Fed hydra Shok bullets for reloading

[jetinspector]

I'm a big fan of Fed's Hydra Shok bullets. What frustrates me is that i have never seen them (projectiles only) available to the public to reload! If anybody out there knows were to get'em please let us know!

 

[gamestalker]

Try Midsouth, Cabella's, or Midway. If you find them send me a PM, as I would really like to give them a try too.
Thanks

 

[redbullitt]

I havent seen them either. Some companies tend to hold many of their components...

I do like the gold dots very well. They are easy to get as components, work well, and are priced well. They might be worth a shot.

 

[jetinspector]

I have tried Midsouth,Caballas,Midway,Graf and Sons etc to no avail. I have never seen them at any gun shows either. It would just be nice to have them as another bullet to reload. If Federal does'nt offer them (i believe they don't) my next question is why not?

 

[Irish Bird Dog]

If Federal doesn't offer them (i believe they don't) my next question is why not[/U "

to keep us buying their factory loads...................

 

[Rollis R. Karvellis]

My guess would be, that the bullit is hard to produce. So when they do a production run they make what they need, then, use the equipment, for the less difficult style bullit.

 

[PapaG]

About fifteen years ago I was offered a box of 1000 158 grain Fed Hydrashoks at a very attractive price. I bought them.

Loaded in .357 mag with recommended powder charges and producing around 1350 fps (chrono'd) they were dismal failures in the expansion category. Accurate, yes. A friend loaded a few to top velocity, shot a deer and got basically a straight hole through the lungs. Deer died but it took a while.

Not criticizing the brand or the style but I think I know why mine were so cheap. Wouldn't expand reliably in water, wet newsprint, mud, sand or anything else. I gave the rest to another buddy who loads for a 92 Win replica rifle. He gets them up around 1750 and says he gets good expansion but I have not seen any examples.

Factory stuff, I've heard, does quite well and I wouldn't be afraid to try it. As for me now, I use Sierra stuff and have been well pleased.

Again, I think what I got was factory seconds that didn't meet spec.

 

[918v]

There are better bullets out there.

 

[tackstrp]

for low speed bullets like 380 etc. i prefer soft casted bullets over hollow points. Seems that hollow points dont expand at slower speed . For what i have experienced on phone books and cabelas hard bound catalogs, lead seems cheaper and get some expansion. just my experience. Sure a thousand other different opinions for why or why not or something else is better.

 

[GW Staar]

There are better bullets out there.

I have to agree. Though those famous Hydra Shok's are still a best seller, and Federal has improved them over the years, it is still old technology that has been trumped by newer designs.

Data I've seen in two separate studies, indicate that Hydra Shoks don't expand as reliably as newer JHP designs like the Speer Gold Dot, DPX and the Federal Tactical and HST, especially at lower velocities. Gold dots are readily available to reloaders and I prefer them, except in my Kahr CW40 where they don't chamber worth a d.... Still looking for a reliable expander for that one.

You can even get Gold Dots made especially to expand well when shot out of the typically short barrels found in the smaller concealed carry pistol designs. (except my Kahr)

 

[918v]

Try some golden sabres. Their jacket notches are cut all the way through to the lead, not just folded over.

 

[SoulLessGinger]

There are better bullets out there.

This. People like the cool name, but they are a poor performing bullet. There are much better options out there. The Gold Dot a fantastic bullet and the GS is no slouch either.