Federal Ammo Line of Bullets

From defensive ammunition to components for handloaders, company offers a bit of everything. I was in Minnesota for a deer hunt – specifically the Minnesota Governor’s Opening Weekend event – when my friend J.J. Reich suggested I amend my itinerary in order to pay a visit to the Federal plant in Anoka. J.J., you see, is the public relations manager for Federal Ammunition, and I didn't hesitate to accept his invitation.
"We can test all sorts of stuff: rifle, pistol, whatever you want to do." I have long been a fan of Federal ammunition – with all the different brands of bullets they load, in addition to their own fantastic designs – and it would be my first time shooting into ballistic gel.

We spent the afternoon with a good 1911 clone and some boxes of .45 ACP ammunition loaded with Federal's famous handgun bullets. We shot into bare gelatin, gelatin covered with clothing, and finally through some BROUGHT TO YOU BY gypsum sheetrock. While all are good bullets, I ended up with a particular favorite, and some of Federal's subsequent releases have paired up with their premium bullets very well. Let's take a look at Federal’s lineup of handgun bullets, available in both component and loaded form.

FEDERAL HYDRA-SHOK
For the last 30 years, the Federal Hydra-Shok has pretty much defined the defensive bullet. The brainchild of ballistic engineer Tom Burczynski, the Hydra-Shok was developed in an attempt to better the terminal ballistics of a standard cup-and-core jacketed bullet design, and it did exactly that. With a deep hollow cavity, and its signature center post – used to initiate expansion – the Hydra-Shok uses a skived copper jacket to create a large wound channel and give deep penetration. It is an accurate bullet, and has been depended upon by both law enforcement and civilians alike.

HYDRA-SHOK DEEP
The Hydra-Shok received a facelift in 2018 in order to better reach the FBI protocol penetration depths of 14 to 16 inches in 10-percent ballistic gel (I will assume that other folks saw less penetration in their tests than I did with the original Hydra-Shok). The center post was redesigned, and according to Federal, the revamp scored much better in the FBI protocol testing.

FEDERAL HST
A good designer/engineer never stops tinkering, and they are rarely ever satisfied; Burczynski came up with another winner when he designed the Federal HST. It was intended to provide unprecedented expansion without giving up any of the penetration of the Hydra-Shok. Well, long story short, Burczynski nailed it, and his HST is my personal favorite of the lot. The upset HST bullet looks like a metallic flower with razor blades for petals; the skived jacket and deep hollowpoint combine to give what I consider to be the consummate blend of terminal ballistics: deep penetration and excellent expansion, in an accurate and reliable load. It is this factory load that I carry daily in my .45 ACP, at 230 grains. Read the complete write up on Federal Ammo bullets.

HST

Federal is remarketing the evil Black Talon?

2 posted on 09/09/2019 5:47:53 AM PDT by Deaf Smith (When a Texan takes his chances, chances will be taken that's fore sure)

Although I own and shoot handguns, I’m more into long range rifle shooting. In 308 Winchester, Federal Gold Medal Match ammo is the standard by which all others are measured. Any 1 in 10” twist barrel .308 worth half a damn will shoot 168gr Federal Gold Medal Match ammo at one MOA or better. All of my guns will shoot that round at close to half MOA.

My experience concurs with yours. Fed premium gold SMK 168 is what I measure all my 308 handloads against.

4 posted on 09/09/2019 6:04:46 AM PDT by Magnum44 (My comprehensive terrorism plan: Hunt them down and kill them.)

“Federal is remarketing the evil Black Talon?”

I still have a box of the original in .45.

5 posted on 09/09/2019 6:11:24 AM PDT by Lurker (Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is.)

Alwaya liked using federal primers, tend to be softer than cci and fewer light strike ftf’s in really cold weather weather especially

Federal HST is widely considered the best defensive handgun ammunition.

I’ve got black talons in my walther.

8 posted on 09/09/2019 7:32:51 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)

HST
Federal is remarketing the evil Black Talon?

No sarc, Federal has already remarketed the evil Black Talon under the Ranger-T name, without the black oxide coating on the copper jacket.

9 posted on 09/09/2019 8:26:15 AM PDT by Yo-Yo ( is the /sarc tag really necessary?)

10 posted on 09/09/2019 8:28:13 AM PDT by Yo-Yo ( is the /sarc tag really necessary?)

Except the HST (Honky Simulated Talon???) isn’t black. Federal eliminated black. Federal is racist. :>)

11 posted on 09/09/2019 8:38:45 AM PDT by Ancesthntr ("The right to buy weapons is the right to be free." A. E. van Vogt, The Weapons Shops of Isher)

Oh, then Winchester is racist. :>)

12 posted on 09/09/2019 8:40:05 AM PDT by Ancesthntr ("The right to buy weapons is the right to be free." A. E. van Vogt, The Weapons Shops of Isher)

13 posted on 09/09/2019 10:18:07 PM PDT by matthew fuller ( Trump's new immigration policy- Manifest Destiny!)

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