Hydra-shock bullets have been loaded into cartridges for decades, Mixup, and as you demonstrated, they remain a viable choice for their intended purpose.
Hello Noah. There is a good reason that Hydra Shok ammo has been around for decades, and I believe my video shows that it is just as effective as most modern ammo. As always, thank you for watching my videos.
There are a lot of fancy high tech bullets on the market. These have been around at least 30 years that I know of. there is a reason for that. They work.
What a nice handgun with the blue grips. I´ve got the Ruger SR1911 with the 5" barrel. My favorite handgun after my Sig P226 Mk25. Love my Ruger. Thanks for the video.
The 185 grain +P Remington Golden Saber is a very good self defense load. The only issue is jacket separation. I was issued the 9mm Hydrashok 124 grain +P+. One of my colleagues shot a large Hispanic male intoxicated and on drugs. Three COM hits. Two exits and the third bullet was under the skin on the opposite side. The department switched to the Winchester SXT 124 grain +P. It sure did more damage internally because of the sharp talons.
Hydra-Shok been great ammo since early 90s. Have heard keyboard experts disparaging it for yrs. Always worked fine in my 45s, 10mm, 40S&W, 9mm. Have preferred newer Gold Dot, HST, Hornady Critical Duty, Underwood Xtreme Defender last 5-6 yrs. But if I see Hydra-Shok at good price no qualms at all about purchasing/carrying it.
I've seen what the Gold Dots do to a person and what they look like after removal. Absolutely impressive. Perfect expansion and the copper is bonded to the lead with no loss of material. They are my go to for carry rounds.
@@Grizzleback07 Agreed. Only Gold Dot problems I’ve seen are 10 mm out of hot Underwood loads. At super velocities the bonding can break and bullets disintegrate. Not bad problem in my opinion. Massive damage but unacceptable to “ the experts “ Always carry their New York City 135 grain load in my 38 special snubby if carrying it.
I have carried hydro-shock In my 45,40,9 and 12 gauge deer slugs for over 15 years now I just love the expansion and velocity, but I also like the federal deep impact those are really good also. I have carried the hydro-shock for about 15 years now and the deep impact for about a year but both are great rounds from federal thanks for sharing this and try to stay cool out there lol
Extremely consistent, expansion, penetration and weight retention on those 5 recovered rounds. Impressive. I'm guessing the round that exited thorough the gel block and water bottle, had it's cavity blocked by the denim and flannel and failed to expand and thus acted like ball and over-penetrated.
Great photography as usual. I know the hst round is excellent but for less money the hydra is obviously excellent as well. Good on Federal for making quality products. Good on you too 98 for a great video.
Goodness what a chunk of lead! I'm still blown away by the denim test shots. I never thought it would have those effects. Thumbs up as always, good video ~John
Always been a fan of Hydra Shoks especially in 45 and 357. The controlled expansion and reliable penetration make me feel better about over penetration while dumping full energy into a target. In 45 i do prefer the 230 gr. Actually have never seen the 165 so i stick with what i know. Great video.
Very good performance for a low recoil round. I like the flannel in place of denim. a couple layers of fabric that is worn in your area make the most sense to me.
I love the .45 acp. I think Federal is one of the top ammo manufacturers in the US. I've carried Hydra Shocks for as long as I can remember. Would enjoy seeing a video of bullseye target shooting.That is where I got my start shooting .45 acp many years ago. I've seen some of your trophy's in past videos. You are quite an accomplished shooter. I miss the bullseye leagues. To old and shaky.
I've been carrying the federal 9mm 124 grain Hydra shocks I really like that load. When I used to carry a 1911 before I got too much arthritis in my hands I used to carry the 230 grainers.
Thanks for the review of this ammo. It's nice to see what happens to ammo after it's actually fired and not just go by what the manufacturer tells us. Stay cool and in the shade my friend. 🤠 👍
Another great video, brother! Good, old Hydra-Shoks! I carry them in my .357 and 9mm already but I'm definitely getting them for my .45 as well. Take it easy.
From the day I bought my Norinco 1911, my carry ammo has always been Gederal Hydra Shok. Early magazines that compiled statistics for 1 shot stops had the Hydra's from a 5" barrel at 100% 1 shot stop.
Long ago, when Hydra-Shok was still a relatively new name on the market, I discovered it would feed and function reliably AND was accurate. I have trusted my life to Hydra-Shok ammo in handguns ranging from 9mm, .38Spl/.357 Magnum, .40S&W, and .45ACP. I've "played around with" other brands and bullet designs over the decades but I always find myself returning to Hydra-Shok for serious work.
