Remington golden saber, or hydro shok?

[BehindTheIronCurtain]

I'm not a handloader, but this seemed the best place to ask.

I have a glock 30 coming in the mail, mainly for home defense, I have heard great things about hydro shok ammo, saw a review by a YouTuber and it penetrated 15 inches, nice expansion, the Remington, preset rated 14 inches.

I'm sure the one inch doesn't matter much, and I found Remington's for 15 bucks per 25 round box online, compared to $27 for 20 on the hydro shok.

 

[Certaindeaf]

My vote is for the Remington.. especially the bonded ones.

 

[Waywatcher]

Why a subcompact for home defense? I mean, you have the room for a bigger gun. Anyways, I wouldn't get either of those loads. I would get 230 grain Winchester Ranger T, Speer Gold Dot, or Federal HST. Also, buying ammo in 20 round boxes is a big rip off; the Golden Saber isn't so bad, but it's not the best load.

Click here to see ammo recommendations.

Click here for Federal HST for $30 per 50 rounds.

Click here for Winchester Ranger for $32 per 50 rounds.

Click here for Speer Gold Dot for $40 per 50 rounds.

 

[Maryland_Shooter]

Federal HST is THE best as far as reviews I've read. Sadly, they are not available as reloading components.

I have a slew of Speer GD in 40, Hornady XTP in .45 and some factory Ranger for both.

 

[gahunter12]

Why a subcompact for home defense? I mean, you have the room for a bigger gun. Anyways, I wouldn't get either of those loads. I would get 230 grain Winchester Ranger T, Speer Gold Dot, or Federal HST. Also, buying ammo in 20 round boxes is a big rip off; the Golden Saber isn't so bad, but it's not the best load.

I agree 150%. I have tried all three in my pistols. I ended up carrying Ranger T's in my XD40sc, and XDm40, and Federal HST in my SA 1911. The Speer Gold Dots shot a little low in my XD40sc, but was fine in my XDm. For that reason I went with the Ranger T, plus I like the Talons of the Ranger T's. I was a big fan of theme back when they come out as Black Talons. Also if you try the Gold Dots, buy the LEO Gold Dots on line. They come in a box of 50 for about $3.00 more than the civilian Gold Dots box of 20.

 

[Steve C]

Buy the less expensive as both are perfectly adequate for SD in home or on the street and you will need to shoot a few to check reliability. After you are convinced of that reliability, practice with lower cost ball ammo.

 

[rcmodel]

for home defense, + and it penetrated 15 inches

Unless your bad guys are a lot bigger then our Kansas corn fed bad guys?
15" is over-penetration and will kill two bad guys stacked prison lover style.

Look for a load with less penetration and you are less likely to shoot through three walls and kill your neighbors grandmother knitting in her rocking chair.


Before everyone jumps on the FBI 16" minimum standards.

You will not need to shoot through steel car doors and laminated glass windshilds inside your home unless the BG drives his Hummer through the livingroom wall to break in!!

rc

 

[kingmt]

We used to carry Hydro as duty ammo. I was so glad when we got away from that junk. It even had problems running in the Glock. We qualify out to 30yd & it scattered all over the place. My score went way up when we went to Tap. I don't remember one failure since we went to tap. I haven't had one.

 

[d'Artagnan]

Several years ago, before choosing which bullet to use in my 9mm Luger reloads, I extensively researched the subject using my and others' independent tests. Hydro-shoks were not available to the reloader so I didn't include them in my research. The bottom line for the reloader is Remington's Golden Saber 124gr was the best in EVERY respect -- penetration, expansion, and weight retention through all manner of, and combinations of obstructions; availability, accuracy, even pressure -- although just a hair more accurate than Speer's Gold Dots.

 

[d'Artagnan]

Several years ago, before choosing which bullet to use in my 9mm Luger reloads, I extensively researched the subject using my and others' independent tests. Hydro-shoks were not available to the reloader so I didn't include them in my research. The bottom line for the reloader is Remington's Golden Saber 124gr was the best in EVERY respect -- penetration, expansion, and weight retention through all manner of, and combinations of obstructions; availability, accuracy, even pressure -- although just a hair more accurate than Speer's Gold Dots.

 

[4895]

I vote for Gold Dot ammo. Good stuff.

