New Federal Hydra Shok Deep

YkcorCal · Feb 24, 2020

Has anyone tried the new Federal Hydra Shok Deep in .45 ACP yet? Any first hand experience out there?

Bullet Weight 210 Grain
Bullet Type Jacketed Hollow-Point (JHP)
Ammo Casing Nickel-Plated Brass
Ammo Caliber .45 ACP (Auto)
Muzzle Velocity (fps) 980
Muzzle Energy (ft lbs) 448

Articles are saying this new round is an improvement on the classic Hydra-Shok bullet which cause it to penetrate to a depth of 15 inches in the FBI test protocol test.

Ivan the Butcher · Feb 24, 2020

I was happy with the original HS bullet. Columbus, Ohio PD carried them when they first went to 45's The accuracy was superb, the bad guys behaved like they'd been shot with a sludge hammer, the medical examiner proclaimed the bad guys very dead. But the FBI insisted they were not good enough. I believe they made their "Protocols" fit a preconceived idea!

All that being said, if you want 3 more inches of penetration and roughly the same foot pounds of paper energy, they should make everyone you shoot very glad you cared enough to shoot the very best.

Question: Just how thick are the bad guys the FBI is shooting?

Ivan

YkcorCal · Feb 24, 2020

Ivan, as I sit here the only .45 ACP ammo I have in "my" personal ammo can is the original Federal Hydro-Shok. Now that I have a 4" .45ACP revolver I am "re-evaluating" the modern .45 ACP self defense loads.

Ivan the Butcher · Feb 24, 2020

When I walk in the woods, I carry a 45! Either a self built 1911 or a S&W1917 Brazilian Contract (I think of it as a 5" Mountain Gun). All 8 of my 45's shoot ball and Hydra-shoks to the POA. I also have a Marlin Camp 45 that is sighted in for 230 grain HS with a 50 yard zero. I have never need to shoot any 2 legged transgressor, but have sent a number or 4 legged transgressors to their great reward. One shot devastation on 30 pound critters is no test of a personal defense round, but the several years Col. PD carried them is/was a very good test!

Out of the 25 or so 45's I have owned, I only had one that wouldn't shoot 230 gr HS to the sights. I was a bizarre Springfield Armory massively compensated target pistol that did shoot 185 Winchester STHP to the sights. We only have 2 9mm's in the house my wife carries 124 gr and I carry 147 gr STHPs. I did a great deal of experimenting on STHP bullets in the 80's in 32ACP, 380, 38 Spec. reg & +P, 357, 9mm, 45ACP & 45 Colt, and found them to be very effective, Hydra Shok 230's are the only other round that has lived up to the tests I use. (my life, my tests!)

Ivan

Echo40 · Feb 25, 2020

Ivan the Butcher said:
Question: Just how thick are the bad guys the FBI is shooting?

Ivan

FBI/IWBA Testing Protocols are meant to duplicate an absolute worst case scenario in which an armed perpetrator is inside of a vehicle or behind cover, is holding a weapon in such a way that his firearms are blocking his chest, and wearing multiple layers of heavy clothing as one might be in the dead of Winter in order to insure that the ammunition tested will work in virtually any situation.

That's why they call for 12"-18" of penetration.
Also, Ballistics Gel is merely a tissue simulant which doesn't account for bones, ergo it isn't a perfect 1:1 representation of the human body nor how bullets will behave inside of one, and thus 12"-18" in Gel =/= 12"-18" inside of a human body.

ContinentalOp · Feb 25, 2020

So, they basically came up with a new round that performs like the time-tested HST...?

YkcorCal · Feb 25, 2020

ContinentalOp said:
So, they basically came up with a new round that performs like the time-tested HST...?

Well, you could say they came up with a new round specifically designed to perform to the FBI testing standard be that a good or bad thing depending on your view point.

You are not going to get me to knock the HST as it is one of the best rounds going.

I watched a factory spokesman say the new Hydra-Shok Deep is more consistent in depth of penetration than the HST but for consistent expansion you can't beat the HST. So, I guess you pick what is most important to you for now and time will tell the tale on the streets. Watch the whole video below.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCOxJPQSSgs[/ame]

Peakes · Mar 11, 2020

I have it in both 45 and 9. Very good Round. I also mainly carry HST’s. Can’t go wrong with Either.

Culina · Mar 11, 2020

That looks promising, personally I settled on 200gr Gold Dots for the .45ACP

Browns fan · Mar 14, 2020

Golden Saber +P for me thank you decades of Proven reliability

S&W Fan · Mar 14, 2020

I have 3 .45 1911s, typically I carry the HST in them. I bought a couple boxes of the newer Deep rounds to try, they functioned perfectly and matched the accuracy I get with the HST. I'll buy whichever I find in my local shops.

New Federal Hydra Shok Deep

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