Where to buy SD ammo?

[XSlevinn]

You're welcome.

http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.ph ... w/id/1152/

Also, I have been seeing 9mm hydra shok lately in stores. Has no one else? Did I witness a unicorn and not take advantage of it?

[Doctor Jenks]

No, I have found hydra shok as well. However, it is considered by many (or most) as an outdated round, nowadays. You can find plenty of SD ammo, but I'm being kind of picky. I'm not so desperate for ammo that I want to pay for anything I don't consider top tier SD ammo.

[XSlevinn]

Really? People consider it outdated and not top tier? I still look at ballistics tests on youtube here and there and it's still one of the top contenders from what I have seen.

[Doctor Jenks]

Here is a quote from DocGKR on the subject of Federal hydra shok. Also, you can see more research in the link provided in my first post in this thread.

http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?31770-What-is-wrong-with-Hydrashok

Older bullet designs like the Silver Tip, Hydra-Shok, and Black Talon were state of the art 15 or 20 years ago. These older bullets tend to plug up and act like FMJ projectiles when shot through heavy clothing; they also often have significant degradation in terminal performance after first passing through intermediate barriers. Modern ammunition which has been designed for robust expansion against clothing and intermediate barriers is significantly superior to the older designs. The bullets in the Federal Classic and Hydrashok line are outperformed by other ATK products such as the Federal Tactical and HST, as well as the Speer Gold Dot; likewise Winchester Ranger Talons are far superior to the old Black Talons or civilian SXT's.

[XSlevinn]

I actually thought HST's were the same as Hydra Shoks. It appears now I was mistaken. I believe I carry the HST and that's what I was referring to when I mentioned ballistics tests showing them as top tier. I always thought HST stood for Hydra Shok Technology or something equivalent.. haha. I'll have to double check my rounds tonight just to make sure, but I am 95% sure I carry HST's.

[Snurd]

I actually thought HST's were the same as Hydra Shoks. It appears now I was mistaken. I believe I carry the HST and that's what I was referring to when I mentioned ballistics tests showing them as top tier. I always thought HST stood for Hydra Shok Technology or something equivalent.. haha. I'll have to double check my rounds tonight just to make sure, but I am 95% sure I carry HST's.

Hydra Shoks have a post in the middle of them, the HST's don't. They also act quite differently. A few years ago my friend and I did some water jug shooting on west of Utah Lake. I shot some Gold Dots, and he was using Hydra Shoks. The Gold Dots are bonded, so the lead and jacket stay together quite nicely, and mushroomed almost perfectly. The Hydra Shoks fragmented almost completely.

The HST isn't bonded either. At least not the bullets I shot the other day. While they still mushroomed nicely, the lead and jacket parted ways a little bit.

[MichaelD]

XSlevinn: see the link in my signature; it has Dr. Gary K. Roberts' (aka DocGKR) current recommended self-defense loads for 9mm, .40, and .45. The man does a lot of testing for LE agencies and knows of which he speaks.

Doctor Jenks: If you can't find HST or Gold Dot 124gr +P, DocGKR says the standard-pressure versions work, too; it's just that the +P versions work better. Also, Hornady Critical Duty 9mm 135gr +P is on the list, and it's a lot more readily available. In fact, Palmetto State Armory has it for a decidedly reasonable price: http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.ph ... 90226.html (the price was at $13.50 per 25 rounds when I first posted this, but has since been raised to $21 per 25 rounds).

[XSlevinn]

Looks like my .40 caliber rounds are in fact Hydra Shoks and not HSTs. I am glad I found this out before I bought my defense rounds for my new Shield in 9mm. I'll be sure to get HSTs. Thanks for the info guys.

[collegeboy]

I've had good luck, on-line, at www.surplusammo.com

They don't always have every caliber, every bullet weight, or every brand at any given time; but, when they have what you're looking for their prices have been reasonable.

I check them periodically (just looked at 9mm a few minutes ago) and other times browse the classifieds on the forums I frequent. The last two or three times I bought SD ammo (almost always GDHP) it has either been local gunshops (Usually have a little being sold by current or retired LEO selling off their excess duty ammo) - or similar individuals on the forums.

Good luck on the search.

[MichaelD]

Here are some places I've found which have 9mm ammo from DocGKR's list in-stock, currently:

Barnes XPB 115 gr JHP (copper bullet): http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.ph ... of-20.html
Remington Golden Saber bonded 124 gr +P JHP (GSB9MMD): http://www.ccwammo.com/REM-AMMO-GOLD-SA ... _p_40.html
Winchester 124 gr +P bonded JHP (RA9BA): http://www.ccwammo.com/Winchester-Range ... p_379.html
Hornady Critical Duty 135 gr +P PT: http://www.kylesgunshop.com/store.php/K ... _50_rounds
Remington Golden Saber 147 gr JHP (GS9MMC): http://www.ammunitionsupplycompany.com/ ... gs9mmc.htm

[Doctor Jenks]

Nice! Thanks for the leads