was disappointed a with the performance on game.  I mid-shouldered him at 25 yds and probably 2500+ fps.  He ran only 30ish yards and expired, no pass through or knockdown.  The bullet broke his shoulder and completely fragmented -the off side ribcage looked like it was shot with birdshot and I didn't recover anything bigger than a #4 shot and copper confetti.  I guess they weren't designed for near that kind of velocity so I'm taking the loads apart and limiting the FTX to my .35 Rem Contender. 

Offline spinafish

  • Trade Count: (24)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1161
  • Gender: Male
Re: Hornady FTX bullets
« Reply #8 on: December 15, 2010, 03:36:41 PM »
Me thinks you have figured out the "problem".
the most heartwreching words any man will ever hear
"depart from me, I never knew you"  Jesus
We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade the presence of God. The world is crowded with Him. He walks everywhere incognito.” C.S. Lewis

Offline smong2000

  • Trade Count: (45)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 376
Re: Hornady FTX bullets
« Reply #9 on: December 16, 2010, 02:06:34 AM »
Sure did figure it out quick. It is surprizing to me that a bullet designed for 35 rem Leverlution with "150 fps increase over standard velocity" (maybe 2300fps??) fails so badly with just a couple hundred more fps.  Certainly it was designed on the light side - just like XTPs.  Moral of the story is that you should use pistol bullets at pistol velocities.