Federal HST Micro

[Erich]

I've had a box for a few months now, but I keep forgetting to take it to the range to see how it does from my little .38s (so I just keep using the Speer short barrel 135-gr +P and Winchester 130-gr PDX). Tomorrow I hope to get out to the range - maybe I'll remember this ammo and the chrono . . . here's hoping, anyway.

 

[Doug M.]

While the old FBI load is not bad, it is 40+ year old technology. If you are not seeking out and reading Dr. Roberts' materials, you are missing the mark.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I've had a box for a few months now, but I keep forgetting to take it to the range to see how it does from my little .38s (so I just keep using the Speer short barrel 135-gr +P and Winchester 130-gr PDX). Tomorrow I hope to get out to the range - maybe I'll remember this ammo and the chrono . . . here's hoping, anyway.

Your results will be interesting. I've shot 20 rounds of this ammo through my Kimber K6. It shot to point of aim and grouped well.

 

[riverrat38]

I have been caring it in my M442, but not shooting it!
Was down to my last 5 rounds, until I found some at Walmart.
Seems to group as well as I can shoot, at about POA.
Recoil not too bad.
I practice with 125 gr plated over a starting load of HP-38.
My old hands are not up to too much of any kind of plus P, for long.

Best,
Rick

 

[Erich]

Well, meh.

It shot fine, but wasn't as accurate from my 2.1" 640-1 as either my homemade defensive wadcutter load or the old standby Winchester PDX 130-gr +P. I doubt the bullet is more magicky than the PDX or the Gold Dot load, so . . . meh. Glad to have another horse on the track, for sure, though.

Range 5950'>sea level, c. 83 degrees F, c. 40% humidity:

First, just for kicks, I ran some .38 Spl +P 125-grain handloads (Berry's plated bullets, 9.8 gr 2400, Fed SPP), which did M 854.9/S 60.64/D 24.41.

Next the Federal HST Micro 130-gr +P rounds that are the focus of this thread: M 838.9/S 29.40/D 12.80. Shot okay, but not a group with any wow factor.

More impressive (and slightly more accurate from this gun) were the Winchester PDX 130-gr +P Ranger loads: M 902.0/S 60.61/D 24.71.

Most accurate were my handloaded Defensive Wadcutter rounds (5.1 gr Unique/TVB hardcast 148-gr): M 934.0/S 59.64/D 24.22.

They'd all be fine. Again, not blown away by the new Federal loading, but glad there's another horse on the track.

 

[rangemeister]

I switched from the Speer Short barrel +p to the Federal HST +p primarily due to recoil in my 340. BY the way, do not shoot 158 357 out of a J frame scandium, for me it was a BIG mistake!

 

[rwsmith]

It would probably be more reliable.....

...to buy it off the net rather that hoping the LGS will stock it.

 

[Ranger514]

Thanks for the reports. Yesterday, I picked up some HST Micro in 9mm, as well as .38+P for range work. Worth checking out.

 

[hkcavalier]

UPDATE: Found a lab test from Lucky Gunner where the Federal Micro 130 +P .38 Spl did very well in 2" and 4" tests.
Have a look for yourself: http://smith-wessonforum.com/redire...nner.com/labs/revolver-ballistics-test/#38spl

Aaaaand this is why I carry this in my 442-1. The picture with the expanded projectiles is particularly telling. It is the modernized "flying ashtray" like the old backward hollow base wadcutter.

All this "I'm not sure how it really would work" is nonsense when there's data like what Luckygunner has put together. Sure , it's more expensive than LRN or semi-wadcutter ammo, but I'm not sure why anyone would skimp on their carry ammo?

Sure, the old ammo works...it consistently puts .36 wide holes in targets. The HST expands to .73...the same diameter as a 12g shotgun slug. Let that sink in for a minute.

 

[Capn]

If I were to ever run out of the 135 grain Gold Dots, and couldn't replenish, I would probably give these a go as soon as anything else currently available.

 

[HamHands]

Well, meh.

It shot fine, but wasn't as accurate from my 2.1" 640-1 as either my homemade defensive wadcutter load or the old standby Winchester PDX 130-gr +P. I doubt the bullet is more magicky than the PDX or the Gold Dot load, so . . . meh. Glad to have another horse on the track, for sure, though.

Range 5950'>sea level, c. 83 degrees F, c. 40% humidity:

First, just for kicks, I ran some .38 Spl +P 125-grain handloads (Berry's plated bullets, 9.8 gr 2400, Fed SPP), which did M 854.9/S 60.64/D 24.41.

Next the Federal HST Micro 130-gr +P rounds that are the focus of this thread: M 838.9/S 29.40/D 12.80. Shot okay, but not a group with any wow factor.

More impressive (and slightly more accurate from this gun) were the Winchester PDX 130-gr +P Ranger loads: M 902.0/S 60.61/D 24.71.

Most accurate were my handloaded Defensive Wadcutter rounds (5.1 gr Unique/TVB hardcast 148-gr): M 934.0/S 59.64/D 24.22.

They'd all be fine. Again, not blown away by the new Federal loading, but glad there's another horse on the track.

I usually carry a 3" M29 or a 3" M629 with 200gr Gold Dots from Underwood. However, when I can't risk the possibility of being spotted carrying I carry one of my M36's. I reverse these hollow base WC's and tune them to run @round 850fps for a wonderfully destructive loading. Buy a 100 and try them for yourself!
152 Grain Hollow Base Wadcutter (.359) [359-152-HBWC] - $16.00 : Matts Bullets

 

[Erich]

I've never found reversed hollow base wadcutters to actually be all that useful, even though I've seen the articles of people doing it since I started reading gun magazines in the Seventies. The modern hollow points work great, though I've got nothing in particular against a good old fashioned hardcast bullet (like the Tennessee Valley Bullets ones I use in my defensive wadcutter loading that I've been discussing here for more than a dozen years).

 

[eb07]

I recently saw this Federal ammo on this forum, Looked interesting, so i tried to order some from Midway, they advertised it as Federal HST Micro 129gr this was not +P.
I cannot find this ammo anywhere now, it seams to have changed to 130gr and is +P now. There is no sign of the original ammo.
Anyone see the original post???

150 in stock: 38 Special Ammo - Federal HST Personal Defense Micro 130gr JHP - 20 Rounds

if anyone is interested

 

[dickydalton]

I didn't get 15 FPS difference between the Speer Gold Dots and the HST's out of my model 36 and the HST recoiled less.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I just think that a 38 snub nose shooting JHP bullets, needs at least....
880fps and I would feel a lot better if they did 905fps, for the pedals to fold back, 99% of the time.

Calling the "Micro" 38 a +P load at just 820fps is skating on thin ice
in my mind.

However the low recoil, is a GOOD thing.

 

[Erich]

Calling the "Micro" 38 a +P load at just 820fps is skating on thin ice
in my mind.

I'm not sure what that has to do with the price of tea in China.

SAAMI requires its members to list the pressure of the load being sold correctly, so I would assume the pressure of this loading is in the ".38 Special +P" range, regardless of the velocities it produces in a given gun.


Incidentally, I wound up putting this load in a Model 36 snub I keep around the house, just because the gun was out at the same time as this box of ammo. I'm sure it'll do fine if called upon.