Federal Hydrashock versus Speer Gold Dot 124g JHP's

[Balrog]

How does Federal Hydrashock 124g JHP's compare to Speer Gold Dots 124g JHP?

Terminal performance supposedly better for which?

 

[Bobson]

Supposedly better for Gold Dots. No clue if that's true though. Supposedly it is.

 

[notaglockfanboy]

Check out tnoutdoors9 on YouTube. He does tests on just about every round a guy can buy off the shelf in ballistic gel and does a great job.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I think it's s toss up man. In my experience, speer ammo seems loaded hotter than fed ammo though. So if you're dealing with a short barrel gun, maybe the Speers are a better choice.

They both have good results in gelatin tests.

 

[skt239]

Here you go...

http://youtu.be/EQ3RCsbzV2I

http://youtu.be/fdXfDcY-0gU

I carry the gold dots.

 

[DeepSouth]

Another vote gold dots, I'll almost always take bonded over jacketed.

 

[RustyShackelford]

Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P JHP short barrel....

I just got a new 20rd box of Speer Gold Dot +P 124gr 9x19mm for my S&W Shield no thumb safety 9mm.
I chose it over other brands like Hornady Critical Duty, CorBon DPX, Ranger T/T Series, Golden Saber because it had great ballistics.
YouTube clips showed the Gold Dot 124gr +P 9mm doing well in most mediums; blocks, wood, old milk jugs with water, etc.

I might buy some new Winchester Ranger T, T Series 127gr +P+ JHP 9mm for security details in larger pistols. The 127gr +P+ JHP is the main duty round of my city's PD(SIG Sauer P226R 9mm).

 

[Water-Man]

www.ar15.com/ammo/project/Self_Defense_Ammo_FAQ/

 

[Phaedrus/69]

I've never fired them at a human but I've fired 124gr Hydra-Shoks into other things. They seem to fragment more than some. I carried them in the past but nowadays I'm using HSTs most of the time, Gold Dots the rest of the time. Based on LE shootings and ballistics test I feel those are both among the best choices out there. Not the only good ones but I'll let someone else be a pioneer.

 

[herrwalther]

Never had much positive luck with Hydra-Shoks in calibers above .380. In .380 they are just meh and easier to find than something better. HST is a much better round by comparison. Gold Dots and Ranger T's have very nice performance, the issue is finding them.

 

[slickracer]

The Federal HST would be a better comparison as it's the next generation of Hydra-Shok.

 

[Onward Allusion]

Yeah, HST is 2nd Gen Hydra-Shok. Between Gold Dots and Hydra-Shok - It's a toss up but Hydra-Shok is less expensive and can be purchased from a few places as LE contract surplus rounds. It lets a person practice with what they carry w/o breaking the bank.

 

[ku4hx]

I don't buy much factory ammunition. But when I do I buy Federal. Stay accurate my friend.

 

[RustyShackelford]

Federal HST....

Some gunners & forum members might not know the label HST means Hydra Shok Two.

I know it's very popular & has great ballistics in most calibers but I don't see it as superior to rounds like Hornady Critical Duty or the Winchester Ranger T/T Series.
Sales & availablity seemed to be issues with HSTs too.

RS

 

[340PD]

I tend to carry whatever the local police in my area carry. Hopefully I will never be in court to support my philosophy.

Currently it is the Speer product.

 

[joe_security]

Gold dots preferred by French Police, Corrections, Customs.

I can't link with this devise but a Google search brings up numerous hits about Speer/ATK selling tons of 9mm Gold dot to the French government for LE use. If you are using Gold dot, Ranger or HST you are in good shape.

 

[RustyShackelford]

Sheriff's....

My county's huge sheriff's office(approx 1200 sworn personnel) uses the Speer Gold Dot for their Glock sidearms(21 gen 04, 36, 30/30S, 22-23 .40S&W, 9mm).
A few smaller PDs use Speer Gold Dot for the sidearms(about 50/50 mix of SIG Sauers & Glocks). Police officers & sworn deputies I spoke to said it was more of a budget/logisitcal issue than ballistics or performance.

The NYPD has authorized the Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P HP 9x19mm for many years.

 

[BlindJustice]

I've bought a couple of Federal packaged with
2x50 rd 230 gr FMJ & 1x20 rd box of 230 gr.
Hydra Shok JHP for $ 70. .45 ACP I don't
see much Gold Dot choices where I shop which is
kinda weird as it's in Lewiston ID where ATK has
the main plant for CCI/Speer Only know one store
that has HST in stock.

I have found ProGrade 147 gr. XTP +P @ 1,100 fps
at $ 17 per 25 rd vox.

R-

 

[BlindJustice]

Here's some tests from tnoutdoors9.com

9x19 Hornady +P 135 gr. Critical Duty
Measured Vel: 1,125 FPS
Penetration: 16.75”
Expansion: .518

https://search.yahoo.com/search;_yl....com+youtube&fr=sfp&fr2=sb-top-search&iscqry=

9x19 Speer Gold Dot 115 gr. JHP
Measured Vel.: 1,202
penetration: 17.5”
Expansion: .517”

https://search.yahoo.com/search;_yl....com+youtube&fr=sfp&fr2=sb-top-search&iscqry=


9x19 Federal HST 147 gr. JHP
Measured Vel.: 1,006 FPS
Penetration: 13.25“
Expansion: .664“

https://search.yahoo.com/search;_yl....com+youtube&fr=sfp&fr2=sb-top-search&iscqry=

 

[LockedBreech]

HST does not stand for Hydra Shok Two. It might have at some point in the development process, but Federal has never termed it as such and it's an entirely different design other than the company. If anything it could be seen as a Hi-Shok successor.

At this point, though the idea that HST = Hydra Shok Two is so affixed due to the popularity of the Hydra Shok branding that there's no point in arguing it anymore, much in the same way that Kleenex now = tissue paper.

In my opinion after review of the evidence, testing, and street performance records, HST and Gold Dot are substantially better choices than Hydra-Shok. If all you can get your hands on is Hydra Shok, it's still a capable and proven round, just a generation behind current tech.

 

[herrwalther]

Sales & availablity seemed to be issues with HSTs too.

A gun store just a few miles from me carried HST in 50 round boxes up to a full case. Not too long ago a 50 round box of HST in 147gr 9mm only cost about $47 out the door so I jumped all over that. They either moved or closed so now I have to find a new supplier.

 

[RustyShackelford]

ATK exec response: Federal HST.....

I got a email response from a ATK LE sales exec about the meaning of HST.
According to him(who was also a SWAT unit captain & sworn LE officer for 20 years) HST means nothing.
This is interesting.
The ATK company exec wrote HST is just the label name & isn't short for any specific product description.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

Some gunners & forum members might not know the label HST means Hydra Shok Two.

Incorrect. HST is an acronym for "Hi-Shok Two". Hi-Shok is Federal's other line of defense ammo (Federal Classic).

The post in Hydra-Shok bullets allows clothing to plug the mouth of the hollowpoint cavity and it has less reliable expansion performance than other JHP bullets.

 

[Rinspeed]

I've never fired them at a human

How many have though, that's why we have the errornets.

 

[RustyShackelford]

Post #23.....

Post #23 is incorrect.
The ATK law enforcement sales exec emailed me with a reply saying HST does not stand for anything. It's just a label the Federal company chose for the new ammunition line.
He's the exec that sells 1000s of rounds to law enforcement & military units worldwide. I think he would know what HST means.

Rusty S