First Look: Federal Premium Hydra-Shok Deep Ammo

by
posted on January 13, 2018
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
federal-premium-hydra-shok-deep-ammo-self-defense-f.jpg
Expanding on the success of its Hydra-Shok line of personal-defense ammunition, Federal Premium announced the launch of its new Hydra-Shok Deep. This new ammunition offering is designed to provide deeper penetration, stopping threats in their tracks.

“Hydra-Shok Deep offers consumers a round that results in consistent, reliable performance through typical defensive barriers and penetrates to the depth deemed optimum by the leading law-enforcement agency in the United States,” said Larry Head, Federal Premium's director and chief engineer of handgun ammunition.

The company's original Hydra-Shok round was developed in 1989 and submitted as Federal Premium's answer to an FBI request for a bullet with enhanced terminal ballistics than the standard cup-and-core designs dominating the market at the time. However, the evolving understanding of ballistics and testing led to a redevelopment of the parameters of the FBI protocol.

“FBI performance requirements and protocol testing have evolved over time,” Head said. “One of the most notable changes has been the desire for deeper-penetrating rounds and more consistency in penetration depths though all intermediate barriers.”

As it did in 1989, Federal Premium stepped up to meet the need for deeper penetration and consistent penetration depths by creating its new Hydra-Shok Deep ammunition. The new round features a redesigned core that allows for up to 50 percent more penetration than the company's original Hydra-Shok load. In addition, the center post inside the bullet has been strengthened in order to further enhance the round's barrier-penetration abilities.

In renewed testing, Federal Premium claims that its new Hydra-Shok Deep projectile penetrates 15 inches into standard 10-percent ballistics gelatin, meeting the ideal depth requested by the FBI protocol. The round is loaded with Federal Premium primers and powder, the composition of which includes flash suppressants in order to dampen muzzle flash in low-light situations.

The new Federal Premium Hydra-Shok will be introduced initially in 135-grain 9 mm loads, with other options following soon. The new ammunition will be sold in packs of 20 with an MSRP of $27.95.

Latest

Nextorch WL 15 weaponlight
Nextorch WL 15 weaponlight

First Look: Nextorch WL15 Weaponlight

Nextorch just released a 1,200-lumen, accessory-rail mounted light for your handgun.

I Carry: Smith & Wesson Model 10 Revolver in a Bianchi Holster

In this week's episode of "I Carry," we have a Smith & Wesson Model 10 Classic No-Lock .38 Special revolver in a Bianchi Shadow II holster with a MicroTech Cypher II automatic knife.

First Look: Kifaru QRF Fanny Pack

Carry your gear in a rugged, sturdy pack.

Steiner’s T1Xi Top Performer in Texas DPS Optic Evaluation

The company's robust red-dot optic came out on top in Texas testing.

First Look: Luth-AR 10-/22 Barrels

Luth-AR is now offering aftermarket barrels for the popular Ruger 10/22 platform.

Tech Wisdom: The Long and Short of It 

Regularly shooting shorter cases out of longer-cylinder revolvers (like .38 Spl. out of a .357 Mag.) is possible provided one meticulously keeps the chambers clean.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Illustrated delivered to your inbox.