.357 Magnum Corbon DPX Tests Coming Soon...

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. I got my hands on some of the new Corbon DPX ammunition in .357 magnum. Without letting any cats out of any bags, I've already noticed a couple of things that seem very encouraging.


Here is a disassembled cartridge. The unknown powder weighs in at 7.8 grains and the bullet weighed 125.1 grains.

I'll see what it does with regards to expansion, accuracy, felt recoil and other areas of concern for ammunition intended to be used in the serious business of self-defense.

Best.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Euclidean]

SWEET!!! I've been looking for something special for my GP100... wonder if the fixed sights would work well with this load.

[Bud White]

ooo ahh cant wait to read the results

[TonyW]

I'm also looking forward to your impressions. Looking for something for the SP101.

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello and thank you all. IF I can, I will do the stuff in a 2 1/2" snub, 3", and 4" revolvers. One of the things I will do is to compare where it hits compared to other ammunition. My stock of .357 Magnum is not nearly so varied as my 9mm and .45 ACP so you may have to do some interpolation if your load is not mentioned.

Best.

[P95Carry]

Steve - great! Look fwd very much to your impressions.

7.8 grains for a mag load sounds very small as charges go - heck I load 14 grains of N-110 for that which is not max'd out either - and with a 158 too!

I can only think they are using as fast a powder as they dare here - to push that 125 pill at considerable speed.

Thx for keeping us in mind here with all your tests and data - it is invaluable to so many.

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. I'm told that they are trying to make a load that will reliably expand after all of the usual barrier tests w/10% ballistic gelatin, not be too hard to control, and still get 12"+ penetration. As I understand it, cranking up the velocity simply increases the penetration to depths that bother some folks.

We'll see.

Best.

[P95Carry]

I see where you are coming from Steve re penetration but wonder too if in fact the bullet expansion is particularly intense. If it were then penetration will be given up in favor of bullet deformation.

Mind you - that bullet in pic' seems to have no ''pre-stress'' grooves and so not at all sure how it might blossom. I guess you'll find out eh!

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. In a past conversation with Mr. Mike Shovel of Corbon, I seem to recall that the bullets are actually pre-stressed or skived somehow but inside the hollow cavity. Also, being a copper alloy, the bullet is longer than most in that weight. How far down the bullet expands is limited as well so that it still have some length to better penetrate than the bullet that is simulating a pancake in its expansion characteristics. I cannot prove it, but I suspect that the small openings between the petals might allow for a bit more penetration as there's less "parachute" effect.

Anyway, we'll see. The one thing that seems to be holding true for the DPX is that the bullet will almost always expand, regardless of what it encounters on the way to the "soft target". I've not tried it, but it is supposed to be particularly good after penetrating laminated automobile windshields.

Best.

[Euclidean]

I'll be honest that I've never heard of this particular load until I saw this post. As the owner of some .357s I'm always looking for the perfect combat ammo for, I'm excitedly anticipating the results.

I just haven't found anything that really fully meets my needs in a .357 defensive load but I'm pretty picky too. This however sounds like a real winner.

[NaturalSelection]

i know everything i need to know about it just by the name thats on the box. i do look forward to your results, to confirm what i already know.

[Dave James]

If it comes close to doing the same as the 145 grain silvertips, I mite just have another carry load for the 357.

[paknheat]

They may be using Alliant Power Pistol Powder. I use about 9.5gn for a 140.gn Hornady XTP. I have'nt clocked it so I don't know how fast it runs , it is a very accrate load for my.357 Ruger. I does put out quite a bit of muzzle flash though.

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. I don't know what the powder is. Many ammo companies use a special "blend" made to their specs and not the usual stand-by's that we reloaders use. I do not know if that's the case or not. Mr. Shovel of Corbon advises that the powder is flash retardant.

Best.