Federal Guard Dog

T

TCL

New member
I've been looking at different options for carry ammo for my 1911 and ran across something from Federal called Guard Dog. Any thoughts on this round?
 
I've been looking at different options for carry ammo for my 1911 and ran across something from Federal called Guard Dog. Any thoughts on this round?
Click to expand...

The idea was to limit penetration through interior walls so as not too cause harm to another person in your home. The example they show is the bullet passing through four walls, then penetrating ~4" of ballistic gel, compared to 12"-18" of gel with a normal round.

I honestly don't see a use for it, as 4" of penetration is still enough to seriously hurt someone.

Do yourself a favor and pick up either Federal Tactical HST, Winchester Ranger-T or Speer Gold Dots in 230gr.

This is where I buy my ammunition Ammunition To Go / .45 ACP JHP

Hope that helps.

EDIT: The bullet is an EMFJ (expanding full metal jacket) similar in design to the Hydra-shok.
 
Last edited:
Now with 5 more rounds! Yay!...

I've seen a few of these ads for the new Federal defense line & a few others(Hornady, Remington, CorBon, etc).

It short it looks more of marketing or sales gimmick or a way to re-package LE rounds to the buying public(most who know little or nothing about the shooting sports industry). :(

The "Guard Dog" rounds may work, but I'd stick to regular proven "morgue monster" endorsed handgun ammunition.

CF
 
It sounds cool in theory, but agree that it's mainly a marketing ploy. It is your responsibility to know a) what you are shooting at and b) what is behind it. No rubber filled bullet will ever replace good situational awareness and in fact, its more likely to breed a mindset of carelessness (hey, its a magic bullet right? :barf: ).
 
The only people they'll sell it to (and it may be a bunch) are people either new to shooting or those who are ignorant and easily wowed by neat packing and cool marketing.

Good on you for asking about it before buying; a lot of people won't.
 
Understanding metalurgy, chemistry as it relates to propellants, the laws of pyhisics, the dynamics of how bullets act with regards to penetration and deformation in various medium - all very high tech and very difficult.

Coming up with a cool sounding name and a slick marketing strategy - not so much.
 
I was also looking at some Federal loads and ran across the Guard Dog.

I thought it looked alot like Hornady's Critical Defense.
 
I was also looking at some Federal loads and ran across the Guard Dog.

I thought it looked alot like Hornady's Critical Defense.
Click to expand...

Technically, it's nothing like the Critical Defense bullet. This is an expanding full metal jacket bullet, whereas the Critical Defense bullet is hollow point with a rubber "capsule" in the cavity. The idea behind the CD bullet is too prevent plugging although premium hollow points rarely, if ever, plug. It would have been great about 20 years ago, but there isn't a whole lot of purpose for it.
 
EDIT: The bullet is an EMFJ (expanding full metal jacket) similar in design to the Hydra-shok.
Click to expand...

Not even close. Apples and oranges as far as bullets are concerned.

I could care less about the lessened penetration issues. The EFMJ style bullet is great for guns that have issue s feeding standard HP ammunition but you still want the expanding bullet capability. Wheter or not this is better than similar bullets out now(powrball,critical defense) is up to you. Comparing this to a Hydra shok bullet is absurd.
 
The idea behind the CD bullet is too prevent plugging although premium hollow points rarely, if ever, plug. It would have been great about 20 years ago, but there isn't a whole lot of purpose for it.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you need to shoot a few more HP rounds through stuff beside paper and see how easy a HP can get plugged...yes, even super duper premium bullets. AS stated above, the benefit to EFMJ,powrball, critical defense is reliable feeding and a higher percentage for expansion.
 
Not even close. Apples and oranges as far as bullets are concerned.

I could care less about the lessened penetration issues. The EFMJ style bullet is great for guns that have issue s feeding standard HP ammunition but you still want the expanding bullet capability. Wheter or not this is better than similar bullets out now(powrball,critical defense) is up to you. Comparing this to a Hydra shok bullet is absurd.
Click to expand...

Umm, no...? :confused:

How is comparing one expanding full metal jacket to another like "comparing apples to oranges" and "absurd?"

Whether or not a round is better is not "up to you," it's worth is proven or refuted in ballistics testing.
 
Lol, you're right. :D

I've no idea why I thought it was; the EFMJ bullet is called Tactical EFMJ! :eek:

Just swap out Tactical EFMJ for Hydra-shok!
 
Lol, you're right.

I've no idea why I thought it was; the EFMJ bullet is called Tactical EFMJ!

Just swap out Tactical EFMJ for Hydra-shok!
Click to expand...
Hahaha, deal. We'll just pretend this never happened. ;)
 
EFMJ is fine if you have no other options... e.g., if you live in NJ.
Of course, you could always move...
Click to expand...

Or if you have a gun that wont feed HP ammo. One of my Sig P6's wont feed HP ammm reliably. It will feed the Powrball and ball ammo just fine. I could have the ramp polished but dont really care to. I have other guns I can carry that are 100 percent reliable with anything I feed it. Somebody who may not be as fotunate and has to work with what they have may find this ammo to be ideal.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top