Need some input on these!!!

[bersaguy]

Was over at a buddies house yesterday and he brought out two 20 round boxes of Federal 380 auto 90 grain hydra-shok JHP ammo. He sold his 380 and had no more use for them and asked me if I would give him 10 bucks a box for them. I am not familiar with them and don't know anything about their reputation. They also say they are low recoil. Can anyone give me any input on these. I did go on and buy them from him since the rice tags on each box was $19.95 and I was getting both boxes for 20.00 bucks. Any input into if they are good ammo and something I can depend on and would they be a good round to put through my Bersa's.

  Any input would be appreciated.

[Troutburger]

You got a good buy on them.

From what I have read the best ammo for defense in a .380 is ball ammo.

You just don't get good penetration out of hollow points.

Google the box of truth for some real interesting tests.

[z0mbies fear me]

My 1st cousin is a Sheriff Deputy in northeast Tennessee and that is the ammo his department issues. He carries a backup .380 and that's what is in it.

[tnguy]

As far as I know, the hydra-shoks are good ammo. I ran some through my 40 a couple of times when I still had it. Too expensive to run through regularly though.

[bersaguy]

Another buddy of my just stopped in and I showed them to him. He said they are a very good round to use for house protection because of the impact they produce but also said he would not recommend them for a carry gun. He likes ball FMJ for carry purposes which is what I have loaded in all my 380's at present. May fill up two or three of my Llama 380 magazines since that is my house gun that remains beside my bed 99% of the time. Thanks for the opinions as I value what folks here have to say about most things regarding ammo and firearms.

[Garufa]

Now why would they be good for home defense but not self defense in a carry gun away from the house?  That really doesn't make much sense.

 

Many like FMJ .380 as it's usually better at penetration that hollow points.  Does he expect an intruder to take of their coat so you can shoot them better?

Edited November 17, 2013 by Garufa

[frankmako]

good ammo and a good price.  

[BigK]

Hydro-shocks have had a pretty good reputation for a long time in major calibers. IF I carried a .380, I would consider them for summer time, but not for coat wearing weather.

[hipower]

Personal opinion, but I prefer the fmj/ball ammo in my LCP, and in the keltec before I got the Ruger.

[Jamie Jackson]

I have cared for people shot with 230 gr 45acp Hydra-shok. They had excellent penetration and expansion. Very impressive. That's the round I've carried in my 1911's for a long time.

 

.380's can be very finicky about feeding hollowpoint ammo...very finicky in my experience. I had an AMT .380 Backup that a friend throated and polished the feedramp for me (mid 1990's) and it feed the Hydra-shoks well...but would only reliably feed ball ammo prior to that.

 

IF your .380 feeds them reliably, you should be GTG. :up:

[DaveTN]

Federal Hydra Shok’s are the best round made, IMO. But a .380 doesn’t have enough power to fully expand an HP and then have penetration, that’s why most people use ball.

It will take more than 40 rounds to figure out if your weapon will reliably feed them. I would stick with what you know works.

[Jonnin]

most 380 is weakly loaded here in the states, even the so-called defense stuff.   The reason people shoot ball and worry about underperformance is the low pressure american ammo.   If you search, you can find some full power ammo out of euro countries or take a look at buffalo bore, or make your own.  The 380 with full power ammo is still weaker than a 9mm but if you are trusting it with your life, then I recommend spending some time to find the best ammo you can for it.   

 

I alternate JHP an FMJ in mine,  as even full power hollow points may lack penetration.  Its just not gonna be easy to push a 40ish diameter expanded round with a lower than standard pressure 9mm powder charge.

[Mark A]

Now why would they be good for home defense but not self defense in a carry gun away from the house?  That really doesn't make much sense.

 

 

 

exactly...