Places to buy Federal HST?
- Thread starter Deer Hunter
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LongRider
Member
Based on Federal's website they only make HST for 357 sig no 357 mag. I would go with Remington Golder Sabers. I know it sucks. Sucks too that they don't make 380 either. Remington Golder Sabers are an excellent round. The one I would and do use when HST are not available.
Not sure I understand this this is designated as their LEO/PD ammoNG VI said:
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Stevie-Ray
Member
Now that's sweet!
Think I'll have a look see.Zesty
Member
Just do no one makes the same mistake I did, the Winchester SXT that is sold in black boxes(civilian stuff) is NOT the same as the LE Ranger-T. You want the Ranger, the SXT in the black box is garbage in comparison. Neither looks very much like HST when expanded, IMHO.
Wild Deuce
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- 223
I've only heard of .38 Special +P. I have not seen it available anywhere for civilian purchase and only in one place for LEO purchase. I've been trying real hard to get a box myself.
LongRider
Member
I bought couple hundred rounds each of LE Rangers in .45 and 380. The mistake is using Rangers period IMO.Zesty said:
Zesty
Member
^What makes you say that?
LongRider
Member
See my links on post 50Zesty said:
and based on my own tests. Attached is a rather meager caparisons of HST to Rangers & Golden Sabers wish I had some expanded Ranger .45 left when I took that pic but when I tested had them I was so ticked and shot them all up at targets. They performed like the 380 pictured larger of course but not nearly as large as the HST or Golden Sabers.
Edited to add: I don't see my attachment did it not post or am I missing something??
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LongRider
Member
On Federal's web page, Tactical Bonded and Tactical HST are listed as two completely different rounds unrelated to each other. Tactical Bonded is designed for greater penetration through barriers Tactical HST is designed for greater expansion and accuracy. They both are the same price at Ammunition To GoSnakeEater said:
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Zesty
Member
^Your link posted fine. I agree with you and also chose HST over the Rangers. I don't think it's bad ammo at all, just that there is better for cheaper.
One thing that turned me off the Tactical Bonded was that every single bullet I recovered lost a decent amoutn of weight. I don't see why they would lose so much being a bonded bullet. Speer Gold Dots hold together better for me.
One thing that turned me off the Tactical Bonded was that every single bullet I recovered lost a decent amoutn of weight. I don't see why they would lose so much being a bonded bullet. Speer Gold Dots hold together better for me.
hotpig
Member
Thats correct LongRider . Tactical Bonded has been around a long time and has street credibility. I have been selling it since 1999. HST has only been out about seven years.
The HST shares nothing other than product line with the Bonded ammo. HST is a direct decedent of the PMC Star Fire.
Originally HST was packaged in the Classic box and was to replace the Hi Shock Classic ammo. It looked real good in jello but was crap in the streets and was recalled.
Federal changed the HST from the Classic line to the Premium line. They stopped calling it Hi Shock Two and stuck with HST.
In 2006 Federal started following Winchester lead in consolidating all of its LE ammo into one product line.
Until then the Tac Bonded was the only load called Tactical. They move the HST, EFMJ,and Hydra-Shock to the Tactical product line. Also several rifle and shot gun loads were added to the line.
HST has had a hard life and Federal kept bouncing it around on us Dealers. It has been largely ignored by the LE Community until the last three years.
The breaking point was the Peirce County test. Federal put up their second generation HST against Winchesters "scab made" Ranger ammo. HST won a large contract and the 9mm 147gr is starting to gain some street credibility. Other weights and calibers still have no street credibility but that will come in time.
Winchester was served some humble pie and now settles Union Contracts before picket lines go up. There has been no more 17.00 per hour scab labor since then.
Winchester also took the T-Series back to R&D for Enhancements to compete against the HST.
Winchester also received a big boost by winning the DOJ contract for their 60gr 223 Partition round. Then they won two of the largest contract in history for their Bonded 9mm and 40 caliber loads.
Looks like the FBI has embraced the Bonded ammo over traditional hp designs.
The HST shares nothing other than product line with the Bonded ammo. HST is a direct decedent of the PMC Star Fire.
Originally HST was packaged in the Classic box and was to replace the Hi Shock Classic ammo. It looked real good in jello but was crap in the streets and was recalled.
Federal changed the HST from the Classic line to the Premium line. They stopped calling it Hi Shock Two and stuck with HST.
In 2006 Federal started following Winchester lead in consolidating all of its LE ammo into one product line.
Until then the Tac Bonded was the only load called Tactical. They move the HST, EFMJ,and Hydra-Shock to the Tactical product line. Also several rifle and shot gun loads were added to the line.
HST has had a hard life and Federal kept bouncing it around on us Dealers. It has been largely ignored by the LE Community until the last three years.
The breaking point was the Peirce County test. Federal put up their second generation HST against Winchesters "scab made" Ranger ammo. HST won a large contract and the 9mm 147gr is starting to gain some street credibility. Other weights and calibers still have no street credibility but that will come in time.
Winchester was served some humble pie and now settles Union Contracts before picket lines go up. There has been no more 17.00 per hour scab labor since then.
Winchester also took the T-Series back to R&D for Enhancements to compete against the HST.
Winchester also received a big boost by winning the DOJ contract for their 60gr 223 Partition round. Then they won two of the largest contract in history for their Bonded 9mm and 40 caliber loads.
Looks like the FBI has embraced the Bonded ammo over traditional hp designs.
