Barnes loads the VOR-TX .357 Mag with a 140gr XPB hollow point at 1,265 fps for 498 ft-lbs of muzzle energy. The XPB is an all-copper bullet with no lead core at all. Instead of a traditional jacket wrapped around lead, the entire projectile is machined from a solid copper bar. This means 100% weight retention on impact, every time. The bullet expands by peeling back into four uniform petals that double the frontal diameter while the solid copper base drives straight through tissue and bone.

The all-copper construction solves two problems. First, there is zero risk of core-jacket separation, which plagues semi-jacketed and even some bonded designs at high impact velocities. Second, the bullet is completely lead-free, which matters in California and other states with lead ammunition restrictions for hunting. The XPB design penetrates deeper than any lead-core bullet of the same weight because it does not lose mass during expansion. Where a 140gr lead-core JHP might retain 80-90% of its weight, the Barnes keeps all 140 grains driving forward.

This load is built for hunters who want maximum penetration from a .357 Mag revolver or lever-action rifle. The deep, straight-line penetration makes it effective on tough-skinned game like wild boar and javelina where a standard soft point might stop short. It is also the right choice for anyone hunting in states with lead-free ammunition requirements. The trade-off for that deep penetration is a slightly lower muzzle energy than lead-core options at the same weight, since copper is less dense than lead and the bullet takes up more case volume. For hunters who value a bullet that stays in one piece through the toughest shots, the Barnes VOR-TX is the top option in .357 Mag.