My old dept issued 230 gr Hydra-Shoks. Originally they issued the 185 Federal JHP, then, insanely, they issued FMJ (for 9mm too!). By then I'd switched from a Browing Hi-Power to a SIG P220 (way back when we could carry whatever we wanted within reason). When sanity resumed, we switched from FMJ to the Hydra-Shoks (9BPLE for 9mm). I never shot a human with it (thankfully) but I can tell you what they do to a good sized aggressive feral dog. In a word: Impressive. Frankly, better than hardball had performed on a large, problematic possum (long story). Through and through the chest (about half the width of an adult human male), leaving an exit about the size of a quarter. The coup-de-gras round to the back of the head I recovered and it expanded nicely (if irregularly due to bones). I went through 3 different .45 pistols in my career and now am down to 2. But I have a many boxes of the 230 gr Hydra-Shok and that's what is in both of my current .45s. In every test media we tried, they expanded just like those 165 grainers you tested. Great video, as always!
Good Gun-Good Ammo-Good Show!! According to Google Math a bullet going 800fps=500mph so the .45 is really not at all slow. Federal makes superior ammo along with a excellent 1911. 4 out of my 5 guns are from Ruger as is most of my ammo. Saving up to buy that there 1911 as i have seen only good reports on it. Keep up the great shows. I recommend your channel to many.
I hope you do buy a Ruger SR1911 someday. I love mine and wouldn't trade it for anything. Thank you for recommending my channel and I hope you have a great weekend.
Don't know how I missed this before... but I just watched it - enjoyed it like I always do your videos. I like the 230 gr Fed HST's for 45ACP... 165 just seems a little too light for 45 cal... the 230 grain HST's go more like 16-18" iirc and expand fully through clothing. Thanks and if you see this now, Merry Christmas!
I will try to find some HST 230 grain ammo and maybe do a review sometime next spring. I can't thank you enough for being a ten year subscriber to my channel....thank you and Merry Christmas.
Hydra - Shock ammo is a no go for me. I live in northern Michigan and layers of clothes are common apparel. Hydra - Shock ammo is a fare weather bullet. Thanks for review.
Hydra-Shok ammunition is an excellent choice for defensive use. I've tested it in several calibers and it has never failed to demonstrate expansion and weight retention virtually identical to what yours achieved in your demo. Back around 1983 or so, Hydra-Shok bullets were introduced for handloaders in a .38 caliber wadcutter design, non-jacketed, with a hollow front end and the little post in the middle. I remember buying some. Before that, we had been experimenting with loading hollow-base wadcutters backwards, so the hollow base was up front. They performed pretty well against water-filled milk jugs and such, but later designs by Federal gave better and more consistent bullet upset. Nice video! Stay safe out there - watch out for those flash floods!
I started reloading in the late '70s and I also loaded hollow-base wadcutters backwards. You're right, they did work great on water jugs, but I am guessing that they wouldn't penetrate very deep in a live target. It might make for an interesting test to shoot some in a block of gel though.
My first gun was a Ruger SR1911 .45 Government. It's my favorite gun to shoot. It's very accurate and the trigger is very nice. The recoil is downright pleasant. I don't shoot it often because of the price of .45 and I don't carry it because of what it means to me but every time I bring it out it feels right in my hands. For the price Ruger made a great shooter. I carry 9mm but I have to agree with the pundits, 9mm might expand but .45 won't shrink.
I was impressed by that consistency of expansion and penetration. You had the one pass-through that was most probably due to the hollow point getting plugged. If I can find some of this ammo I'll buy it! Thanks for the review.
I live in Las Vegas and am a fan of this channel. However, the bullet didn’t expand when shot through 4 layers of denim. Maybe I’m wrong but that seems like it failed to me. I wouldn’t want to carry this knowing that if the bad guy is wearing a thick jacket that my bullets won’t expand and will over penetrate. Again, love the channel. I carry tipped bullets like Hornady Critical Defense / Duty. Supposedly they’re more likely to expand when put through heavy clothing. But I haven’t done a test myself to see if that’s true.
Hello Mortuus. I'm hoping to test Hornady ammo in the near future, including the Critical Defense/Duty ammo. As you know, living in Vegas, we don't have to wear a jacket for ten months out of the year. Thanks for loving my channel and stay cool out there.
I love Hydra-Shok HP's I have always carried them in the 230 grain +P version they're anything but low recoil but they feed so reliably in a 1911 the only thing I like besides them is Hornady Critical Duty +P's other than that I shoot my handloaded Hornady XTP's as soon as Hydra-Shok bullets as a reloading component become available again I'm buying a ton of them! I love Hydra-Shok HP's they expand perfectly every time that center post I think is what makes it do it so reliably
I responded to an officer-involved shooting in the early 90's. A young man came up with a gun pointed at an officer approaching the on the driver side of his car. He didn't see the officer on the right side, who pumped two of those Hydra-Shoks into him. One went through the right armpit, perforated both lungs and stopped at the ribs on his left side. The other went in at the base of his neck at the back right side, came to rest just under his left clavicle. It missed all great vessels. His heart rate, blood pressure and respirations were perfect. His lungs didn't collapse. He was perfectly stable, just paralyzed from the neck down for the rest of his life. On X-Ray, where the 7th cervical vertebra should have been there was only AIR! He had a priapism. At the ER, he blew a big load of spuzz when the nurse grabbed his junk to cath him.
