HST 147gr +P - Is it the way to go

[Retseh]

With so many HST and Federal Tactical 9mm choices to pick from, I came across this relatively hard to find load in the catalog.

A +P 147gr HST - sounds like it's going to be the best of all worlds.

So would you choose this load over say the 135gr +P Tactical Bonded?

[Rugby]

With so many HST and Federal Tactical 9mm choices to pick from, I came across this relatively hard to find load in the catalog.

A +P 147gr HST - sounds like it's going to be the best of all worlds.

So would you choose this load over say the 135gr +P Tactical Bonded?

Key words: "In the catalog".

Let us know where you find them.

P.S. No, I'd use the 135's.

[gary newport]

What do you think the "+p" is going to buy you? The performance of the standard HST 147 is great (for a 9mm).

[bigglockdaddy]

I got a couple boxes to try. One thing I noticed was the bullet design was the same, so it should give the same expansion but with more penetration.

[gary newport]

I got a couple boxes to try. One thing I noticed was the bullet design was the same, so it should give the same expansion but with more penetration.

Or more expansion and less penetration. Or not much difference. Only testing will tell!

[texas_rifle]

Key words: "In the catalog".

Let us know where you find them.

P.S. No, I'd use the 135's.

here are the 147gr +p if that is what you were looking for.

http://ammunitiontogo.com/catalog1/product_info.php?pName=50rds-9mm-federal-le-tactical-hst-147gr-p-hp-ammo&cName=9mm-hollow-point-ammo

http://ammunitiontogo.com/catalog1/product_info.php?pName=500rds-9mm-federal-le-tactical-hst-147gr-p-hp-ammo&cName=9mm-hollow-point-ammo

[unit1069]

So would you choose this load over say the 135gr +P Tactical Bonded?

What pistol are you going to load this ammo in?

[kensteele]

7 rds of p9hst4 is currently loaded in my walther pps right now as my primary sd carry round.

[NG VI]

I shot some standard 147 HST today from my CZ PCR. Had quite a bit of oomph to it, I can't wait to get some 147+P to try out. I did feel like the 124 +P recoiled slightly less than the 147 standards, which I thought was odd, I thought standard heavies in 9x19 usually recoil less than the lighter faster ones? Maybe I am strange, but I think I have felt the same phenomenon firing 180 @1000-1050 vs 155 @1200 .40 also. Am I doing something drastically wrong?

[PAGunner]

I shot some standard 147 HST today from my CZ PCR. Had quite a bit of oomph to it, I can't wait to get some 147+P to try out. I did feel like the 124 +P recoiled slightly less than the 147 standards, which I thought was odd, I thought standard heavies in 9x19 usually recoil less than the lighter faster ones? Maybe I am strange, but I think I have felt the same phenomenon firing 180 @1000-1050 vs 155 @1200 .40 also. Am I doing something drastically wrong?

I can't tell the difference between +P and standar pressure HST rounds in 9mm or .45ACP, go figure.

[NG VI]

Yeah, I seem totally immune to the ordinary recoil impulses people talk about. Mine are polar opposites! Why would I feel the lighter faster bullets, even +P or +P+ Federals which had a reputation for being snorty, recoil less hard than the slower standard pressure heavyweights? I must be doing something very wrong... I think I will switch to 124 +P HST now.

[JadeRaven]

I'm sticking with the standard 147 HST.

I fired both the 147 and 147+P side by side, and although they're both pretty hot rounds the +P was noticeably snappier. In 9mm I value the high capacity and low recoil, so to me the +P isn't worth the extra snap for a few extra feet per second.

Now if I see a test showing significantly more expansion and penetration, then sure I'll switch. But with the stellar performance of the standard 147 I doubt it will get much better.

[Jason607]

The difference between the regular and the +P version in 147gr HST is only 50fps out of a 4" barrel. Just a slight edge, but that slight edge just might make the difference.

[NG VI]

Why does the standard 147 feel so warm? It really felt like it was loaded faster than the totally ordinary 1000FPS to me, maybe they tested its velocity in a shorter than 4" gun?

But I will pick up a couple boxes of it anyway, try out the +P, to me an extra 5% velocity always helps a pistol out.

[Retseh]

Key words: "In the catalog".

Let us know where you find them.

P.S. No, I'd use the 135's.

Took me all of 30 seconds to Google a supplier, $19.95 a box.

http://ammunitiontogo.com/catalog1/product_info.php?pName=50rds-9mm-federal-le-tactical-hst-147gr-p-hp-ammo&cName=9mm-hollow-point-ammo

Oops - just noticed someone beat me to it.

