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What is better self defense ammo Federal HST or winchester ranger,Winchester Ranger T.I looked at ammotogo and the only available Winchester Ranger Talon was in 9mm,And at anywhere from 50 cent to a buck a round for quality defense ammo,I would like to upgrade from WWB JHP.And with high cap mags in 9mm and 40S&W I need at least 50 to load my mags and a few for functionality checks to make sure that my firearms ingest it without a hiccup.

I have used both. I like the Winchester Ranger. I did my own little ballistic test using the Winchester Ranger and Hydro Shocks. The Winchester Rangers opened more on my test. It was a amazing to actually hold the bullet.

.40 Hydro Shocks


.40 Rangers


.9mm Rangers


.32 HP

CARLSON

What did you use to test these in?

Good old country boy (not so good since) . I needed a new burn barrel at my house that is in the Country in East Texas. I filled the metal 55 gallon drum with water and shot into the water. Afterwards I collected the bullets. NOT SMART and will probably not do it again, but you only live once and I happy very thankful I am still here Other than the "safety" point you will have to admit they look pretty good.


Edited: I originally had planned to do a FN 5.7, but Bud's Gun Shop destroyed my present for Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They mailed my pistol 3 1/2 weeks ago "they said." I had also wanted to do a .45, but after the .40 I had enough.

dukalmighty wrote:What is better self defense ammo Federal HST or winchester ranger,Winchester Ranger T

Any of those will work just fine. As will Gold Dot, DPX, or one of a dozen other high quality brands. If you are looking for an upgraded from the WWB ammo, go with one that you can always find and is accurate and reliable for you. Don't get hung up on name as long as it is in that "premium" category. They are all good.

I personally picked Gold Dot and DPX for my various calibers SD rounds based on availability.

carlson1 wrote:I have used both. I like the Winchester Ranger. I did my own little ballistic test using the Winchester Ranger and Hydro Shocks. The Winchester Rangers opened more on my test. It was a amazing to actually hold the bullet.

.40 Hydro Shocks


.40 Rangers


.9mm Rangers


.32 HP

Carlson1,

It appears by the pictures, that you used the old Hydra shoks. I think the poster was talking about the new HST's that federal has out. They are supposed to expand much better that the old Hydra-Shoks, and not have the problem of plugging up. I don't think the new HST have that center post anymore.

Carlson, I am guilty of having done the same thing...(fired into water).

This is a 230 gr. Corbon fired into water:



It expanded to about 1"-1/8

Caveat: Water is NOT the same medium as ballistic gelatin or flesh. The results were impressive nonetheless.

Just be gratefull you guys didn't try the undrwater glock test,an individual submerged himself underwater with a glock 17 IIRC,he made sure the barrel had no air cavity and pulled the trigger resulting in ruptured ear drums.You can fire a glock underwater but apparently the pressure created from the discharrge without proper ear protection if your head is submerged will make you regret it.

dukalmighty wrote:Just be gratefull you guys didn't try the undrwater glock test,an individual submerged himself underwater with a glock 17 IIRC,he made sure the barrel had no air cavity and pulled the trigger resulting in ruptured ear drums.You can fire a glock underwater but apparently the pressure created from the discharrge without proper ear protection if your head is submerged will make you regret it.

We are from East Texas not California

would you mind posting the bullet grains in correlation to their respective caliber?
as indicated in another thread, I have recently purchased some 147gr 9mm Winchester Ranger T-series so am of particular interest to this bullets performance.
someone else (Nitrogen, I believe) had inidcated that the 124gr was "more better," but I don't feel undergunned one way or the other.

I will say this, Those Federal rounds are good, and have some nice punch to'em!

anyone know why they are taking away the middle post of the Hydra-Shocks? what was it's purpose, anyway?

My 9mm ranger was the 127 +P+. I did not try a 147gr.

carlson1 wrote:

dukalmighty wrote:Just be gratefull you guys didn't try the undrwater glock test,an individual submerged himself underwater with a glock 17 IIRC,he made sure the barrel had no air cavity and pulled the trigger resulting in ruptured ear drums.You can fire a glock underwater but apparently the pressure created from the discharrge without proper ear protection if your head is submerged will make you regret it.

We are from East Texas not California

That's only because You couldn't squeeze in the barrel and get your booger hook on the bang switch