My first gun was a SR1911 .45. Fantastic shooter, very accurate and a nice trigger. Quality is good for a factory gun and it's been 100% reliable. I don't shoot it much because of the price of .45 but I'll never get rid of it.
@@bwofficial1776 Thanks for your input. Yeah, my first was an Astra .45, but didn't shoot it very often. Getting more interested later in life and now prices and availability are definitely affecting what calibers that I want to invest in.
Hydra Shok has been around for a long time. Using a lighter bullet seems to be a good idea. Sales must have been very good throughout the years, so much so that it took Federal sometime before it came out with a lighter bullet version. Thank you Mixup98 for sharing this!! Will watch out for it's availability.
Nice stuff, the only problem I have with odd weight defense rounds is you can’t find training ammo in the same weight. I like to stick to common weights in my defense loads. 90gr, 115gr, 230gr etc.
The Hydrashok (scorpion) bullet has been tweaked a lot ! I have 5 different .45 acp bullet designs of it. All just slightly different. I have lead versions of it in .38 caliber. Looks like a HBWC with the lead post in the middle. The Hydrashok has been my carry round in my .45 acp 1911 since it was first marketed and will not be changed. It is superb for the task. It is a classic example of, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Thank you for the useful info. I'm hoping to find some Federal HST .45 ACP locally, basically because it seems to be one of the few proven defense rounds in that caliber.
@@mixup98 Recently I bought Sierra 185 gr JHP (20 rounds for $18.99 is a pretty good price for .45 acp defense ammo). Apparently Sierra makes the bullets (their main business), Sig makes the ammo, & it's sold as Sierra ammo. It's not exactly new, but not many people have tested it.
@@Salieri47 I have seen Sierra ammo on the shelf but I haven't tried any yet. I will pick up a few boxes and do a review if I can find some for about 19 bucks a box. Thanks for the suggestion, Chris.
H.S. is a great choice for dependable performance and usually the most economical choice for those of us on a budget ( it's the best quality for the lowest price I usually find ). The 165gr should be easier on the firearm over time I believe. Thanks for the great video and info.
My favorite in the Winchester Ranger 230 and 230+P but they're snappy especially in a Commander-sized pistol. I bought a bunch of those years ago and now they're running $180/50!. If I carried, I'd probably go with these for the lighter recoil. Love my SR1911 too.
👍🏻😎 Wow, 165 grain .45 ACP and low recoil. I run 180 grain +P in my Para Expert Commander, but the + P is anything but light in the recoil department. I might have to try some of this out.
Great review as usual. I would like to see you do a test on Liberty Civil Defense 9mm. It boasts 2040 fps and 460ft lb of energy. That is almost double the amount of other 9mm defensive rounds. I would be glad to send you a couple of boxes. Thanks and keep the reviews coming, we love them.
Hello Beach Bum. I would love to take you up on your offer to send me some Liberty Civil Defense ammo, but the only way that would work is to send me a private message. The only way that I know how to do that is through patreon.
I will as well. I like the fact that they're low recoil. I'll have to run a couple boxes through my 45 first to make sure it functions with them. Thank you for the video
The one thing I was taken by is that these are low recoil ammo. My first thought was, will they cycle properly? So I was happy to see that they did, let alone their expansion and penetration was actually very good.
@@mixup98 I have a 45 that is ammo finicky, So I would be interested in finding out if this ammo would run in the firearm. I appreciate all the content you have put out over the last several years. I also love some of the bloopers you add to some of your videos. Simple comedy worth a smile every time.
@@encinio1 Unfortunately some .45 pistols are very finicky but I hope you find some reliable self defense ammo for your pistol. I appreciate the feedback on my bloopers and I'm glad they make you smile. Have a great week and thank you for always watching my videos.
Thanks so much for this review. I have just purchased a 1911 and am looking for the right EDC ammo. There is so many different grain bullets available and I would love something that is low recoil yet high velocity. I don't plan on making my 1911 my EDC, but again, would love ammo that performs well in a home defense setting. I feel this ammo may fit the bill.
It sounds like this Hydra-Shok ammo is exactly what you are looking for in a home defense cartridge. Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment on my video.