[Retseh]

What pistol are you going to load this ammo in?

Glock 26 and a SigPro.

[DRT]

147 HST (+P) or 127+P+ Ranger.

[Tito]

I just ordered ordered 2 boxes of the HST 147g. +P. Has anyone chrono'd it?

[Bob_Loblaw]

I also picked up a few boxes of this ammo from ammunitiontogo, great company to deal with IMHO. Here is a link to some chrono info in HST 147+P among some other types of ammo. It seems it was a shade slower out of his weapon than the specs listed on the box. (my appologies, not sure how to make the link hot)

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=5&f=20&t=59923

[Rugby]

Took me all of 30 seconds to Google a supplier, $19.95 a box.

http://ammunitiontogo.com/catalog1/product_info.php?pName=50rds-9mm-federal-le-tactical-hst-147gr-p-hp-ammo&cName=9mm-hollow-point-ammo

Oops - just noticed someone beat me to it.

I guess that makes texas_rifle a +P and you standard pressure - He was just a little faster!:rofl:

I'm glad to see they're finally available; it's been quite some time. I'm not an HST fan so I don't stay up to date on them. I'd use the Tactical Bonded before the HST. Penetration is more important than expansion. The +P 147's won't offer any advantage that I can think of in soft tissue.

Get Winchester's 127's if you want to be Billy Badass.

[Rugby]

I also picked up a few boxes of this ammo from ammunitiontogo, great company to deal with IMHO. Here is a link to some chrono info in HST 147+P among some other types of ammo. It seems it was a shade slower out of his weapon than the specs listed on the box. (my appologies, not sure how to make the link hot)

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=5&f=20&t=59923

Anyone else read the link? That guy was totally in to it! Two thumbs up for the ammo testing. Unfortunately, no final expanded bullets to complete the test.

[Retseh]

I also picked up a few boxes of this ammo from ammunitiontogo, great company to deal with IMHO. Here is a link to some chrono info in HST 147+P among some other types of ammo. It seems it was a shade slower out of his weapon than the specs listed on the box. (my appologies, not sure how to make the link hot)

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=5&f=20&t=59923

Really good link, thanks.

Just 14 fps velocity difference between the standard pressure 147gr HST and the +P version.

Standard Deviation would normally cover that spread, i.e. the difference seems insignificant.

[gary newport]

Really good link, thanks.

Just 14 fps velocity difference between the standard pressure 147gr HST and the +P version.

Standard Deviation would normally cover that spread, i.e. the difference seems insignificant.

But folks think "+p" means the ammo is better, so they'll buy it! :supergrin:

[J.P.]

So would you choose this load over say the 135gr +P Tactical Bonded?

No.
I like the tactical bonded and it's got a good street record.
The HST has minimal data comparatively.

[JadeRaven]

Really good link, thanks.

Just 14 fps velocity difference between the standard pressure 147gr HST and the +P version.

Standard Deviation would normally cover that spread, i.e. the difference seems insignificant.

On the other hand, the rounds tested could very well have been a lower end of the standard deviation for the +P, or a higher end of the standard deviation for the regular pressure (one or the other being not of exact average load). Since the results are from only one round of each, and not an average of multiple shots, these results are a bit misleading to employ any strict statistical tests.

One thing I also find very interesting from the test is the spread of all the 147 grain velocities. High to low they are:
1) Federal HST 147 (+P) 976 FPS
2) Federal HST 147 962 FPS
3) Speer LE Gold Dot 147 952 FPS
4) Federal Hydra-Shok 147 935 FPS
5) Winchester Ranger T-Series 147 889 FPS

Basically from this, it appears as if the Gold Dot and standard pressure HST are essentially +P already. Either that or the 147 Ranger T is something more like a "-P."

This confirms my suspicions though that the HST line is an already hotter than normal load. For me, the +P isn't really worth it since the regular is already quite powerful as it is.

[AFshooter]

I have the HST 147gn. +P in the G26 on my hip right now.
Recoil is very controllable.

[AFshooter]

For me, the +P isn't really worth it since the regular is already quite powerful as it is.

Where I got mine it was the exact same price, so I went for the +P.

[JadeRaven]

Where I got mine it was the exact same price, so I went for the +P.

What I meant was the marginal increase in velocity over the standard pressure wasn't worth the marginal increase in recoil, price no concern. :)