FOUR Leaves You Wanting MORE!...Federal Hydra-Shok 110 Grain .38 Special Ballistic Gel AMMO Test!

Published on March 14, 2026
Duration: 16:37

This video details a ballistic gel test of Federal Hydra-Shok 110 grain .38 Special ammunition. The test utilizes a heavy clothing barrier and multiple firearm barrel lengths (2-inch, 3-inch, and 4-inch) to evaluate bullet expansion and penetration. The results indicate that the ammunition struggles to achieve consistent expansion through the barrier, particularly at lower velocities typical of shorter barrels.

Quick Summary

The Federal Hydra-Shok 110 grain .38 Special ammunition demonstrated disappointing performance in ballistic gel tests with a clothing barrier. Insufficient velocity from shorter barrels (2-inch and 3-inch) led to minimal expansion and significant tumbling, failing to reliably expand the hollow-point projectile.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did the Federal Hydra-Shok 110 grain .38 Special perform in ballistic gel tests with a clothing barrier?

The Federal Hydra-Shok 110 grain .38 Special showed disappointing performance, with minimal expansion and significant tumbling when fired through a heavy clothing barrier, especially from shorter barrels (2-inch and 3-inch).

What were the average velocities for the Federal Hydra-Shok 110 grain .38 Special from different barrel lengths?

From a 2-inch barrel, the average velocity was 929 FPS. From a 3-inch barrel, it was 961 FPS. The manufacturer claims 980 FPS from a 4-inch barrel, which was also tested with limited expansion.

What is the primary reason for the lack of expansion with the Federal Hydra-Shok 110 grain .38 Special in this test?

The primary reason cited is insufficient velocity. The rounds lacked the speed needed to push the clothing barrier material out effectively and initiate proper expansion of the hollow-point projectile.

What barrel length is recommended for the Federal Hydra-Shok 110 grain .38 Special based on this test?

Based on this test, the presenter suggests that for this specific ammunition to achieve expansion, a barrel length of 6 inches or longer might be necessary, as shorter barrels did not provide adequate velocity.

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