I haven't seen you in a while.i reload quiet a few 45 acp bullets and shooting my Taurus pt 845 in 45 acp and hi point 45 acp pistols 45 super.the most amazing load for self defense I load GT bullet companys 452 dia hardcast 255 gr wide,deep hp at around 900-925 fps .expands to7/8 inch or slightly more with my water testing and retaining weight above 250 gr. 45 super star line brass, longshot and power pistol powder.the buffalo bore same round is 1050 fps.my pistols can handle that chamber pressure. I only use my 45 super reloads for hunting and sell defense. underwood ammunition makes the 450smc loaded ammunition.it is a stronger casing.it is the same thing as the 45 acp/ 45 super but it's a shorter 308 Winchester with small rifle primers.much stronger. I greatly enjoyed the video.papa wishing you well.
I know the punch failed some of your tests but I couldnt remember if it failed in .45 acp for you. I was at Bass in Las Vegas and couldnt pass up a buying 8 boxes when they were on sale. I'm interested in checking out some other JHPs but clearly I have enough for a good while. Cycled 1.5 boxes; flawless. Just dont have the means to do gel tests. I plan on moving to NV in the next 2 years or so. I can't wait! I love NV. It's such a beautiful and underrated state. I love the desert in the south and the North reminds me a lot of PA. I moved to CA to be with my fiancee about 2 years ago. Every chance I get I'm in NV visiting some place new. Been to Tahoe, all over Las Vegas, Boulder City, Henderson, Reno, Carson City. Next trip I want to visit Virginia Town and see what Sparks is about.
Hydra-shock bullets have been loaded into cartridges for decades, Mixup, and as you demonstrated, they remain a viable choice for their intended purpose.
Hello Noah. There is a good reason that Hydra Shok ammo has been around for decades, and I believe my video shows that it is just as effective as most modern ammo. As always, thank you for watching my videos.
I have a rock island 1911 and it loves this ammo! No failure to feed or eject, accurate, good stuff!
Good to know....thanks Dan!
There are a lot of fancy high tech bullets on the market.
These have been around at least 30 years that I know of.
there is a reason for that. They work.
That 1911 is one beautiful piece of metal 😍🇬🇧
Yes it is!
@@mixup98 I’m not jealous though 😉
What a nice handgun with the blue grips. I´ve got the Ruger SR1911 with the 5" barrel. My favorite handgun after my Sig P226 Mk25. Love my Ruger. Thanks for the video.
Hey mixup, those chronos have space for a spare battery in the compartment - you just reminded me to check the spare inside mine.
Two Home Runs.....................Federal with the ammo, and your presentation. Stay cool Brother Mix.
Awesome....thank you John!
People can say what they want, but those 45s are impressive.
The 185 grain +P Remington Golden Saber is a very good self defense load. The only issue is jacket separation.
I was issued the 9mm Hydrashok 124 grain +P+. One of my colleagues shot a large Hispanic male intoxicated and on drugs. Three COM hits. Two exits and the third bullet was under the skin on the opposite side. The department switched to the Winchester SXT 124 grain +P. It sure did more damage internally because of the sharp talons.
Hydra-Shok been great ammo since early 90s. Have heard keyboard experts disparaging it for yrs. Always worked fine in my 45s, 10mm, 40S&W, 9mm. Have preferred newer Gold Dot, HST, Hornady Critical Duty, Underwood Xtreme Defender last 5-6 yrs. But if I see Hydra-Shok at good price no qualms at all about purchasing/carrying it.
I've seen what the Gold Dots do to a person and what they look like after removal. Absolutely impressive. Perfect expansion and the copper is bonded to the lead with no loss of material. They are my go to for carry rounds.
@@Grizzleback07
Agreed. Only Gold Dot problems I’ve seen are 10 mm out of hot Underwood loads. At super velocities the bonding can break and bullets disintegrate. Not bad problem in my opinion. Massive damage but unacceptable to “ the experts “
Always carry their New York City 135 grain load in my 38 special snubby if carrying it.
I have carried hydro-shock In my 45,40,9 and 12 gauge deer slugs for over 15 years now I just love the expansion and velocity, but I also like the federal deep impact those are really good also. I have carried the hydro-shock for about 15 years now and the deep impact for about a year but both are great rounds from federal thanks for sharing this and try to stay cool out there lol
Extremely consistent, expansion, penetration and weight retention on those 5 recovered rounds. Impressive.
I'm guessing the round that exited thorough the gel block and water bottle, had it's cavity blocked by the denim and flannel and failed to expand and thus acted like ball and over-penetrated.
Great photography as usual. I know the hst round is excellent but for less money the hydra is obviously excellent as well. Good on Federal for making quality products. Good on you too 98 for a great video.
I think that little steel pin in the middle helps tremendously. It probably helps push fibers to the side, expanding the bullet properly.
Great video Sir. 9 mm kills the body ! 45 ACP kills the soul !
