The 155-grain XTP JHP penetrated to 12.5 inches in 10 percent gelatin.

Hornady identifies the sample TAP FPD load as No. 91328 and says that it will leave a 4-inch test barrel doing 1,180 fps, generating 479 ft-lbs of energy in the process. I ran 25 of these loads through a brand-new 5-inch Kimber Stainless Gold Match II a few days ago, and 20 of them averaged 1,214 fps over my Oehler 35P Skyscreens with an extreme spread of 25 fps and standard deviation of six fps. Anytime you see extreme spreads and standard deviation down this low, you realize that you're working with very good ammunition. Averaging 1,214 fps, a 155-grain bullet generates 507 ft-lbs of energy. In fact, the Hornady TAP FPD load was the strongest load in the test, running even a tad higher than the hot Cor-Bon 140-grain DPX HP.

Downrange, the Hornady TAP FPD load also looked very good. Five 5-shot groups averaged 2.75 inches center to center, with the best group running less than an inch and a half. The largest string went 3.71 inches. This is excellent accuracy any way you cut it. In addition, it's nice to note that the Kimber didn't miss a beat with this or any of the other tested loads.

In ballistic gelatin, the 155-grain TAP FPD load performed well, too. The XTP JHP generated an impressive permanent cavity in the gelatin, penetrating to 12.5 inches. The bullet did a good job of staying together, hanging on to 139 grains during the trip. This works out to 89.6 percent. The recovered bullet measured .657 inch across the widest portion, exhibiting an expansion rate of 164 percent. The mushroom is symmetrical, smooth and classic.

As you'd expect, since this is considered premium ammunition and is aimed at very specific markets, these loads aren't cheap; if you're looking for plinking ammo, look elsewhere. The two 9mm loads carry an MSRP of $16.82, the .40 S&W comes in at $16.48, and the .45 ACP is the bargain here at $15.71. There are 25 rounds in the 9mm boxes while the bigger calibers get 20 per box. I'd rather see a bigger box with 25 rounds across the board, but that's personal opinion.

The 9mm TAP load almost made it out of the gelatin, going 14.06 inches.

I've said it before in these pages: The major manufacturers are loading such good ammunition these days that there's not much reason to reload, unless you're into shooting thousands of rounds a month. It's a pleasure working with good ammunition, and it looks to me as though Hornady's new TAP FPD loads are some of the best in the industry. I wouldn't hesitate carrying this ammunition in a duty arm if I were in that line of work. I want to add a pat on the back to the folks at Hornady, too, for making this fine line available over the counter. Civilians need top-drawer ammunition, too, after all.