[uglymofo]

Please respond only if you've used both loads.

What's your preference, and why?

Thank you.

[3 gun]

I don't think there is much real world difference between the premium self defense loads. Breaks down to what your pistol runs best on. I tried these and a few others, my Para worked best with Gold Dots.

Between the two the Hydra-Shoks would have been my pick. They grouped better and seemed to have less muzzle flash.

[10-Ring]

Of the two, I prefer the Hydra Shoks...still have 1/2 a box of the Silvertips. No real performance reason why, just because :)

[FJC]

Of those two, I prefer the Hydra-Shok's in a 4" or longer barrel. They work well, they have a good reputation, etc. That said, I actually carry Remington Golden Sabers in my Commander, primarily because I can buy the bullets and reload my own practice ammo that at least duplicates the shape of my carry ammo. Hydra-Shok's have a nice thing going for them in that you can buy 50 round boxes of them for under $20 from some places (www.cheaperthandirt.com for example, though that price doesn't include shipping).

In my Colt Defender with a 3" barrel, I carry Silvertips. I do that because I like the lighter, faster bullets in a short barrel, and Silvertips just feed so well in all weapons (in my experience) that they give me a little extra confidence in a short-slide 1911.

[CWL]

I'd pass on both of them, they are both 'old designs' which have been superceded by newer designs like Gold Dots, Golden Saber, etc. These newer designs have consistently outperformed them under scientific testing (v. magic testing ala' Marshall & Sanow).

FYI, the Hydrashock is probably going to be discontinued by Federal soon anyways.

[FJC]

FYI, the Hydrashock is probably going to be discontinued by Federal soon anyways.

Actually, word is that it IS being discontinued.

http://www.thegunzone.com/efmj.html

[STEVE M]

FJC, any data on the Hydra's being discontinued? Seems since they have

been a popular load among so many for so long it would be a bad move.

Are they updating the design or replacing it with something new and

unproven?

[Al Thompson]

I tested the Hydra Shoks several years back and they had a real problem with clothing clogging the tip. No expansion at all.

FWIW, Gold Dots seem to be the berries. Biggest advantage is that Speer sells the bullets. I use Georgia Arms loadings and Pro Load has lots of followers also.

[Mastrogiacomo]

I prefer Winchester silver tip hollow points -- you never know what can happen when the moon is full....:D

[Navy joe]

Of the two, Hydra-Shoks. Out of the 4 1911's I've owned i've only had one factory load fail to feed, that'd be a Silvertip, thing would jam on the roof of the barrel hood about half the time in my SR70 Colt. That gun normally feeds everything from empty cases to any HP. Tried the vampire bullets once, never again.

I carry Golden Sabers, seems like a good choice.

[Avery Goodschott]

Ditto on the Golden Sabres over both of them.

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

Well, I have a boat-load of Hydra-shocks in .45 and 9 mm. Time to replensih with the new technology and burn 'em up!

[Dr.Rob]

If they made 230gr silvertips, maybe.

All my 45's shoot better with the 230gr load, including my 1917 Colt.

I tried several boxes of silvertips, I liked the round olgive and the definitely feed better. The old Hydras have a really sharp corner that would "bump" and slow my slide velocity down, but they would still feed. Never had a feed problem with the Silvertips.

Seems my old 50's commander and 1917 just don't like the aluminum jacket, maybe my rifling is a little worn but I can see the rifling on a recovered fmj, its harder to see on the aluminum jacket, then again those silvers open up BIG and maybe the rifling marks get stretched out?

[XLMiguel]

I'm a Hydra-Shok fan. Re: them being discontinued, the lastest issue of "American Handgunner" had a brief blurp about a new & improved version of the H/S about to be released. AFAIK, the FEderqal round is very successful in the marketplace and Federal has a bunch of contracts to supply various gov't agencies, so I don't see it going away.

[Ky Larry]

Which ever your gun likes best. If you do your job,either bullet will do theirs.

[Pumpkinheaver]

I have used both in the past and will continue to use whichever I happen to have on hand at the time. Both are good loads.

[BluesBear]

MikeInVA,

You might want to look at this...

http://www.thegunzone.com/efmj.html


Hopefully someone will step up and take over production.

I'd love to find someone with some of the original .38 Special Hydra-Shoks
(the ones in the red box that looked like a HBWC backwards with the post.)
those things would expand bigger than a nickle in almost any medium, including a block of ice.