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Those are great bullets! Thanks for the video 👍😎
You are very welcome Lee and thank you for watching my video.
Goodness what a chunk of lead! I'm still blown away by the denim test shots. I never thought it would have those effects. Thumbs up as always, good video ~John
Thank you John.....you are the best! 👍😎
Always been a fan of Hydra Shoks especially in 45 and 357. The controlled expansion and reliable penetration make me feel better about over penetration while dumping full energy into a target. In 45 i do prefer the 230 gr. Actually have never seen the 165 so i stick with what i know. Great video.
I love the sound of this rounds echoing through that canyon. No better place to shoot imo
Great demo brother! Very informative. Thank you for your work.
God bless all here.
Thanks, you too!
Very good performance for a low recoil round. I like the flannel in place of denim. a couple layers of fabric that is worn in your area make the most sense to me.
Very nice results, sold I am getting a few for my 1911. Thank you sir, from an old floridacracker
Hello Sal. I'm glad my glad was able to help you decide on getting some of this ammo. Thank you for being a five year subscriber to my channel.
Still after all these year's tough to beat Hydra Shok
I love the .45 acp. I think Federal is one of the top ammo manufacturers in the US. I've carried Hydra Shocks for as long as I can remember. Would enjoy seeing a video of bullseye target shooting.That is where I got my start shooting .45 acp many years ago. I've seen some of your trophy's in past videos. You are quite an accomplished shooter. I miss the bullseye leagues. To old and shaky.
I've been carrying the federal 9mm 124 grain Hydra shocks I really like that load. When I used to carry a 1911 before I got too much arthritis in my hands I used to carry the 230 grainers.
Consistent & reliable in performance. Been around awhile for very good reasons. Appreciate your time. 🙏 🇺🇸 👍
Thank you Bill.
Got the same rounds in my 1911. Call em get out of my house rounds ;)
Nice. One of my favorite expanding bullets. I carry them in my .38 Detective Special.
The 165 grain version performs better (expansion) than the 230. I shot an armadillo with 38 special Hydra-Shok one time. He wasn't happy about it.
Thanks for the review of this ammo. It's nice to see what happens to ammo after it's actually fired and not just go by what the manufacturer tells us. Stay cool and in the shade my friend. 🤠 👍
My son and I are going fishing and kayaking at Lake Mead this morning and yes, we are going to stay cool. You do the same, my friend.
@@mixup98
Thank you. Hope you guys have a great time and come up with another cool Lake Mead video. 🙏👍
Just ordered 5 boxes. Thanks for the great review 👍
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Another great video, brother! Good, old Hydra-Shoks! I carry them in my .357 and 9mm already but I'm definitely getting them for my .45 as well. Take it easy.
You also take it easy John, and stay safe.
Yeah the SR 1911 one of my favorites too, that was a great demonstration. I’ll certainly be buying that ammo when I see it. Thanks.
You are very welcome Jeff and I thank you for the nice compliment.
From the day I bought my Norinco 1911, my carry ammo has always been Gederal Hydra Shok. Early magazines that compiled statistics for 1 shot stops had the Hydra's from a 5" barrel at 100% 1 shot stop.
Pretty impressive performance. I don't see this particular ammo on shelves too often but I will pick some up if I do. Thanks.
You are very welcome and thank you for watching our video.
Long ago, when Hydra-Shok was still a relatively new name on the market, I discovered it would feed and function reliably AND was accurate. I have trusted my life to Hydra-Shok ammo in handguns ranging from 9mm, .38Spl/.357 Magnum, .40S&W, and .45ACP. I've "played around with" other brands and bullet designs over the decades but I always find myself returning to Hydra-Shok for serious work.
👍😎
My old dept issued 230 gr Hydra-Shoks. Originally they issued the 185 Federal JHP, then, insanely, they issued FMJ (for 9mm too!). By then I'd switched from a Browing Hi-Power to a SIG P220 (way back when we could carry whatever we wanted within reason). When sanity resumed, we switched from FMJ to the Hydra-Shoks (9BPLE for 9mm). I never shot a human with it (thankfully) but I can tell you what they do to a good sized aggressive feral dog. In a word: Impressive. Frankly, better than hardball had performed on a large, problematic possum (long story). Through and through the chest (about half the width of an adult human male), leaving an exit about the size of a quarter. The coup-de-gras round to the back of the head I recovered and it expanded nicely (if irregularly due to bones). I went through 3 different .45 pistols in my career and now am down to 2. But I have a many boxes of the 230 gr Hydra-Shok and that's what is in both of my current .45s.
In every test media we tried, they expanded just like those 165 grainers you tested. Great video, as always!
That is why the .45 is my EDC.
