Ballistic gelatin test results : 165gr Federal Personal Defense Hydra-Shok (Glock 30)

[Brass Fetcher]

Special thanks to Jake and Danielle for providing the material support for this test.

Cartridge : Federal 165gr Personal Defense Hydra-Shok

Firearm : Glock 30 with 3.8" barrel length

Block calibration : All depths corrected (From 9.2cm @ 592 ft/sec)

Shot 1 - Heavy clothing shot (4 layers of heavy denim). Impacted at 900 ft/sec, penetrated to 13.8" and was recovered at 0.594" average diameter.

Shot 2 - Bare gelatin shot. Impacted at 956 ft/sec, penetrated to 9.8" and was recovered at 0.778" average diameter.

Shot 3 - Bare gelatin shot. Impacted at 909 ft/sec, penetrated to 9.7" and was recovered at 0.689" average diameter.

Shot 4 - Heavy clothing shot. Impacted at 902 ft/sec, penetrated to 14.6" and was recovered at 0.624" average diameter.

Shot 5 - Heavy clothing shot. Impacted at 955 ft/sec, penetrated to 10.5" and was recovered at 0.705" average diameter.

 

[wally]

I'll sure skip this round, Inadaquate penetration on three of five shots!

--wally.

 

[HorseSoldier]

Strange that penetration was superior with barrier material compared to the bare gelatin.

 

[wally]

Not really, expansion was less from "clogging" the cavity. Classic example of an over expanding round.

--wally.

 

[Jimmie]

Horse - why is that strange? Denim limits its expansion (compare the expanded diameters) so it penetrates further. Similar to comparing FMJ to a good HP. The unexpanded will always penetrate further.

 

[MICHAEL T]

FPS were all over the place. That and the expansion not in my pistol

 

[CPshooter]

It's rounds like these that make me question the .45 ACP..i do appreciate the effort in these gelatin tests though! Thanks and keep up the good work..

I'm really not a fan of the Hydra-shok bullet with its center post design, and also of 165g .45ACP. I wouldn't shoot anything besides a better peforming round(like a gold dot) in at least a 185g weight, + P preferred.

 

[the naked prophet]

No wonder it didn't do well. It's a lightweight bullet moving at the same speed as a 200 grain bullet should be going. Not to mention the Hydrashock's characteristic overexpansion. A 200 grain bullet moving at the same speed would be more normal, and probably get better penetration because of the better sectional density.

Of course, that doesn't address the issue of the inconsistency.

 

[P. Plainsman]

Hmph.

Stephen Camp once wrote about hunting javelina with .45 ACP handguns -- said the only round they tried whose performance stunk was the Federal 165 grain "Personal Defense" Hydra-Shok JHP. He said the round was so lacking in stopping power on the little 30-lb pigs that he went home and shot up his entire supply of the stuff "so that it wouldn't find its way into" any of his working guns. 'Nuff said.

As usual, thanks much for the info, JE223.

 

[RyanM]

Looks like Federal has improved the design recently for better performance post-denim. Even so, that stuff definitely still stinks.

 

[jay43]

in all due respect to the ammo these where fired out of a compact gun, thus less velocity, and even with the "inadequate" penetration it's more than enough to stop you with a well placed shot

 

[SuperNaut]

I guess this is the round to recommed to those worried about over-penetration, or recommend a .380 for similar performance.

 

[BlindJustice]

Quote
Cartridge : Federal 165gr Personal Defense Hydra-Shok

Firearm : Glock 30 with 3.8" barrel length
end Quote

SO, why do you assume everybody knows it's a .45 ACP ?

looking at the bullet weight and velocity in the orig.
test since I don't know Glocks I assumed it a .40 S&W
Then I read tthe thread and just want to stay away
from Fed. Hyra-Shok.


I

 

[Brass Fetcher]

@BlindJustice - Good point. Sometimes I forget to put the caliber down. They are in the correct caliber slot on my website.

@mods - Would you mind adding '.45ACP' somewhere in the title to the thread? Thank you. JE