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LongRider
Member
hotpig said:
Thanks for the history info was not aware of any of that. Are you saying that Rangers have significantly improved in the last six months? I know that all Ranger ammo I tried this year did not come close to looking like what they advertise. It all came out looking like rather small generic HP that separated with none of the famed talons or petals. HST on the other hand are down right wicked. Honestly amazed at the results I have seen. Looking at an expanded 230 grain HST makes my skin crawl. Its consistency is most impressive If .45 HST lack street creds my guess is not enough people have been hit with them for the word to get out. Once a few folks get hit with 230 grain HST it will have plenty street creds IMO
BTW an aside weren't Winchester reps there when they did the tests at the LEO facilities? My impression was all of the manufactures reps for the ammo tested were at each of the tests
I tried several hundred dollars worth of T- Series and as I have said was very disappointed. I used to carry Golden Saber for the longest time than decided to try Rangers and bought 500 rounds. Bad mistake. So the search for new carry ammo began by the time I decided on HST and bought 500 rounds of them. I had spent nearly a grand on selecting my new carry ammo. Still I remain curious about any ammo improvements going on. Even though I have no intention of changing and restocking any time soon
hotpig
Member
T-Series ammo has been out of production for the most part since mid 2006. Thats why you can not hardly find any.
Early this year they did a production run on the new T ammo but it was not enough to fill their back orders. The only way to tell if you had the new is they removed SXT from the box and put T Series on it. So far I only received the RA40T and the RA380T in the new Enhansed version.
Most of what I have been receiving this last year is the Ranger jhp and the new bonded jhp.
Early this year they did a production run on the new T ammo but it was not enough to fill their back orders. The only way to tell if you had the new is they removed SXT from the box and put T Series on it. So far I only received the RA40T and the RA380T in the new Enhansed version.
Most of what I have been receiving this last year is the Ranger jhp and the new bonded jhp.
LongRider
Member
So we don't know how the newer versions perform yet. It will be interesting to see if they live up to the hype. May give it awhile and try some out. For now HST is what I am betting my families life on and Golden Sabers in the Bersa. Have a couple of boxes of 380 Rangers that are staying in the box
Bennett Prescott
Member
I just bought 4 boxes of Ranger T series from Tactical Defense Solutions, the guys I get my HST from as well, in .380 Auto for my little LCP. They have just got a big shipment in. Great to do business with and they ship fast.
Quickdraw McGraw
Member
LongRider
Member
Correction that is what I have 380 AUTOMATIC 95 GR. T-SERIES RA380T, The .45 was marked same. It is what separated and had such poor expansion that I ended up using it as practice ammo. HST so out performed it, I did keep the old Golden Sabers.Hotpig said:
Does look like Tactical Defense Solutions has some decent prices on par with Ammunition To Go will have to check them out next go around. Wish someone would beat Wally Worlds practice ammo prices
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LongRider
Member
Have you checked Tactical Defense Solutions and Ammunition To Go? I know Ammunition To Go has just gotten more in stock. ATG used to have a 2 0r 3 day turn around but now there might be 2 or 3 weeks before you get it though because there is a run on ammo everywhere since the Obomanation was elected. Yes of course Federal is still making it it is their best SD ammo. IMO the best SD made by anyone. They would be insane to stop making it
KegCommando
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- Aug 29, 2008
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- 179
I've been checking the 3 sites just about everyday for the last several weeks, and 147gr 9mm is never in.
I'm about to give up and go through the expensive and painful process of switching to something more easily obtainable.
I'm about to give up and go through the expensive and painful process of switching to something more easily obtainable.
LongRider
Member
RDur & KegCommando
The only reason there is any delay is there is a run on ammo across the board because of the Obamanation. HST is proving to be the best of the best premier SD ammo so of course production is having a hard time keeping up.
Why not just pick up a 500 round box or two if you plan on doing a huge amount of SD shooting. I mean you are going to do your 200 rounds or so of reliability testing but after that how often are you going to be shooting your SD rounds? Ammo will last decades if properly stored. I have shot Korean war era ammo that functioned perfectly. Now a days if you are worried you can vacuum pack the ammo and drop it in the bottom of the ocean and it will be fine when you drag it back up when everyone else is using ray guns.
Pick up a case here and there and you should be fine even if the Obamanation destroys the country and SHTF. If you place an order with ATF they will get it to you ASP.
The only reason there is any delay is there is a run on ammo across the board because of the Obamanation. HST is proving to be the best of the best premier SD ammo so of course production is having a hard time keeping up.
Why not just pick up a 500 round box or two if you plan on doing a huge amount of SD shooting. I mean you are going to do your 200 rounds or so of reliability testing but after that how often are you going to be shooting your SD rounds? Ammo will last decades if properly stored. I have shot Korean war era ammo that functioned perfectly. Now a days if you are worried you can vacuum pack the ammo and drop it in the bottom of the ocean and it will be fine when you drag it back up when everyone else is using ray guns.
Pick up a case here and there and you should be fine even if the Obamanation destroys the country and SHTF. If you place an order with ATF they will get it to you ASP.
Drundel
Member
I've been complacent in ammo since my last gun purchase (Sig 220ST about 4 years ago) so I haven't kept up with new developments, but after getting a Glock 20SF, I thought I would catch up, wow, I want the HST. That is one bad round! 
TDS and ammo2go are out as of now for the ones I am looking for, 165 .40 and +P .45.
Those are some super impressive bullets. Does anyone know designed the bullets? Burczynski?
TDS and ammo2go are out as of now for the ones I am looking for, 165 .40 and +P .45.
Those are some super impressive bullets. Does anyone know designed the bullets? Burczynski?
LongRider
Member
Right now we are all pretty much SOL right now. As you know folks are waking up loading up and there is a severe ammo shortage everywhere. Your best bet is keep on checking Tactical Defense Solutions and Ammunition To Go? Both have proven to be reliable sources in the past my bet is they will be the first to have it as it becomes available
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