Good Gun-Good Ammo-Good Show!! According to Google Math a bullet going 800fps=500mph so the .45 is really not at all slow. Federal makes superior ammo along with a excellent 1911. 4 out of my 5 guns are from Ruger as is most of my ammo. Saving up to buy that there 1911 as i have seen only good reports on it. Keep up the great shows. I recommend your channel to many.
I hope you do buy a Ruger SR1911 someday. I love mine and wouldn't trade it for anything. Thank you for recommending my channel and I hope you have a great weekend.
Federal makes an excellent 1911? And Ruger sells ammo? I'm confused.
Really love that 1911. It’s beautiful. 👍🇺🇸
Awesome 1911 and bullets are federal premium which are good bullets thanks for sharing mixup98
Don't know how I missed this before... but I just watched it - enjoyed it like I always do your videos. I like the 230 gr Fed HST's for 45ACP... 165 just seems a little too light for 45 cal... the 230 grain HST's go more like 16-18" iirc and expand fully through clothing. Thanks and if you see this now, Merry Christmas!
I will try to find some HST 230 grain ammo and maybe do a review sometime next spring. I can't thank you enough for being a ten year subscriber to my channel....thank you and Merry Christmas.
I would’ve been concerned that 165 gr low recoil would have enough power to compress the recoil spring. Glad it worked out
Thanks Ray for a really good video!!! You cant beat HST Ammo!!!! I carry 124 grain HST + p 9mm Per all my LEO Buddies.....
Hello Mike. I am hoping to get my hands on some Federal HST ammo and do a review in the near future. Thanks for the suggestion.
theirs is different from what you and i buy at academy, mike. LEO gets the good stuff.
I'm glad you are doing it with denim and flannel most guys just wanna use bare jell. Please do it with Sig V Crown 45. Thanks
Hydra - Shock ammo is a no go for me. I live in northern Michigan and layers of clothes are common apparel. Hydra - Shock ammo is a fare weather bullet. Thanks for review.
Great results. I have those exact same blue grips on my Ruger 1911. Great minds think alike.
👍😎 👍😎
I really like the venerable 230gr Federal Hydra-shok load. Still carry it often.
Hydra-Shok ammunition is an excellent choice for defensive use. I've tested it in several calibers and it has never failed to demonstrate expansion and weight retention virtually identical to what yours achieved in your demo. Back around 1983 or so, Hydra-Shok bullets were introduced for handloaders in a .38 caliber wadcutter design, non-jacketed, with a hollow front end and the little post in the middle. I remember buying some. Before that, we had been experimenting with loading hollow-base wadcutters backwards, so the hollow base was up front. They performed pretty well against water-filled milk jugs and such, but later designs by Federal gave better and more consistent bullet upset. Nice video! Stay safe out there - watch out for those flash floods!
I started reloading in the late '70s and I also loaded hollow-base wadcutters backwards. You're right, they did work great on water jugs, but I am guessing that they wouldn't penetrate very deep in a live target. It might make for an interesting test to shoot some in a block of gel though.
@@mixup98 Indeed. I'd like to see how they'd perform in gel.
My first gun was a Ruger SR1911 .45 Government. It's my favorite gun to shoot. It's very accurate and the trigger is very nice. The recoil is downright pleasant. I don't shoot it often because of the price of .45 and I don't carry it because of what it means to me but every time I bring it out it feels right in my hands. For the price Ruger made a great shooter.
I carry 9mm but I have to agree with the pundits, 9mm might expand but .45 won't shrink.
45 is just hard to beat !!!
I was impressed by that consistency of expansion and penetration. You had the one pass-through that was most probably due to the hollow point getting plugged. If I can find some of this ammo I'll buy it! Thanks for the review.
I live in Las Vegas and am a fan of this channel. However, the bullet didn’t expand when shot through 4 layers of denim.
Maybe I’m wrong but that seems like it failed to me. I wouldn’t want to carry this knowing that if the bad guy is wearing a thick jacket that my bullets won’t expand and will over penetrate.
Again, love the channel.
I carry tipped bullets like Hornady Critical Defense / Duty. Supposedly they’re more likely to expand when put through heavy clothing. But I haven’t done a test myself to see if that’s true.
Hello Mortuus. I'm hoping to test Hornady ammo in the near future, including the Critical Defense/Duty ammo. As you know, living in Vegas, we don't have to wear a jacket for ten months out of the year. Thanks for loving my channel and stay cool out there.
That Ruger is a BEAUTY.......and the ammo looks equally sound.
