Barnes VOR-TX loads a 200-grain XPB, a solid copper hollow point built for hunting, at 1,025 fps for 467 ft-lbs at the muzzle. Power factor is 205, 40 points over the 165 USPSA major floor. From a 25-yard zero it is 1.7 inches low at 50 yards and 12.5 inches low at 100. The brass case is reloadable, and the load carries no +P designation.

Two loads in its set are faster. Underwood's 225-grain Soft Cast HP leaves at 1,050 fps with 551 ft-lbs, 25 fps and 84 ft-lbs ahead, for about 32 percent more recoil energy in the same revolver. Corbon's +P 200-grain JHP is 75 fps and 70 ft-lbs ahead with about 13 percent more recoil; Corbon restricts it to revolvers rated for +P, so check yours. CCI Blazer 200-grain JHP is the closest match, 25 fps and 23 ft-lbs behind with about 4 percent less recoil. Fort Scott Munitions 225-grain TUI, the other solid copper bullet, is 156 fps and 90 ft-lbs behind for about 4 percent less recoil, and Hornady Critical Defense 185-grain FTX is 105 fps and 119 ft-lbs behind.

This is the load for a hunter who wants a copper bullet at standard pressure with more energy than any other 200-grain load here that is not +P. Anyone choosing for defense with less recoil can look at Underwood's Extreme Defender 135-grain, which makes 596 ft-lbs, 129 more than the Barnes, with about 21 percent less recoil energy in the same revolver. For practice or cowboy matches, Atomic's 200-grain LRNFP at 800 fps and 284 ft-lbs recoils about 33 percent less than the Barnes.