Federal 357 magnum HST. Fact or Fiction?

[bigt5150]

I saw that Federal came out with a new HST load in 357 magnum. Federal's website listed a 154 grain HST bullet travelling at 1340 fps from a 4 inch test barrel. This sounds pretty awesome but I have yet to find any place that has it in stock after 4 months of searching. Anyone have any experience with this load? Sounds like a great self defense/hunting round.

Thanks,

" I'd rather die on my feet than live on my knees!"

 

[stansdds]

Federal's HST line is well known for being good self defense and law enforcement ammo. It generally passes the FBI standards for penetration without over penetrating and expands well. This is great for use against homo-sapiens, but probably expands too rapidly to make it a good hunting load.

 

[bigwheelzip]

For SD/HD I use Federal's personal defense ammo lineup exclusively, in calibers from .380 to 12ga. For .357, I still have stock of their discontinued 125gr. C357B, but would be interested in this new offering.

Sent from my motorola one 5G using Tapatalk

 

[LVSteve]

Federal's website listed a 154 grain HST bullet travelling at 1340 fps from a 4 inch test barrel. \

That should get the attention of the parties at both ends of the shoot.

 

[JonE406]

Pretty much looks like XTP in the photo.. so far can't find a gel test to actually see when shot. Until then I still carry the 125-gr

 

[alwslate]

That velocity from a 4" actual revolver is more realistic for a 125 gr JHP. actual chronographed velocity from a real 4" revolver with 154 JHP is likely to be more like 1250-1275 fps. Years ago I chronographed the famed Winchester 145 gr Silvertip ammo from one of my 4" 27-s. Very poor quality control for "premium" high priced ammo. Five shots had an extreme spread of 1225 fps to 1330 fps. Over 100 fps spread in only five shots.

 

[stansdds]

Pretty much looks like XTP in the photo.. so far can't find a gel test to actually see when shot. Until then I still carry the 125-gr

Not the same bullet. The HST bullet's skives are cut almost to the crimp cannelure.

 

[Buzzzer]

I heard about this last year and, so far, seems to be a ghost load by Federal. With ammo still being in short supply for wheelguns seems that most "major" manufacturers are still trying to keep with other calibers. I'd be very interested if, indeed, I saw it actually show up somewhere...

 

[Nevada Ed]

That velocity from a 4" actual revolver is more realistic for a 125 gr JHP. actual chronographed velocity from a real 4" revolver with 154 JHP is likely to be more like 1250-1275 fps. Years ago I chronographed the famed Winchester 145 gr Silvertip ammo from one of my 4" 27-s. Very poor quality control for "premium" high priced ammo. Five shots had an extreme spread of 1225 fps to 1330 fps. Over 100 fps spread in only five shots.

Yes, that is a poor example of a good ES, but

any .357 bullet of 125 grs or more past 1220fps is going to work.

Being 154 grs and a HST design, makes me think that it will be just plumb handy.

 

[alwslate]

Yes, that is a poor example of a good ES, but

any .357 bullet of 125 grs or more past 1220fps is going to work.

Being 154 grs and a HST design, makes me think that it will be just plumb handy.

Yep and a cheap make it yourself handload of a 158 gr hard cast SWC at an easy 1300 fps out of a 4" barrel is going to be just plumb handy dandy also

 

[colt_saa]

I saw that Federal came out with a new HST load in 357 magnum. Federal's website listed a 154 grain HST bullet travelling at 1340 fps from a 4 inch test barrel. This sounds pretty awesome but I have yet to find any place that has it in stock after 4 months of searching. Anyone have any experience with this load? Sounds like a great self defense/hunting round.

That velocity is from a 4" test barrel, not a 4" revolver.

Test barrels have no Barrel/Cylinder gap. So advertised velocities are higher than in the real world

Some companies use a vented test barrel to simulate the loss that occurs at the B/C gap

 

[The Mighty S&W]

While I am a fan of the Federal HST line of ammunition, and use it in my 9mm pistols, let us not lose sight of the fact that we are talking about .357 Magnum here. One of the benefits of choosing a .357 Magnum is not having to be quite as concerned about the specific load you’re running being a capable performer. Certainly we all have our favorites, and some loads do perform better than others. But, if you’re using factory loaded ammunition in .357 Magnum, you can be reasonably sure that you’ve brought “enough gun”.

I do hope to try some of this stuff if, and when it ever appears for sale somewhere accessible to me. I personally favor 158 grain loads over 125’s, and this offering is close enough. I’m sure they would perform well.

 

[sniper]

357 Magnum...again?

Comparing 357 Magnum loads is like comparing "slow" and "fast" freight trains...no matter the comparison, they are still freight trains!

 

[SDGlock23]

I've wondered about this too, love the HST round and use it in 9mm, .40 and .45 so yeah, my .357's would love it too.

 

[Shoebox1.1]

Comparing 357 Magnum loads is like comparing "slow" and "fast" freight trains...no matter the comparison, they are still freight trains!

EMD’s or GE’s? Lol. I’m a EMD man myself. Tall hood gp-9!

 

[shil]

I like SD45's!

 

[shil]

Interesting load. I just latched on to a couple of boxes of Federal 125 grain "Train and Protect" at what I thought was a reasonable price (for this age). I want to try them to compare with the classic 357B load, a quantity of which I jealously guard.

 

[The Mighty S&W]

Interesting load. I just latched on to a couple of boxes of Federal 125 grain "Train and Protect" at what I thought was a reasonable price (for this age). I want to try them to compare with the classic 357B load, a quantity of which I jealously guard.

I have a fairly decent stash of the 125 Train and Protect, and while it is a bit slower than the classic 125’s that have become legendary, it is pretty good stuff for what it is. There is at least one guy who has posted some tests of the stuff on YouTube, and it’s not bad for the money.

 

[shil]

Yep and a cheap make it yourself handload of a 158 gr hard cast SWC at an easy 1300 fps out of a 4" barrel is going to be just plumb handy dandy also

True, but what of the shooters who don't handload?

 

[ddixie884]

I think any full power .357 jhp 125gr and over should do the job. I wouldn't trust the 110gr as the penetration might not be there. JMHO-YMMV