[jedi]

If you had to choose between Federal Hydrashok in either 155 grain or 180 grain which would you go with and why?

Those are your only 2 choices. No you can't stretch it to a 10mm or enlarge it to a .45 or shrink it to a 9mm or .357 and you certainly can't change to a .30-06. Lets please try and stay on topic here.

[9mmepiphany]

in my .40's (glock 22, sig 229, beretta 96) i seem to have better luck (accuracy and less recoil) with the 155gr slugs. i thought there would be more recoil due to the higher velocity but there isn't

[Scoob]

Hard to say. I'd probably go with the 155gr in Hydras.

[mete]

I carry the 155. I have heard that the 180 has too much penetration even for police work. The 155 certainly on 4 legged animals works very well.

[DMK]

I like 165gr. Golden Saber I find it more accurate than 180gr. in my CZ40B and I like to keep the velocity up.

Out of your choices, I'd go with 155gr.

[Black Snowman]

I use 165s in my reloads and would recommend 155s of your choices. I'm using Federals Premium Defense which has the 155 gr Hydra-Shoks.

[LeadPumper]

My Sig prefers 165 gr. so who am I to argue.

Wouldn't feel bad about using either 155 gr or 180 gr. if thats what worked well in a firearm.


-LeadPumper

[RTFM]

My Sig 229 gets Corbon 165 gr.
But you said Federal Hydrashok in either 155 grain or 180 grain I have fired both and both work well in the Sig, but I still prefer the Corbon.
Just cuz'


RTFM

[LeonCarr]

155 or 165. From what I understand, the rifling twist in most 40s, especially Glocks, will just barely stabilize the 180 grain bullet. I have seen dramatic accuracy increases (shrinking an inch or more at 25 yards) in my Glock 22/23 by switching from 180s to 155s or 165s. I think most of the stories of the .40 being inaccurate stem from the rifling twist and the 180 bullets. The 155 Hydra-Shok is an excellent load, they chronograph about 1200 fps out of my Glock 22, equivalent to a 158 grain .357 magnum in bullet weight and velocity. Very nice :).

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

[krept]

when I had a .40 I liked the 155gr loads because I felt they had a good combo of penetration/expansion potential. I was always under the impression that 180grs would be more likely to overpenetrate in most self defense scenarios. Not that penetration isn't a good thing, I'd just prefer more energy be deposited in the target when possible and I have not yet heard of the 155gr bullets underpenetrating.

[GooseGestapo]

Like Mr.Carr, definitlely the 155gr. See the string running on the .40 S&W in general.

I too have found the 155 to be more accurate, and less susceptable to pressure excursions than the 180. Further still, I prefer the 135gr to the 150-155 for selfdefense, as the absolute best accuracy I've gotten with a G-22, has been with the 135gr Hydroshok Personal Defense load, but was only a "smidgen" better than most of the 155's.

Definitely the 155's over the 180's.

Did I mention that I've never retrieved a bullet I've shot a deer with from a .40? Of course all have been quarter or broadside shots, or neck/head shots a close range, but still, most of the available 155 JHP's are very good controlled expansion bullets particularly the 155 Fed Hydro and 155 GoldDots. I've had three 155 Winchester SilverTips which are supposed to be quite fast expanders completely penetrate on broadside shots, two were reloads/handloads, one was running closer to 1400fps from a 10mm.

The kinetic energy figures favor the 155gr as the shorter bullet significantly increases the case capacity for powder. Most 155's are running over 500ft/lbs whereas the 180's run about 400ft/lbs. As other poster observed this puts the .40 in the same performance category as the .357mag with 140-158gr bullets, though probably closer to the penetration of the .357 with the "legendary" 125hp loads. Though the 125gr .357's are almost as good as they are claimed to be!

[357SIG]

I use 180 gr. Gold Dots now, so I'd stick with the 180s in Federal's loadings as well, although I am not a fan of the Hydra-Shok. The 180s I've seen seem to mushroom the best and retain more weight.

[J.Bourne]

I'm with the majority.

My cartridge par excellence is Speer Gold Dot 165 grain. Between your choices, I'd definitely go with the 155 grain Federal.

[mrapathy2000]

155gr if you want better followup shots than with 155gr try .40S&W 135gr federal hydra shocks they are not as fast as corbon 135 gr but they dont have the kick. federal 135gr feals like 9mm.

two fastest 155gr ammo I know is:
winchester silvertip 155gr 1200fps 490-500ft lbs
remington express 155gr 1200fps 490-500ft lbs

fastest 165 gr I have seen is speer gold dot 165gr.

[jnb01]

From a shootability and performance standpoint I would choose the 180gr loads, followed by the 165gr versions. I find the 180gr weight offers less recoil for me, as they do not seem to generate as hard of a snap as the higher velocity loadings. FWIW, the .40SW was designed around the 180gr cartridge.

As far as penetration and expansion, bullet design is a major contributing factor regarding the performance of today's best loads. Velocity alone is no longer relied upon as the sole determining factor regarding a bullet's ability to expand.

Here are some examples, using what are widely considered to be the top three bullet designs currently available: Ranger, Federal Tactical, and Gold Dot.

These test's are courtesy of Dr. Gary Roberts over on Tactical Forums. He is considered one of the country's top wound ballistics experts. Here is a brief list of his credentials: U.S. naval officer, sworn civilian police officer, studied at the U.S. Army's Wound Ballistics Research Labratory, test's ammunition for large LE agencies like the CHP as well as the military, lectures on wound ballistics to medical, military, and LE personell, ect. ect.....

All test results are thru 4-layers of denim.

.40SW 180gr Federal Tactical: Vel= 1000fps/ Pen= 12.4"/ RD= .73"

.40SW 155gr Speer Gold Dot: Vel= 1166fps/ Pen= 16"/ RD= .60"

.40SW 165gr Federal Tactical: Vel= 1013fps/ Pen= 12.9"/ RD= .65"

.40SW 180gr Ranger T: Vel= 910fps/ Pen= 14.2"/ RD= .65"

.40SW 165gr Ranger T: Vel= 1166fps/ Pen= 13.5"/ RD= .66"

*357 Sig 125gr Federal Tactical: Vel= 1390fps/ Pen= 13.5"/ RD= .62"

Things to note.....

1) The 155gr Gold Dot penetrated the furthest, and had the smallest recorded recovered diameter.

2) The 180gr Federal Tactical had the largest expanded diameter of the loads listed.

3) Despite running at a "downloaded" 1013fps, the 165gr Federal Tactical offer's outstanding performance, that is equal to or better than the higher velocity loads.

4) The 180gr and 165gr Ranger loads offer very similar performance, despite a 256fps velocity difference.

5) All the loads listed slightly outperformed the 125gr 357 Sig Federal Tactical load with the exception of the 155gr Gold Dot. This despite velocity differences ranging from 236fps for the 155gr GD and 165gr Ranger when compared to the 357 Sig, to a 480fps difference between the 180gr Ranger and the 125gr 357 Sig FT load.

Best, jnb01

[mr. e]

I'd go with the 155 over the 180 for personal defense. I like the higher velocity of the lighter weight bullets, I think they'd expand better the faster they are going when they hit. Their accuracy is good enough, but I find I get better target accuracy with the 180 gr.

[jedi]

Where did this get moved to?

[taoshooter]

Since you ask: 155g Federal