Federal Hydrashok .45ACP LE Only?

I don't know why companies do that. I know that some manufacturers require distributors to post that.

I have tons of Federal, Hornady, Remington and Winchester "for LE only" ammo for sale.
I don't care who buys it as long as they pay for it.

Have you tried to order some? I bet you wouldn't have any problem doing so.

I've had good luck with Ammunition to Go when buying the Federal ammo.

LE only ammo is a label the manufactures put on the boxes on ammo for large LE contracts. The label is there for the manufacturers benefit in distinguishing product and not to regulate its use. The ammo is boxed differently than what is sold commercially, usually in cardboard boxes of 50 rather than the small plastic boxes of 20 or 25. According to the Federal ballistic charts the standard pressure LE 230gr .45 Hydra-shok ammo is the same as that sold commercially.

When there are LE contract over runs or cancellations, the surplus ammo finds its way to the civilian market at relatively bargain prices compared to commercial packaging. For some loadings that are sold on LE contracts only, like .45 acp 185gr +P Hydra-Shoks or +P+ loadings of other ammo, its the only way civilians can get them.

They carry federal and speer LE ammo and yes you can buy it just don't shoot anyone with it
I can not find any of this local ordering it is the only way I can get it
I have not seen the HST bulet availible in anything buy LE packing.

http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/catalog1/index.php/cName/45-acp-hollow-point-ammo

I wouldn't even bother with Hydra Shok anyway. Old design hollow points like the Hydra Shok rely on the hollow point to try initiate enough deformation of the lead core and jacket for the bullet to expand. The new Federal HST bullet is "pre-sectioned", the separation lines on the jacket go from the tip of the bullet all the way to the edge of the case.

EricTheBarbarian: ...So is there a real reason that they can't sell this magic bullet to civilians or are they just choosing to do this to help sell it for the cool factor?

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I believe the "LAW ENFORCEMENT USE ONLY" label has to do with Federal Excise Taxes. Police Departments do not have to pay FET.

Cheaper Than Dirt has been price gouging for a while now.

Ammunition To Go is a great business to deal with.

I wouldn't even bother with Hydra Shok anyway. Old design hollow points like the Hydra Shok rely on the hollow point to try initiate enough deformation of the lead core and jacket for the bullet to expand. The new Federal HST bullet is "pre-sectioned", the separation lines on the jacket go from the tip of the bullet all the way to the edge of the case.

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The advantage of which is??????

Thats a stupid price anyway, who would pay that?

The advantage of which is??????

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The advantage is that instead of hoping the soft lead will deform enough on impact to expand reliably, the pre-sectioned bullet expands easier. Like tearing pre perforated paper vs a folded piece of paper.

Edit:


See what I mean? The Hydra Shok looks like it was just mooshed into that shape. The HST looks like it was sectioned off. This means the HST is more likely to expand reliably under less than ideal circumstances than the Hydra Shok.

My understanding is/was that the Hydra Shok was a happy medium between penetration and expansion.

I have to giggle a little bit at how strongly people state the advantage of HSTs over Hydra-shoks. They are both premium JHP ammo which will have a strong likelihood of doing exactly what you need them too. When HSTs came out, all of a sudden it was like the Hydra-shok was transformed from a Cadillac to a Ford Pinto, guaranteed to get you killed. Freakin' lighten up. I carry HSTs, but I didn't until I got around to cycling out my old Hydra-shoks, and I would be perfectly confident using 230 gr hardball if I needed to.