Federal Premium Launches All-New Hydra-Shok Deep Personal Defense Load

Federal Premium Launches All-New Hydra-Shok Deep Personal Defense Load
Federal Premium Launches All-New Hydra-Shok Deep Personal Defense Load

ANOKA, Minnesota-(Ammoland.com)- Using a handgun for self-defense is never a static discipline, as you must constantly refresh, improve and adapt your skills to new situations. Likewise, even iconic tools of the trade have to evolve.

It’s no surprise that Federal Premium’s Hydra-Shok Deep is at the forefront of that movement. This new round builds off the time-tested Hydra-Shok platform to better meet modern performance measurements. And the improvements will give handgunners a big boost.

“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, director and chief engineer of handgun ammunition.

The Proven Design

Hydra-Shok has been a self-defense staple since its debut in 1989. At that time, the FBI had requested a projectile with better terminal ballistics than traditional cup-and-core bullets, and Federal responded with Hydra-Shok, which uses an expanding bullet with a notched jacket, non-bonded lead core and unique center-post hollow-point design. That provided better penetration and more consistent threat-stopping expansion than other bullets at the time.

“Original Hydra-Shok was designed toward the end of the ’80s around the then-current FBI philosophy of how a bullet should perform and protocol testing to evaluate that performance,” Head said. “Over time, the FBI performance requirements has been evolving, and their protocol testing has similarly been evolving to match. One of the most notable changes has been the desire for deeper-penetrating rounds and more consistency in penetration depths though all the intermediate barriers.”

Enter Federal Premium’s engineers, who, in the 28 years since the introduction of original Hydra-Shok, have learned a lot about terminal ballistics and projectile performance. Although original Hydra-Shok remains very effective, designers knew they could make it better. Hydra-Shok Deep achieves that, making remarkable improvements on the groundbreaking original concept.

Performance for Modern Standards

The new Hydra-Shok Deep bullet features a core design that provides up to 50 percent deeper penetration than original Hydra-Shok and similar loads from competitors, and the center post has been improved so it’s more robust, which provides better integrity and performance through barriers. Testing shows that Hydra-Shok Deep penetrates 15 inches in bare ballistics gelatin, which is the optimal depth, according to FBI standards.

“The primary goal of Hydra-Shok Deep was to penetrate to the FBI’s optimum depth of 14 to 16 inches and at the same time provide more consistent performance though the intermediate barriers,” Head said. “We also wanted to develop a round that would score significantly better through the FBI protocol testing than standard Hydra-Shok. Hydra-Shok Deep does all of this with a 70-percent improvement in FBI protocol score.”

The new Hydra-Shok Deep bullet features a core design that provides up to 50 percent deeper penetration than original Hydra-Shok and similar loads from competitors
The new Hydra-Shok Deep bullet features a core design that provides up to 50 percent deeper penetration than original Hydra-Shok and similar loads from competitors

Although the bullet’s performance in ballistic gelatin is impressive, many shooters might wonder how Hydra-Shok Deep will boost their real-world performance. Head explained why the remarkable improvements in expansion, penetration and integrity through defensive barriers are especially important to self-defense.

“Ideal bullet performance is a round that stops a threat by expanding to a large diameter to cause the maximum amount of tissue damage and penetrates deep enough to reach vital organs,” he said.

Reliability Redefined

Hydra-Shok Deep also uses an extremely reliable Federal primer and consistent, specially formulated propellant. Head said those are critical to achieving optimum ballistic performance and reliability.

“In a self-defense situation, your ammunition has to be completely reliable in igniting the propellant and providing the correct and consistent energetics. This not only pushes the bullet to its optimum working velocity but also reliably functions the gun,” he said. “A failure in this area could lead to catastrophic results. The propellants also contain flash suppressants to reduce muzzle flash and minimize temporary blindness in low-light shooting situations.”

Hydra-Shok Deep will initially be offered in a 135-grain 9mm Luger, with other loads coming soon. With its improved penetration and superior reliability, it will surely become a favorite of those who rely on ammunition to protect themselves and their families. Those shooters can take solace in knowing a longtime self-defense staple has adapted and enhanced to meet 21st-century challenges.

 

Hydra-Shok Deep will initially be offered in a 135-grain 9mm Luger, with other loads coming soon.
Hydra-Shok Deep will initially be offered in a 135-grain 9mm Luger, with other loads coming soon.

Features & Benefits

  • Penetrates 15 inches in bare ballistics gel—the optimal depth according to FBI standards
  • 50 percent deeper penetration than classic Hydra-Shok
  • 70 percent improvement in overall FBI protocol score compared to classic Hydra-Shok
  • Iconic center post design has been improved for better integrity and performance through civilian barriers
  • Consistent, specially formulated propellant
  • Extremely reliable Federal primer

Part No. / Description / MSRP – P9HSD1 / 9mm Luger 135-grain Hydra-Shok Deep / $27.95

Federal Premium is a brand of Vista Outdoor Inc., an outdoor sports and recreation company. For more information on Federal Premium, go to www.federalpremium.com.


