Hollowpoint Construction Flaws

M

MEATSAW

New member
Ok so yesterday I got my shipment of a few boxes of Federal Tactical Bonded JHPs (.40SW, 180 gr) and a few boxes of Speer LE Gold Dot JHPs (.40SW, 165 gr). I was excited to get the new ammo and having never seen the Tactical Bonded stuff before I wanted to check it out. So I started inspecting the rounds and became fairly disappointed. After going through en entire box of 50, only 10 rounds had hollowpoints that were in good condition. Here is what I mean: in the 40 rounds that were not good, there was "pieces" or sections of the hollow cavity that were missing. Just looking at the hollow cavity, they just looked tore up. Is this common?

When I did the same inspection with the Gold Dots, the hollow points were in pristine condition, with not one failing to pass. Just for kicks I then took out a box of Remington UMC .40SW JHPs and to my surprise even those hollowpoints were consistently perfect condition. So whats the deal with the Tactical Bonded stuff, considering it is their premium stuff?

I will post pictures of the problem in a minute.
 

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No expert here but I don't think the pictures show anything that would be a problem. It does, however, create some questions about quality control. That's something you don't want to worry about in your defense ammo.
 
Well if you know the bullets are defective, you should contact the mfr. See if you can find an email address on their site. Attach GOOD pictures that are not huge files and also you should be specific with the part number on the box and the lot number(s) in the inside flaps of the boxes, and see what they say about it. I mean, unless the store or retailer is willing to refund you, your best bet is with the mfr. to get any satisfaction. Maybe it is sabotage?
 
I agree that those don't look right. I believe that I read somewhere that a lack of symmetry around the bullet's long axis can cause wobble and adversely affect accuracy.
 
Well I am glad that I am not the only one that just wasn't impressed with the way they look. I know that "looks" may not affect performance but for these being considered "premium" and top tier for Federal I would expect much better (even the UMC JHPs were good, and those ane not what I consider "premium"). So do you guys think I should go ahead and make a complaint with Federal (or Ammo to Go, where I bought them ammunitontogo.com)?

If I do not in fact have to send these back, I will certainly be testing them for accuracy and probably even do some wet pack tests as well. Let's face it though, I just don't really trust these things with my life looking the way they do.
 
I am NOT a Federal fan, most of the time. They often put a lot less heat on their stuff than others and the Hydrashock is obsolete. It was a good round in it's day, one of the first "second generation" JHPs, but...it's been beat.
 
For what a box of 50 "premium" rounds costs, yea, you better just leave them alone and contact seller or maker! If you fire them off and then try to get credit, you are then totally (X)\\\\\\\> 'd
 
Long story - short. Years ago a bought a case of ammo and within the first box or so had some defective rounds. I called the manufacturer and explained the situation. They asked that I send what I had left of the case back to them, which I did. They sent me a full, new case of ammo plus a few extra boxes and even sent a check for the cost of shipping. I was impressed with their customer service but to tell the truth, I lost confidence in that manufacturer. At that particular time, their manufacturing was done in Mexico. Can't have potentially bad ammo when your life may depend upon it. I don't buy that brand of ammo any longer. I use two different types of ammo in my carry guns. One that I use to practice with and the other that I use for personal defense.
 
Yikes, I'd try and send those back? Were they an online purchase? I imagine those minor blemishes could effect expansion opening uneven and curving through material. I just wouldn't shoot 'em, I also don't buy ammo online the exception being projectiles for reloading.
 
Can you post a picture of one of the good rounds just for reference?

Looks like a manufacturing flaw. Call or email federal.

And the size of picture size is just fine, the focus need a tweek.
 
The story I related was many, many moons ago before online shopping was popular. I bought the ammo at a range I frequented. I first presented the problem to the management of the range but they insisted they were not responsible for manufacturing defects in the ammo products they sell. I decided to handle the situation directly with the manufacturer and never went back to that range. At the very least, they could have offered an exchange and dealt with the manufacturing rep themselves. They put forth zero effort and for that, they got zero more of my dollars.
 
First, I would go to your local gun shop and ask to see a few boxes of that specific ammo. Look at it and see if this is a problem that is consistant with this brand. If this is "the norm" for the ammo, I would test fire the bad looking rounds for accuracy. If they function fine, you have a few boxes of good, yet ugly, ammo!

If the rds. examined at the gun shop are all perfect, I would contact the manufacturer and try to get my money back, as the ones you bought would be sub-par in the quality department.

The rounds you have pictured do look crappy for a "premium" ammo.

posted by Jim March: Hydrashock is obsolete. It was a good round in it's day, one of the first "second generation" JHPs, but...it's been beat.
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Thankfully, I have never had to protect my life with a firearm, but have had them stoked with Hydra-shoks for many years. I don't think that they are obsolete at all. If they worked great when they came on the market, chances are that they will still work great. They are also 100% reliable in my semi-autos. Most of the new stuff is overpriced just like the Hyda-Shoks, if not pricier. Speer gold dots are another proven favorite of mine. They have been around for quite some time as well.

I really don't think that the "new super-bonded titanium tipped mega expansion weight retaining do-it all tactical ammo" coming out will knock a bad guy down any better than a plain old LSWC-HP at the proper velocity. It's all about marketing and making money.

DS
 
Warning - Thread Drift Ahead

If they worked great when they came on the market, chances are that they will still work great. They are also 100% reliable in my semi-autos.
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If you look at the ballistic results, Hydra-Shoks do not perform as well as even Federal's own HST rounds or later bonded bullets from other manufacturers like Gold Dots and Golden Sabers. They tend to under penetrate.

Having said that, I would feel comfortable with carry Hydra-Shoks in many calibers. I have a 1911 which feeds them well and is very accurate with them. I picked up a box of Hydra-Shoks in .380 in the middle of the Great Ammo Drought of 2009 but I haven't actually carried them because of penetration concerns.
 
Thanks for the post, never even thought about the possibility that factory SD ammo would be defective like those you showed us ... just went and checked the JHPs in my three active SD guns, all was well ... but from now on, I'll be opening boxes at the store before I pay for them ... that's really bizarre and I agree that Federal should make good on those rounds, no questions asked ...
 
Not a big Federal fan although I have some because that is what was available. They go bang, hit what I am aiming at and work as well as any others I have. Those bullets of yours look a little rough but I wouldn't dump them until I tried a few for accuracy and effectiveness. I hope the price was reasonable at least.
 
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