Federal Personal Defense Ammo

**.FourthFifth** · April 28th, 2009, 09:51 PM

Has anyone every heard of this ammo, Federal Personal Defense ammunition, jacketed hollow points obviously, but not other markings really... I picked up a box of the .45 230 grain stuff, since I did not have any other options and needs some ammo to carry.. Just wondering if there are any experiences, hearsay or reviews?

**.FourthFifth** · April 29th, 2009, 04:50 AM

Nobody familiar with this stuff?

**Jake Mc.** · April 29th, 2009, 05:08 AM

I carry those in my 45 and 9mm. They look just like the Federal Hydra Shoc's I bought last year, same package slightly different label. There are many many many threads comparing this round with others.

I won't get into what's best, or which brand is better. I'm no expert, and after all the discussion already done in other threads, it's pointless to do it again. I chose those because the guy who sold memy first pistol recommended them. I continue to carry those because a State Trooper friend of mine swears by them (that and habit I guess)

**LittleRedToyota** · April 29th, 2009, 10:59 AM

i bought some of those in 9mm once way back when. going from memory...

1. i think the bullets were hydrashoks which, imho, is a bad thing compared to the newer and better bullets available today (federal's HSTs or speer gold dot, etc.)

2. they say they are "low recoil". seems to me that also means "low velocity" which means "less reliable expansion" which means "less likely to dissuade the bad guy".

these are some issues i would research before deciding to use that ammo...and then i would opt for Federal HSTs, Speer Gold Dots, etc. instead.

**TXDMERC73** · April 29th, 2009, 11:12 AM

i have a few boxes of 9mm hydra shok personal defense, they are a pretty good bullet, i did research on penetration tests, the Hydrashok in 147gr beat the .45acp in all penetration tests .i keep 115gr GDHP in my 9mm and an extra clip filled with hydrashoks if i need extra shots,check out the fbi tests hydrashok did very well .

http://www.firearmstactical.com/ammo_data/45acp.htm

http://www.firearmstactical.com/ammo_data/9mm.htm

**LittleRedToyota** · April 29th, 2009, 11:18 AM

how old are those tests? i think you will be hard pressed to find any actual experts around today who say hydrashocks are among the best bullets available today.

penetration is not all that matters. reliable expansion matters, jacket separation (which is bad) matters, etc.

there is a reason why federal developed the HST instead of just sticking with hydrashocks.

**.FourthFifth** · April 29th, 2009, 03:33 PM

So the basically these are repackaged hydrashoks then, alright thanks. The only reason I picked them up was this is the first PD load I've seen in four weeks and I needed some PD ammo to carry in my glock, it'll do until this ammo shortage blows over I suppose.