Posted: 8/3/2007 9:00:41 PM EDT
| ok I like the federal hydra shoks. I usually go middle of the road weight, which would be 165 gr. but looking at the federal website they state that the 155gr has the highest energy followed by the 180. does it really matter, what says the hive mind? |
I like the 180gr. Speer Gold Dots for my full size gun, and the 155gr. for my compact carry gun (both Sprinfield XDs). Seems to me a 155gr. bullet out of a short barrel will have more energy than a 180gr. bullet, due to the higher velocity. I'm no ballistics expert, so don't take what I say as gospel. |
Use Winchester Ranger-T 165grn for duty. If didn't have that available Corbon 135grn JHP, Remington Golden Saber 165grn and believe it or not regular Ranger JHP in 155grn. My duty weapon is a G-23 3rd generation and a H&K USP 40 full size variant #1 for off duty and IDPA matches. Also go to : http://www.brassfetcher.com to view gel tests of other 40 rounds.
|
The answer is right at your fingertips. Read this.
No, it does not. Among lead core bullets, the 165 and 180 are most likely to penetrate far enough to reach the vital blood carrying structures after traversing muscle, fat, bone, outstretched arms, etc. The 155 and 135 gr offerings have a tendency to fail at this. I have a Hipower in .40 around the house somewhere (my only gun in that caliber) and I do believe that I have the 165 gr Ranger in it, though sometime I would like to replace such with the 180 gr Federal HST. |
|
Try this site: It's for the 9x19mm but it will give you an idea of why the Hydra-Shoks are not a good choice Pistol Cartridges (9x19mm Luger) |
Yea, another negative for Federal HydraShocks.  Remington Golden Sabers are a good design, but there is better out there for defense. Federal HST(under the VitaShok designation), Speer Gold Dots, and Winchester Rangers are about as good as it gets.There are a couple "designer" loads that may be better for certain applications, but maybe only one or two that are as well rounded as the above mentioned. |
|
Energy Schmenergy. Go out and kill something with it, then get back to me. I've shot deer, hogs, and dogs with 135's, 155s, 165s, and 180s. I've shot them with traditional and bonded JHPs, as well as FMJs. I've shot them with Glock 22s and Glock 23s. Critters ain't ballistic jello, but the jumpin' and a'squealin' after getting plugged, along with digging the bullets out of carcasses, gives you a 'real world' look into bullet performance that phone books and boxes of truth will never afford. Here are some sweeping, broad generalizations about .40 JHPs 155s are too light. Dramatic wounds, but shallow and superficial. 135's are just stupid....unless you intend to be attacked by possums or jackrabbits. 165s do a little better, but not much. Sometimes they make it 10-12"inches, but if they hit bone, forget it. 180s will get through 10-12" most of the time. Not all the time. They do the best - relatively speaking- when punching through spine, scapulas, and skulls. I plugged a six point buck standing broadside at 15 yards with one round of Winchester White Box FMJ. I had just shot a doe in estrous with my black powder rifle, and was unloaded when he came up and tried to have his way with the dead doe. I hit him right behind the shoulder. He ran 40 yards and dropped stone dead. The wound looked like he impaled himself on a pool cue and took out both lungs. It was a through and through. I shot an 8 pointer that was liver shot with an arrow using Remington 155s Green/Yellow box Border patrol load. I''l take a picture of that slug and put it in this post. I hit him high on the point of the shoulder where it meets the neck, trying to break the spine. The shot was true...but the slug penetrated only 3 1/2" of flesh, coming to rest against the vertabrae. With the CNS undamaged, the buck ran off like nothing happened. My dog eventually found him again, and we did recover the buck. It's my personal opinion from formative life experience that 180's are the only way to fly with a .40. I carry Gold Dots now.   |