I love Hydra-Shok HP's I have always carried them in the 230 grain +P version they're anything but low recoil but they feed so reliably in a 1911 the only thing I like besides them is Hornady Critical Duty +P's other than that I shoot my handloaded Hornady XTP's as soon as Hydra-Shok bullets as a reloading component become available again I'm buying a ton of them! I love Hydra-Shok HP's they expand perfectly every time that center post I think is what makes it do it so reliably
Outstanding review. I have a new box of ammo to pick up. Just wow. Heck yeahhhh
I responded to an officer-involved shooting in the early 90's. A young man came up with a gun pointed at an officer approaching the on the driver side of his car. He didn't see the officer on the right side, who pumped two of those Hydra-Shoks into him. One went through the right armpit, perforated both lungs and stopped at the ribs on his left side. The other went in at the base of his neck at the back right side, came to rest just under his left clavicle. It missed all great vessels. His heart rate, blood pressure and respirations were perfect. His lungs didn't collapse. He was perfectly stable, just paralyzed from the neck down for the rest of his life. On X-Ray, where the 7th cervical vertebra should have been there was only AIR! He had a priapism. At the ER, he blew a big load of spuzz when the nurse grabbed his junk to cath him.
jesus christ on a cracker hahahaha
This comment was a rollercoaster, have an upvote
Yes, that SR1911 is really nice! I'm hoping to own a 1911 in the future and would love to have stainless. Cool test. 😎 👍
Thanks E 👍
My first gun was a SR1911 .45. Fantastic shooter, very accurate and a nice trigger. Quality is good for a factory gun and it's been 100% reliable. I don't shoot it much because of the price of .45 but I'll never get rid of it.
@@bwofficial1776 Thanks for your input. Yeah, my first was an Astra .45, but didn't shoot it very often. Getting more interested later in life and now prices and availability are definitely affecting what calibers that I want to invest in.
Hydra Shok has been around for a long time. Using a lighter bullet seems to be a good idea. Sales must have been very good throughout the years, so much so that it took Federal sometime before it came out with a lighter bullet version. Thank you Mixup98 for sharing this!! Will watch out for it's availability.
Good morning Eduardo. I believe Hydra Shok ammo has been around since the late '80s, and I am hoping to test several more calibers in the spring.
Nice stuff, the only problem I have with odd weight defense rounds is you can’t find training ammo in the same weight. I like to stick to common weights in my defense loads. 90gr, 115gr, 230gr etc.
Just a comment to keep the algorithm going.
Like your content. 👍🏻
Thanks....I really do appreciate it 👍🤠
The Hydrashok (scorpion) bullet has been tweaked a lot ! I have 5 different .45 acp bullet designs of it. All just slightly different.
I have lead versions of it in .38 caliber. Looks like a HBWC with the lead post in the middle. The Hydrashok has been my carry round in my .45 acp 1911 since it was first marketed and will not be changed. It is superb for the task. It is a classic example of, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
really good ammo, thank you for all your hard work. that cloth might have filled that hollow point. thanks so much
Thank you for the useful info. I'm hoping to find some Federal HST .45 ACP locally, basically because it seems to be one of the few proven defense rounds in that caliber.
Hello Chris. If I can get my hands on some HST .45 ammo I will certainly do a review on it and see how it performs.
@@mixup98 Recently I bought Sierra 185 gr JHP (20 rounds for $18.99 is a pretty good price for .45 acp defense ammo). Apparently Sierra makes the bullets (their main business), Sig makes the ammo, & it's sold as Sierra ammo. It's not exactly new, but not many people have tested it.
@@Salieri47 I have seen Sierra ammo on the shelf but I haven't tried any yet. I will pick up a few boxes and do a review if I can find some for about 19 bucks a box. Thanks for the suggestion, Chris.
H.S. is a great choice for dependable performance and usually the most economical choice for those of us on a budget ( it's the best quality for the lowest price I usually find ). The 165gr should be easier on the firearm over time I believe. Thanks for the great video and info.
Outstanding retained weight!
Great video, just ordered a few boxes from Midway. Will try them out in a SIG P220. Thanks.
You're welcome Bruce and thank you for watching my video.
Really enjoy all your videos and respect your shooting ability.
Thank you Alex.....I appreciate the nice compliment.
My favorite in the Winchester Ranger 230 and 230+P but they're snappy especially in a Commander-sized pistol. I bought a bunch of those years ago and now they're running $180/50!. If I carried, I'd probably go with these for the lighter recoil. Love my SR1911 too.
👍🏻😎 Wow, 165 grain .45 ACP and low recoil. I run 180 grain +P in my Para Expert Commander, but the + P is anything but light in the recoil department. I might have to try some of this out.
Thanks for another fine round of testing .
I hope that you’ll test the Federal Punch 45 ACP load when you get a chance.
So why did the last one zip through? Clogged with the fabric?
Great review as usual. I would like to see you do a test on Liberty Civil Defense 9mm. It boasts 2040 fps and 460ft lb of energy. That is almost double the amount of other 9mm defensive rounds. I would be glad to send you a couple of boxes. Thanks and keep the reviews coming, we love them.
