Federal HydroShock vs. Powerball

[angrypenguin]

I have a .40 and I usually carry Federal 180gr HydroShock ammo. I seen Powerball ammo today and was wondering if I should make a switch? Anyone have any real information on this ammo?

 

[angrypenguin]

Nevermind. I think I am going to go with Winchester pdx1!

 

[MikePapa1]

This might give you some information:

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[hunter won]

The new 9mm +P Winchester PDX1 is a real good choice it expands and penetrates barriers better than the 45 ACP.

 

[Bighouse Doc]

The Hydroshock is getting a bit old and long in the tooth.

Is there a reason you need Powerball specifically?

Cor-Bon is generally fixated on Temporary cavity creation.

There are lots of other good premium designs out there.

-Doc

 

[angrypenguin]

I went with PDX1. From all the backyard and real tests on it it seems to be the best out there right now. The expansion is scary on those bullets lol. If anyone is looking for carry ammo take a good look at it!

-Kev

 

[Ropadope]

I've purchased a ton of the Winchester Supreme Elite PDX1 .45 ACP.

I'll let ya know how it performs when and if I ever have the unfortunate opportunity to shoot a civillian in my defense. :biggrin:

 

[tosnyder]

I tried the PowerBall in 9mm in my old Jericho 941 and had a 15% faiilure to fire on first strike. I checked the primers and had good looking strikes. At least they looked the same as all the ones that went bang as well as all the WWB I had shot that day. Shot two boxes, (40 rounds), each box was from a different lot. I had posted on some other forums asking if others had had problems with it and didn't find much. I was contacted by a corbon rep who "wanted to make things right " but after that was pretty much ignored. I won't buy a corbon product again. Its a shame because its a great concept but didn't prove reliable in my gun. Shot nice though when it did go bang. Never had any failure with that gun even after several thousand rounds except for the powerball.

The PDX1 is nice, I put three boxes of it through my M&P with no problems reccently. Grouped well. There is also the Hornady critical defense which is a similar concept to the powerball and remingtons ultimate defensse rounds which is an update to the golden sabre rounds I believe. Havent shot either but hope to soon. Got three boxes of each in the closet begging to fly.

 

[aj's 40 cal]

i use speer gold dot 155 grain, federal hst 155 grain, critical defence 165 grain, power ball 135 grain. thats what i carry/ switch out. depends on where im goin and what i might have to use my weapon for.normal carry is the hst.

 

[hunter won]

Federal HST in 9mm +P is also a good performer.Cor Bon has QC issues.If you look at Seecamps ammo recommendations he writes that so nobody uses it.

 

[MikePapa1]

Well, Bighouse, I, too, am getting a little long in the tooth. I've used the Hydra shoks since the early 90's as my carry ammo. Every six months or so I shoot a box through the Sig P226 at the range. In that time I've had no failures. Frankly, I'm an "if it ain't broke don't fix it" guy.

 

[angrypenguin]

Well, Bighouse, I, too, am getting a little long in the tooth. I've used the Hydra shoks since the early 90's as my carry ammo. Every six months or so I shoot a box through the Sig P226 at the range. In that time I've had no failures. Frankly, I'm an "if it ain't broke don't fix it" guy.

Take a look at some of the tests done on youtube with the PDX1 versus the Federal hydroshock. The PDX1 is also a bonded bullet, the Hydroshock is not.

 

[MikePapa1]

I use the 115 gr +P+ Hydra Shok. The video I saw showed a lack of weight retention perhaps, but what would result in a massive wound cavity. I'll think on changing by trying some other rounds, but until something shows that a double tap center mass won't do the job, I'm not overly concerned.

 

[angrypenguin]

I use the 115 gr +P+ Hydra Shok. The video I saw showed a lack of weight retention perhaps, but what would result in a massive wound cavity. I'll think on changing by trying some other rounds, but until something shows that a double tap center mass won't do the job, I'm not overly concerned.

Have you read at all on a bonded bullet. I think it has a large advantage over a regular JHP or hydroshock.

 

[handgonnetoter]

Well, Bighouse, I, too, am getting a little long in the tooth. I've used the Hydra shoks since the early 90's as my carry ammo. Every six months or so I shoot a box through the Sig P226 at the range. In that time I've had no failures. Frankly, I'm an "if it ain't broke don't fix it" guy.

I agree with you. I have used Hydro shocks for a long time also, and feel confident that it will work. I also use the Hornady "Critical Defense" in 115gr. for my 9mm's. By the way, the M2 Browning is a really old gun - they still use that don't they? Personally, a BB is really old and I would not want to stop one of those either!:laugh:

 

[tpd223]

The Hydrashock wouldn't be my choice for carry loads, although in .40 it's not horrible as far as available choices go. I would not go with the Powerball unless I lived in New Jersey and could not use JHP ammo.

The Gold Dot, HST and Winchester Ranger-T lines are all far better choices than the Hydrashock.

 

[tpd223]

While I have personally had issues with the QC at Cor Bon in the past (squib loads in a case of 115gr +P 9mm, as in LOTS of squib loads), since the move to Sturgis I have found no issues with their ammo.

They had serious issues with the workforce in Detroit before the move, this was the real problem with their QC back then.

All of the major ammo companies have issues at one time or another, I have seen bad ammo from CCI, Federal and Winchester as well.

 

[jrtyson72]

This might give you some information:

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Thanks for the link mike, very very informative. I think I'll go let my .45 federal hydra shok fly at the range and buy a more up to date defense round.