I'm curious to know what advantages there might be to using a 200gr hardcast bullet versus either a 200gr FMJ or JHP?

The hardcast gives you deep penetration and will not expand, the xtp gives moderate penetration but opens up for more damage. As far as hardcast vs fmj, I'm not sure of all the performance differences. I hear that the Hardcast will usually produce slightly higher velocities in the same weight bullet over fmj.

Patrice said

The only real advantage is the hardcast are cheaper to produce therefore cost savings, copper gliding metal jacket is expensive but there advantage is no leading of the barrel, they will hold up to the higher pressures of high velocity loadings, the newer plated bullets don't do as well with this. The newer plated bullets can shed the plating, shear off in the rifling depending on the quality and thickness of the plating. Hollow Points are designed to take advanage of hydraulic forces of the water in the tissues to open up and expand the bullet to expend all its energy in a given target.

I cast my own bullets for every caliber I own and some I don't, I can vary the alloy to make them harder for deep penatration and less expansion or I can make them softer for expanding capabilities, such as the Lyman Devastator Hollow Points for 10mm/40cal @ 156gr and the 9mm/357 @ 125gr. Some day I may get a 45cal weapon. Great care needs to taken with bullet lubes and bullet diameters for bore fit, at velocities conducive to help with leading problems. Bullet lubes can produce smoke which can foul things up. Lead and lead alloys can be hazardous to people in closed enviroment such as shooting ranges, this has caused some concerns, lead bullets out in the environment is not as hazardous as the "green community" would have you believe. People had used lead bullets for many years with great success.

It is one thing to wring out the highest velocities for a bullet, but working within a certain parameter to maintain accuracy and performance is a balance I stride for.

It depends on my personal needs more than anything. For supreme bone crushing penetration on large beasts I want hard cast. For very decent penetration and expansion, I want the HP.
Tough call in the end as both are good rounds.
TG

Hardcast bullets can leave lead in the barrel. Jacketed bullets leave much less copper. I have heard about the lead building up the barrel and becoming a problem with other pistol calibers. Personally I would rather shoot a jacketed bullet in my guns.

As for the penetration question, unless I am hunting in wide open spaces I prefer the bullet to expand and remain in the target. I would not want to shoot an attacker and have the bullet over penetrate and kill an innocent.

For targets, hardcast are cheap as long as you are happy cleaning lead out of your barrel.