 

[Nomad]

I use both Hydra-shocks and Golden Sabers and carry both in different calibers. I have tested both for expansion and penetration and both are fine bullets. You can't go wrong with either but whatever you decide on, buy enough to test for feeding problems.

 

[blarby]

I'm not a handloader, but this seemed the best place to ask.

Since that got overlooked a lil, I thought I'd point it out

If you can't get your hands on cor-bon factory loads, go with the rem 'sabers.

Hydro-shok ammo, whilst very hyped on impact, has suffered from some performance issues in key areas : feeding/functionality, accuracy, and round-to-round variance.

Granted, I doubt you are going to see 30 yard shots in your house....but with feed issues and factory FPS variance in excess of 100 fps within the same boxes when you are relying on critical math for energy dump and expansion properties.....go with something more reliable.

 

[Nappers]

Nothing wrong with the Hydro Shoks, we used them in our duty guns for our XD .40's.

I use the Remington HD bullets in my off duty Colt Commander
http://www.remington.com/product-families/ammunition/handgun/home-defense.aspx

And there are 25 in a box compared to some having only 20.....

They shoot good at my last range, we have to qualify with our off duty gun as well.

Happy shooting

 

[Waywatcher]

Hydro=Derived from water.
Hydra=In mythology, a monster with multiple heads and reptilian traits.

I've never seen or heard of Hydro-Shok ammo.

I've seen lots of Hydra-Shok ammo.

I am posting this is because 6 of the 7 posters who mentioned this ammo previously in their post, including the OP, erroneously called it Hydro-Shok.

 

[kingmt]

I hope you fell better now.

 

[Waywatcher]

Oh, the irony in your mispelled retort!

 

[elrowe]

Velocity will be a key, you need a threshold that varies by bullet type to create expansion. With the G30's 3.78" barrel, you sacrifice a LOT of energy (24% less distance to apply acceleration). Most MV data is based on longer barrels.

http://www.firearmstactical.com/ammo_data/45acp.htm

The FBI results are based on 5", and show velocities for both that are close to the 1000 FPS that seems to be a magic number for a lot of HP bullets to properly expand.

Regarless of all of that, the 230 gr .45 fmj has killed plenty of America's enemies around the world at velocities under 800 FPS, so expansion is just a bonus anyway.

As far as the overpenetration concern, it will go through your target and a couple of walls anyway, so just make sure you are aware of what's on the other side - INCLUDING EXTERIOR WALLS.

FWIW, I carry Golden Sabers, but there was nothing scientific in the original selection and I'm too lazy to put a lot of effort in justifiying a change.

 

[Rule3]

I love ballistic debates

It's a 45, does it really matter??? Any of the Brand Names with magic bullets will work.

 

[4895]

I love ballistic debates

It's a 45, does it really matter??? Any of the Brand Names with magic bullets will work.

LOL, good point! Afterall, the purpose of self defense ammunition is to "stop the threat" that is going to kill you or a third party. Arguing about which bullet does the most to stop a threat is just about done when .45 caliber is the context.

I wouldn't want to take a hit from a rubber ball coming out of a .45 barrel.

 

[kingmt]

We all heard the stories.

The 80 year old 120lb man that was on oxygen & blood pressure meds took 15 shoots to the chest then pulled out his 45. He didn't even hit the 300 man but the muzzle blast still blow the guy away.

I heard the old man wouldn't even go to the hospital. He said a bandaid would cover that scratch.

 

[d'Artagnan]

FYI: According to Otto Witt's "A Guide to 38 Special and 357 Magnum Headstamps", Hydra-Shok Corp. of Watkins Glen, NY marketed HYDRA-SHOK -headstamped 38 Special and 357 Magnum ammunition with their proprietary bullets 1975-1987. Cases were made by Starline (flat-top 3) and probably Olin (round-top 3). The company loaded other calibers but the HYDRA-SHOK headstamp has only been encountered on 38 Special/357 Magnum.

 

[sellersm]

I'd suggest Speer Short-barrel Gold Dot HP. Next would be the Federal HST.

And yes, find a retailer that sells in boxes of 50 instead of 20. SGAmmo.com or http://mahsupplies.net

Whatever you get, be sure to buy enough so you can practice a little with them, but most importantly, test the reliability of it in your gun! Use similar ball/FMJ ammo for regular practice.