.38 Special test: Federal Punch vs Hydra-Shok Deep
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- čas přidán 18. 06. 2023
- Testing .38 Special +p Federal Hydra-Shok Deep and Punch through 3" Taurus model 605 through heavy clothing into homemade ballistic gel. Do these top end offerings by Federal perform? Is there a clear winner between the two? Watch for results.
This was a great test. Thank you.
I will never understand Federal business planning. They literally make the finest mass produced ammo available. However, the choices they make are insanely stupid. For YEARS we asked for 38 spl +P HST. They finally give it to us, but then the "+P" moniker was laughable; barely 10% greater than standard pressure. Nevertheless, it was still the best available. Then... DISCONTINUE.
The 9mm 147 grain +P HST was the greatest hollow point made. It was tested by more people and proven over and over again to not only be greater than any other manufacturer, but also the best variant of 9mm HST. Then... DISCONTINUE.
Federal made the greatest defensive shotgun load ever made the Premium #1 Buck Flight Control, (LE1321B). It was so popular that stores were not breaking open cases, and selling the cases whole. Again, the loading was tested over and over again with undeniable results that it was the absolute perfect compromise of penetration and wound capacity. Then... DISCONTINUE.
I asked them directly about it. They claimed that it didn't sell well. When I told them that I was NOT uninformed and that dealers were selling it by the case, they said "the sales dropped off". Well... duh. If you don't make it, it's kind of hard to sell it.
I asked about the 9mm 147 grain +P and the 38 spl HST. Same story, they didn't sell. Ludicrous.
Yet they continue to pour out case after case of 30 STUPID Carry in HST. The dealers around me say that they were forced to buy it to fulfill there minimum order quantities for the year. Yet they STILL have the very first shipment they ever received sitting on the shelves... along with the pistols that no one wants.
How can one company make the greatest mass produced ammo in the history of metallic cartridges, yet be so stupid with there decisions?
I think it is more along the lines of gun grabber gun companies not wanting the masses to have effective ammo. Just like 40sw going away. Also seems the government trying to offer cover purchasing millions of rounds of ammo even for the IRS.
Lol, for real! I'm only watching this video because I'm almost out of my old stock of 130gr HST 38Spl rounds that had been my carry choice for years.
Thanks for the test!
Thanks, very helpful! That is one of my calibers for EDC.
Thanks for the test. I already use fed. Punch 38sp 120gr. HP In Taurus 856 2"B Thanks Roger
A shame they stopped making the HST
I will never understand why they don't load 38 special and 357 magnum HST's.. can you imagine a hot 158 grain HST?? That would be an insanely perfect defensive round
Well they did have a 38 +p HST that they have since discontinued. It was basically an inverted wadcutter that penetrated to about 14-15" and expanded to almost 0.75". Tests I saw on that were impressive. Why they discontinued I don't know. As for the 357 mag, Federal announced they were coming out with I think a 154 grain HST this year, but I have not seen it really available anywhere yet. Why they keep making and then discontinuing some of the best factory rounds I don't understand.
They do now. There is a 154 grain 357 Magnum HST available.
@@jameshood9694 yeah I heard about them as soon as they come out lol
Federal rolled out a 154 grain .357 HST.
Why they didn't go with this in a 125 or 130 grain in .357 mag is anyone's guess.
A 154 HST in .38 Special +P or +P+ might be a great load though.
Why ammo makers adhere to light for caliber bullets and non-+P or +P velocities in the majority of .38 Special defense loads?
I don't quite get.
Sticking with lightweight, low density bullets at non +P or +P velocities?
Just usually means that a 90 grain to 130 grain bullet will either disintegrate and have low penetration.
Or, if they hold together, they will be small, do minimal damage, and over penetrate.
Especially if they fail to expand.
Behaving more like mid-velocity, FMJ bullets.
Nice looking taurus! Wish I could find one around my local shop!
Thanks. It came with factory wood grips, but I replaced them with a different set. Here's a current listing of a site that has one that can be ordered: www.sportsmanfulfillment.com/taurus-guns-605-defender-357-mag-3-barrel-5-round-capacity/
The HydraShok Deep is the only round that my 1911 45 doesn't like. The 8 petal design has those sharp edges at the nose of the bullet which causes the round to have problems feeding up the ramp and into the chamber. I've got over 1500 rounds down range without a single malfunction and the very first shot with the Deep ammo caused a failure to feed. I was actually surprised since I have a forged steel, fully ramped match grade bull barrel. After a close inspection I have determined that the edges on the nose of the bullet are just sharp enough to drag on the feed ramp and keep the round from feeding reliability into the chamber. I checked on Ammoseek and they've got plenty of HSTs in 45 acp in stock. I'm going to get as many boxes of those as I can afford. The HST is the best carry round made in my opinion.
Honestly I haven't tested the deeps in any automatics yet. Can't find them at all locally and when I do see them online they approach $2/round.
A lot of people complained that the hst in .38 special was difficult to do a quick reload because of the bullet design. And they also complained about the plastic case they were sold in. Those may be some of the reasons for the hydra shok deep. It looks like it performed well here so I don’t know why everybody is pining for the discontinued stuff.
I prefer the 50 round HST packaging and though I never actually tried these rounds, the tests I've seen on them have all been impressive. Still waiting for the 357 mag HST to become available, though Federal has been dragging their feet on that round too it seems.
I rotate between federal punch speer gold dot and corbon dpx in my J frames but in my model 15 combat masterpiece with a 4 inch barrel I keep buffalo bore's FBI load.
I’d love to see these tested from a sub 2” barrel.
Currently I don't own one, but it is on my list of 'wants' along with a 9mm carbine and a few other things.
👍!
I'd say that they all would be effective with a decent placement.
Bump
I have hydro shock deep in 9mm
Can't find any rounds for a decent price. Looks like good rounds, but HST can be found for under $0.60 per round right now in 9mm.
Federal lists the 38 special 130 grain +p HST on their website.
It does, but it's flagged as 'discontinued'. I haven't seen it actually available for sale anywhere in probably over a year. I'd be the first to buy some if the start selling them again.
@NorthwoodsTesting they're supposed to be coming out with HST 357 Mag but it's never available...yet I keep seeing tests for 327 Federal HST...Federal needs to get their you know what together lol
@@magnum_0710 copy that👍
@@zed9955 never heard of that company/ doesn't come up on ammoseek or other search pages. I will look into ordering some though.
@@magnum_0710 I read about those 357 HST rounds. I seen a few times when companies supposedly had them 'in stock', but when I called it was really the 357 SIG HSTs.
Bump