Hello Beach Bum. I would love to take you up on your offer to send me some Liberty Civil Defense ammo, but the only way that would work is to send me a private message. The only way that I know how to do that is through patreon.
It is an older design but, look at one shot stop records. This old round is number 1, believe it or not.
Nice gun, I have one in 9mm, love it
Thanks for the video and for trying different fabrics.
Great testing 👌
Great video! I am going to look for those.
I will as well. I like the fact that they're low recoil. I'll have to run a couple boxes through my 45 first to make sure it functions with them. Thank you for the video
Very informative video! Thanks MixUp!
You are very welcome Gary and thank you for the feedback.
Nicely performing ammo
👍😎
HSTs are even better!!
As always great and informative stuff. Those rounds look awesome
Thanks Gator 👍
Nice! Will tell my son about these he has 1911 45! Thanks! 👍🦅
The one thing I was taken by is that these are low recoil ammo. My first thought was, will they cycle properly? So I was happy to see that they did, let alone their expansion and penetration was actually very good.
Good morning Robert. I also had a concern that maybe the ammo wouldn't cycle in my Ruger, but I didn't encounter any problems at all with reliability.
@@mixup98 I have a 45 that is ammo finicky, So I would be interested in finding out if this ammo would run in the firearm. I appreciate all the content you have put out over the last several years. I also love some of the bloopers you add to some of your videos. Simple comedy worth a smile every time.
@@encinio1 Unfortunately some .45 pistols are very finicky but I hope you find some reliable self defense ammo for your pistol. I appreciate the feedback on my bloopers and I'm glad they make you smile. Have a great week and thank you for always watching my videos.
Haven’t seen you back on Nevada shooters in a while
I wish you would do a review of 380acp as I carry a Sig 238 post heart attack.
Hello Randy. I have some Remington HTP and Sig V-Crown .380 ammo that I will be testing in the near future.
@@mixup98 ..HST also is avail in Low recoil HST ... in .380
I’m from the 45 ACP Black Talon days.
I still have black Talon amo. Mostly 9mm from the wonder nine days. I've moved on. Nothing but 40cal or 45acp. FBI doesn't know everything.
ranger t-series days here. ive moved on too.
Nice info. Nice review. Thanks
You are very welcome Nick and thank you for watching my video.
I prefer HST or gold dot but hydra shok 230gr was the best thing i could find locally for my Glock 21 my 9mms have 124gr HST
Wow, I really like those ... I think I'll grab some for me.
Thanks for the video. I like those FHS rounds. 👍👍
👍🤠
It is what I carry in my sig gsr revolution. Lord spare me the day I have to use it but I know that it would be devastating.
Thanks so much for this review. I have just purchased a 1911 and am looking for the right EDC ammo. There is so many different grain bullets available and I would love something that is low recoil yet high velocity. I don't plan on making my 1911 my EDC, but again, would love ammo that performs well in a home defense setting. I feel this ammo may fit the bill.
It sounds like this Hydra-Shok ammo is exactly what you are looking for in a home defense cartridge. Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment on my video.
1 shot stopping power
Awesome thanks for the video
I will try them out for sure. Love me some 45.
I haven't seen you in a while.i reload quiet a few 45 acp bullets and shooting my Taurus pt 845 in 45 acp and hi point 45 acp pistols 45 super.the most amazing load for self defense I load GT bullet companys 452 dia hardcast 255 gr wide,deep hp at around 900-925 fps .expands to7/8 inch or slightly more with my water testing and retaining weight above 250 gr. 45 super star line brass, longshot and power pistol powder.the buffalo bore same round is 1050 fps.my pistols can handle that chamber pressure. I only use my 45 super reloads for hunting and sell defense. underwood ammunition makes the 450smc loaded ammunition.it is a stronger casing.it is the same thing as the 45 acp/ 45 super but it's a shorter 308 Winchester with small rifle primers.much stronger. I greatly enjoyed the video.papa wishing you well.
Dig the ammo reviews for us average guys.
👍😎
I think the HST is the best 45acp product from Federal.
I know the punch failed some of your tests but I couldnt remember if it failed in .45 acp for you. I was at Bass in Las Vegas and couldnt pass up a buying 8 boxes when they were on sale. I'm interested in checking out some other JHPs but clearly I have enough for a good while. Cycled 1.5 boxes; flawless. Just dont have the means to do gel tests. I plan on moving to NV in the next 2 years or so. I can't wait! I love NV. It's such a beautiful and underrated state. I love the desert in the south and the North reminds me a lot of PA. I moved to CA to be with my fiancee about 2 years ago. Every chance I get I'm in NV visiting some place new. Been to Tahoe, all over Las Vegas, Boulder City, Henderson, Reno, Carson City. Next trip I want to visit Virginia Town and see what Sparks is about.