About Vista Outdoor Inc.

Vista Outdoor is a leading global designer, manufacturer and marketer of consumer products in the growing outdoor sports and recreation markets. The company operates in two segments, Shooting Sports and Outdoor Products, and has a portfolio of well-recognized brands that provides consumers with a wide range of performance-driven, high-quality and innovative products for individual outdoor recreational pursuits. Vista Outdoor products are sold at leading retailers and distributors across North America and worldwide. Vista Outdoor is headquartered in Utah and has manufacturing operations and facilities in 13 U.S. States, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico along with international customer service, sales and sourcing operations in Asia, Australia, Canada, and Europe. For news and information, visit www.vistaoutdoor.com or follow us on Twitter @VistaOutdoorInc and Facebook at www.facebook.com/vistaoutdoor.

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rihard schmidt

great round ,maybe you should charge more? what the hell the idiots will pay it!

Chad

The case of the round is not steel nor aluminium, they are nickel plated brass. The same as the HST and original hydra shok

Mike B.

It’s a nickel plated brass case. Can’t imagine why anyone would carry anything but a 115 +p or best a 115 +p+ in a 9mm. 115 +p+ has best stopping power of all 9mm loads. Best street performance in actual shootings. 147gr. the worst.

Roy D.

So tell us, are you Mike, or Mike B. Two different accounts for the same person? That is generally frowned upon at most sites.

James Russell Bailey

@Mike B.

Your statement is utter nonsense!

I say ‘nonsense’ because you didn’t bother to qualify it. Side arms with various Barrel links will have dramatically different ballistic results using the same round.

My all steel frame CZ with a full length barrel shoots a hundred and forty seven grain plus P jhp wonderfully. I shoot more accurately with that round than I do with 115 or 124.

Other Shooters I know do great with a 135 grain round.

So how about you learn to qualify your statements, or understand that generic statements are of utterly zero worth.

Mike

It’s a nickel plated brass case. Can’t imagine why anyone would carry anything but a 115 +p or best a 115 +p+ in a 9mm. 115 +p+ has best stopping power of all 9mm loads. Best street performance in actual shootings. 147gr. the worst.

Roy D.

I am curious why, other than perhaps a marketing aspect, this subject has been brought up again. There has already been a discussion of some length on this exact same round on this site. And, if you wanted to bring the subject up again why not include all the previous comments? Just wondering.

Jim

So, Hydro-Shok and the FBI say these rounds are better. All of you shooters with the old Hydro-shok ammo can send it to me at……….LOL

mikeL

Question is, can we actually trust the FBI? And the range I shoot at also forbids steel case rounds, as this appears to be. But does appear to be an efficient personal defense round. As of now, I carry Hornady 147grn personal defense in my 2 9mm’s.

Wild Bill

@ mikeL, I can not speak to steel cased ammunition rounds, but as to trusting the FBI: I am sure that Comey, McCabe, Page, Strzok, Baker, and Pristep would have chosen a fine POTUS for us, had they gotten away with it.

Wayne Clark

Although I like the concept & design, it appears from the picture that it’s steel cased, which all of the ranges around here, don’t allow. Never understood that but their range their rules.
I could be wrong but I’m going by an internet picture.

gcm

@yzman, without going on their website, to me the case looks like it could be aluminum. I have from time to time used blazer brand 9mm 115gr. and they look the same, and were aluminum. Good shooting ammo, and with the light weight cases, they felt like they had a bit more recoil, but not like +p. That’s when 9mm ammo was around $20.00 a box across the board, but I just got an email 2 days ago from one of my suppliers they had prvi partizen 9mm 115 or 145gr. for $8.95 per fifty round box. I would have… Read more »

Wayne Clark

I thought about them being aluminum as well but you’re right…they’re probably $28 for 20 & just as effective rounds can be had a lot…less expensive. I really don’t mind paying some extra for self defense rounds, such as their HST 124gr. but under $10 for target. I’ll shoot a box of carry rounds occasionally, just to keep the feel for them but generally, FMJ are going to shoot close enough to stay good. I ain’t rich, so I do mean occasionally! Lol And @Mike L, I guess I trust the FBI about as much as anyone when it comes… Read more »

Mike

It’s a nickel plated brass case. Can’t imagine why anyone would carry anything but a 115 +p or best a 115 +p+ in a 9mm. 115 +p+ has best stopping power of all 9mm loads. Best street performance in actual shootings. 147gr. the worst.

James Russell Bailey

@RI Schmidt,

Don’t tell me you’re one of those fellows who goes out pays a $1,000 or $1,500 for a sidearm and then whines because quality jacketed hollow-points run 30 bucks a box?

Basically, you apparently have come to the conclusion that your life really isn’t worth $ .50 to $0.80 around, so you keep your mags filled with whatever is the cheapest right?

I never understood that type of mentality.