Federal's new load

[mjbreivogel]

Here is MrGunsnGear test of the new HST

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

I shot some last week through my model 49 and I was very please with accuracy and recoil. The recoil was lighter then some of the FMJs I was shooting at the same time. Its what is staying in my 49 now.

 

[REM 3200]

I posted this elsewhere in this forum, my previous test results:

Federal 38spl + P HST Micro

Well I had a chance to chronograph this ammo. At about a buck a round, I only shot five through each of three guns. Not truly scientific with such a small sample, but it appears to be right on for factory claims regarding consistency of velocity, but in my 2" & 3" guns the velocity is well below the factory published number of 890 fps. I do not see on Federals website what barrel length or type they are using for their numbers.

2" S&W M337:
High 800 fps
Low 799 fps
Yes, a total for five shots of 1 fps variance.

3" Custom Colt Agent:
High 859 fps
Low 855 fps
Extreme spread of 4 fps.

4" S&W M67:
High 889 fps
Low 885 fps
Extreme spread of 4 fps.

Just for a control group, I then fired five Federal 148gr HBWC Gold Metal Match through the M67 for an average velocity of 753 fps and an extreme spread of 26 fps and a standard deviation of 10 fps. This M67 will shoot into 3.5" at 50 yards with the FGMM ammo off of sandbags.

Ammo lot # R12P1394144 Federal Premium P38HST1S 130gr HSP JHP 130gr

I found it. A 4 inch, but they didn't say if it was a vented test bbl., a non-vented bbl. or a revolver.

 

[Fox4506]

I shot a box of this today. I was surprised at the light recoil for a +P (supposedly) round. The recoil I experienced from the round was less than what I was getting from 158 grain SWC rounds from Georgia Arms...and they list their velocity as 775 fps.

With the large hollowpoint on these new rounds I think they might do well for self defense.

Fox

 

[reddogs]

F224 chronograph results is what i would expect.I really like the way the hst mushroom in the test of many calibers.First i heard of the 38 round here.Thanks for sharing.

 

[Autonomous]

I suspect this ammo, like full wadcutters, will be difficult to insert with a speed-loader.

 

[Autonomous]

What I like about this article, is that it seems to vindicate the concept of using the inverted hollow base wadcutter for self defense. I realize that this new offering IS jacketed, but the fact remains, the idea of using the cylindrical wadcutter for self defense as advanced by handloaders almost 50 years ago (or more) is being given credibility!

I wonder how many people that load wadcutters upside down take into account cartridge pressures created by the radically reduced internal volume?

 

[Dpris]

The case isn't tapered.
Denis

 

[Autonomous]

The case isn't tapered.
Denis

Correct, I misread. The jacket profile is tapered.

 

[Dpris]

Not really tapered, as such, to any degree that'd affect chamber loading.

The bullet nose extends maybe 1/32nd of an inch outside the case mouth, and the jacket is slightly rolled into the nose of the hollowpoint.

That slight roll wouldn't have anything to do with chambering.
Denis

 

[Autonomous]

A few articles state the jacket profile is tapered. Is that a fancy way of saying the cartridge has been crimped?

 

[Dpris]

Sitting here with close-up glasses on, a magnifying glass, and a bright flashlight, the case mouth is very minutely crimped, and the forward edge of the bullet jacket is slightly rolled into the lead edge of the HP cavity.

I wouldn't use the word "tapered" to describe either.

The case mouth still provides enough edge to potentially hang up on a chamber mouth on insertion with speedloaders.

The bullet nose is rolled inward away from the case mouth roughly the same 1/32nd of an inch that the nose extends beyond the case mouth.

The case mouth edge does not touch the bullet.
I can't see any deeper into the case below the section of bullet nose that's rolled inward, but there'd be no reason to taper the bullet or jacket "below the waterline".

Best I can tell, the bullet is full-diameter just inside the case mouth & just below where the jacket "crimp" begins.

The bullet nose & jacket are not visibly "tapered" and nothing I see about the cartridge configuration appears to be set up to aid chamber loading.

The rolled-in jacket at the nose would appear to be there simply to crimp the leading edge of the jacket to the leading edge of the lead, which you can find in other JHP bullet designs.
Denis

 

[Mark IV]

Sitting here with close-up glasses on, a magnifying glass, and a bright flashlight.....

LOL, I use that exact,identical system, more and more these days !!

 

[BigMoneyGrip]

If they say the jacket is tapered, I would assume that the jacket got thicker towards the bottom of the bullet. This would offer more control and support to the expanding bullet.

 

[Dpris]

That may easily be, but it's not visible & has no effect on chamber loading.
Denis

 

[WR Moore]

About some of the stats mentioned above. I used to study the NYPD Firearms Discharge Reports every time they came out. I've still got a couple floating around. With that in mind:

1. In the days of 2.? shots per engagement, they counted accidental/negligent discharges, suicides, putting down injured animals and, oh yeah, actual armed encounters. In short, every time some official firearm went "bang". That skewed the stats, so the system was changed.

2. Looking just at actual armed encounters, the range of average handgun shots per good guy/per bad guy runs 3.5-4.7 per shooting.

3. Looking just at actual armed encounters, the range of average handgun shots per good guy/per bad guy runs 6.?-8.? per gun fight.

4. Incidents involving multiple offenders/officers went above and beyond the above.

What I personally take from the above is that relying on 5-6 shots total isn't realistic. BTW, for those of us in rural areas, help can be a long way away in either/both distance and time. Extra ammo can be very comforting.

Over a long career I was issued/carried .38 Spl, .357 Magnum (125 gr Federal JHP), .40 S&W, .45 ACP, 9 mm & 10 mm (both full strength and down loaded). What I learned from that was that if you put bullets into vital system/structures, it didn't matter what you used. On the other hand, if you didn't hit vital systems/structures, it also didn't matter which one you used.