Federal Hydra-Shok Deep .38SPL, thoughts?

[cathellsk]

What's the thoughts on this load? Found some local but wonder if its worth getting a couple boxes.

[Joe Mac]

Testing looks good.. Federal has done a fine job in general with this line.

Recoil is mild in an Airweight J. (130 @ 830 fps, compared with 135 @ 870 with Gold Dot, for example.)

[revchuck38]

Looking at the gel tests that Federal did, it looks really good on both expansion and penetration from both snubby and 4" barrels. I got a couple of boxes and it went 858 fps from my 2" Detective Special, 862 fps from my 1-7/8" M49, and 898 fps from my 3" M10. I didn't try it from a 4". I wish we could get some correctly-done independent gel tests for comparison.

Right now I have enough Ranger Bonded 130-grain JHPs and Golden Sabre to keep me for a while. When that runs out, I'll definitely be interested in getting some more of the HS Deep.

[CZ Man]

I've only tested it in Clear Ballistics gel so far, but it expanded reliably and penetrated 12-13" through 4 layers of denim. Mild recoil in my J frame and POI/POA was good at 7 yards. I was pleased enough to switch to it for ccw.

[PNWTO]

It didn’t quite go well enough to sites on my 2” LCR but I can attest that, from a 3” LCRx, it’ll go right through a porcupine at about 20yds.

[RBO]

Mike Wood at Revolver Guy did a very thorough review on this a while back.

[gringop]

It didn’t quite go well enough to sites on my 2” LCR but I can attest that, from a 3” LCRx, it’ll go right through a porcupine at about 20yds.

Was that Clear Porcupine or properly calibrated Porcupine?

Sorry for the BS question but I couldn't resist.

Carry on.

Gringop

PS: I'm such a luddite I'm carrying original 129gr +P HS in my J-Frames.
115881

[Ghost Dog]

It's my choice for a lot of reasons given in the .38 carry load thread.


Very curious, do any of you have any 147+p+ HS still?

As in, would you be willing to sell 6-20 rounds let's say or do some kind of ammo swap?

[PNWTO]

Was that Clear Porcupine or properly calibrated Porcupine?

Sorry for the BS question but I couldn't resist.

Carry on.

Gringop

PS: I'm such a luddite I'm carrying original 129gr +P HS in my J-Frames.
115881

I like to think the appropriate planets were in retrograde and my chakras were fine as the little guy ceased any further activity. A Clear Porcupine (TM) would have most likely turned around and force-fed me the projectile.

That HS load shoots near-perfect in my 442. I’ve become pretty ammo agnostic/pragmatic in the past few years but the Deep, that HS loading, and a handful of others are instant buys if I come across a box.