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S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present All NON-PINNED Barrels, the L-Frames, and the New Era Revolvers


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Old 08-08-2018, 05:35 PM
yep380 yep380 is offline
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Range report: Federal HST 38+p 130gr and S&W 442 Range report: Federal HST 38+p 130gr and S&W 442 Range report: Federal HST 38+p 130gr and S&W 442 Range report: Federal HST 38+p 130gr and S&W 442 Range report: Federal HST 38+p 130gr and S&W 442  
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Default Range report: Federal HST 38+p 130gr and S&W 442

For the past several years, my goto carry round in 38 has been Remington Golden Saber 125gr +p. The Golden Saber did pretty well in the Lucky Gunner tests (https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/rev...llistics-test/), they're widely available and relatively inexpensive. The recoil with the Golden Saber in an airweight is stout - you don't want to shoot a lot of these.

I've been intrigued by the Federal HST 38+p 130gr Micro since they were introduced. I've always liked wadcutter style bullets. In fact, most of my reloading of 38 cal these days is with wadcutters. Also, I carry 9mm 124gr HST (non +p) in my GLOCKs.

I finally saw the HST Micro 38 cal version for sale at a local Walmart and bought a box. After seeing several tests on them (including a Lucky Gunner test), I decided that I'd carry them if they shot well in my 442.



I went to the range today to test for aim and function (I knew they'd function, more to see where they hit). I shot from 7 yards, two-handed standing at a comfortable pace (not slow fire, but not rushed). In the first attached target you can see they grouped well. The top three holes were the first three shots... then I started pushing a bit and the low two shots are the result.

I then shot with my reload wadcutters, and the next two targets are the those. I put 100 rounds of my wadcutters through the gun and called it a day at the range.

The recoil on the HST was NOT bad at all. I think Federal really hit a home run with these rounds. They have done well in all the tests I've seen online, they group well and the recoil very manageable.

I came home, cleaned up the 442 and stoked the cylinders with 5 fresh Federal HST 38+p 130gr. Found my new carry round.
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Old 08-08-2018, 05:40 PM
jwk jwk is offline
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Range report: Federal HST 38+p 130gr and S&W 442  
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Is that a HBWC loaded upside down?
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Old 08-08-2018, 06:04 PM
yep380 yep380 is offline
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Range report: Federal HST 38+p 130gr and S&W 442 Range report: Federal HST 38+p 130gr and S&W 442 Range report: Federal HST 38+p 130gr and S&W 442 Range report: Federal HST 38+p 130gr and S&W 442 Range report: Federal HST 38+p 130gr and S&W 442  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jwk View Post
Is that a HBWC loaded upside down?
People online have described it as such.

If you look at it closely though, you'll see that it has pre-cut pedals and is manufactured like that. It's not an upside down hollow base wadcutter.
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Old 08-08-2018, 06:10 PM
4306 4306 is offline
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Pre scored Full jacket.
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Old 08-09-2018, 10:35 AM
yep380 yep380 is offline
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Range report: Federal HST 38+p 130gr and S&W 442 Range report: Federal HST 38+p 130gr and S&W 442 Range report: Federal HST 38+p 130gr and S&W 442 Range report: Federal HST 38+p 130gr and S&W 442 Range report: Federal HST 38+p 130gr and S&W 442  
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One thing about the federal hst rounds; they aren't easy to load with a speed strip or speedloader. If you carry a reload (and of course you should), fill it with a round nose hollow point bullet such as the golden saber.
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Old 08-09-2018, 12:49 PM
GeoJelly GeoJelly is offline
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Range report: Federal HST 38+p 130gr and S&W 442 Range report: Federal HST 38+p 130gr and S&W 442 Range report: Federal HST 38+p 130gr and S&W 442 Range report: Federal HST 38+p 130gr and S&W 442 Range report: Federal HST 38+p 130gr and S&W 442  
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Good review and good photos - Thanks! I’ve bought two boxes of these and have pretty much switched over in my revolvers. I especially like the lone bullet photo - i’ve been too cheap to pull a bullet on dollar-a-round ammo!
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Old 08-09-2018, 04:46 PM
yep380 yep380 is offline
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Range report: Federal HST 38+p 130gr and S&W 442 Range report: Federal HST 38+p 130gr and S&W 442 Range report: Federal HST 38+p 130gr and S&W 442 Range report: Federal HST 38+p 130gr and S&W 442 Range report: Federal HST 38+p 130gr and S&W 442  
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Originally Posted by GeoJelly View Post
Good review and good photos - Thanks! I’ve bought two boxes of these and have pretty much switched over in my revolvers. I especially like the lone bullet photo - i’ve been too cheap to pull a bullet on dollar-a-round ammo!
Yeah, they ain't cheap. I shot 5 to confirm where the hit with my gun. That's one thing that's nice about a carry revolver; you don't need to run 100 rounds of a particular ammo through it to confirm it cycles.

I'll pick up another box at some point just to have 'em. I don't plan on shooting many of 'em.
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