.45 Hydra Shok

rwsmith · Oct 9, 2023

I was watching Autumn and her Armory today, she was loving a .45 Colt 1911 and shot Federal Hydra Shoks into targets included several soda bottles. The third one stopped it and when she pulled it out it looked like a button mushroom. That sucker was HUGE!. I don't think they got around to measuring it but I'd sure like to know what the result was.

Dave Baird · Oct 9, 2023

We used to call them flying ashtrays back in the day.

Mike SC Hunter · Oct 9, 2023

Killed a running buck with my 1911 loaded with 45 HS's......Went in left shoulder.......Pass through.....Nicked right leg on way out......20 feet sideways running shot in a cutdown......Bang----Flop.

robertrwalsh · Oct 10, 2023

Those were considered a very good anti-personnel round.

mscampbell2734 · Oct 10, 2023

The Hydra-Shok was NOT the flying ashtray, that was the 200 gr Speer JHP load, which would not feed in most unmodified Colt 1911s.

The Hydra-Shok 230 gr load was the standard LAPD SWAT and SIS load until about 2000 give or take, when it was phased out in favor of the Winchester Ranger 230 gr load.

stansdds · Oct 10, 2023

mscampbell2734 is correct. The flying ashtray/flying ashcan was the old Speer 200 grain JHP. It had an absolutely massive, gaping maw of a hollow cavity. It's short, blunt profile also made it a nearly guaranteed feed ramp jam in a Model 1911 that had the old style barrel feed ramp that was designed for ball ammo.
The Hydra Shok developed a little bit of a spotty reputation for the cavity plugging around the central post and then acting more like a FMJ, which is why we now have the HST design. Federal's HST, the Speer Gold Dot, and the Winchester Ranger T are all better bullet designs than the old Hydra Shok.

.38SuperMan · Oct 10, 2023

I have some of the Speer and have them in full moons for my 625. Problem solved.

stansdds · Oct 10, 2023

My Google-fu is working for me today. I found a picture of the original Speer Lawman 45ACP 200 grain JHP round.

jem102 · Oct 10, 2023

I carried the Federal Hydra Shok for years in .38 Spec, .357 Mag and .45 acp. They enjoyed a good rep at the time and were in use by law enforcement. Newer rounds have come along but the Hydra Shok is still in the lineup all these years later and there was also a 210 gr. .45 acp version. "I" would not hesitate to carry them... IIRC the original design came from Super Vel started by Lee Juras and I believe two other gentleman.

Rule3 · Oct 10, 2023

stansdds said:
My Google-fu is working for me today. I found a picture of the original Speer Lawman 45ACP 200 grain JHP round.

I have two boxes of the ashtrays Speer Part #4477
100 in box has a price tag on them $11.99

Bullets only)

Have no idea if I even paid that or when I bought them (would have been at my friends pawn/gun shop a long time ago.)
Don't know why I still have them or all the othersin that box of SD bullets

PALADIN85020 · Oct 10, 2023

I still have some of those HS wonder-rounds - they pair nicely with this classic Smith & Wesson 645!

John

K-22 · Oct 10, 2023

Feed’em

PALADIN85020 said:
I still have some of those HS wonder-rounds - they pair nicely with this classic Smith & Wesson 645!

John

And, that 645, will feed’em, all day long.

Dump1567 · Oct 10, 2023

They were my carry .45 acp round prior to the HST line. And were a top "one shot stop" round back in the day (if you subscribe to such data).

pharmer · Oct 10, 2023

stansdds said:
mscampbell2734 is correct. The flying ashtray/flying ashcan was the old Speer 200 grain JHP. It had an absolutely massive, gaping maw of a hollow cavity. It's short, blunt profile also made it a nearly guaranteed feed ramp jam in a Model 1911 that had the old style barrel feed ramp that was designed for ball ammo.

Just for reference. Joe

StrawHat · Oct 10, 2023

I still have several moon clips loaded with the 230 grain Hydra Shock ammunition. And somewhere I also have several hundred of the Speer 200 grain HP, not sure why except way back then, they probably looked “cool” to me.

Now, I am a believer in full wadcutter bullets at hardball velocity.

Kevin

SnidelyWhiplash · Oct 11, 2023

Most any .45 ACP round is a formidable defense round as long as you do your job and place it where it can do the most good.

The best .45 ACP bullets are only marginally better than others...the differences are basically more academic than practical.

The 11th Commandment..."They All Fall to Hardball". At least that's what I've heard.

stansdds · Oct 11, 2023

There is also the fact that a 9x19mm may kill a man, but the 45 ACP will also kill his soul.

SnidelyWhiplash · Oct 11, 2023

.45 ACP...Because shooting twice is just silly.

Racer X · Oct 11, 2023

mscampbell2734 said:
The Hydra-Shok was NOT the flying ashtray, that was the 200 gr Speer JHP load, which would not feed in most unmodified Colt 1911s.

The Hydra-Shok 230 gr load was the standard LAPD SWAT and SIS load until about 2000 give or take, when it was phased out in favor of the Winchester Ranger 230 gr load.

dd they switch to the Ranger "talon" derivative? I have a 3" RIA in 45acp and need a carry round. I remember the 9mm 127 +P and +P+ Ranger rounds.

biku324 · Oct 11, 2023

NMSP carried the 45 ACP Hydra Shock in 4506s and 4566s from '91-'92 until they switched to 357 Sig several years later. No one on either end complained about the performance.

.45 Hydra Shok

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