Federal Unveils Pistol Ammo Built to Meet New FBI Standards

Federal Premium recently unveiled its newest type of Hydra-Shok pistol ammunition that's designed for deep penetration.

Federal is scheduled to launch the new Hydra-Shok Deep at the 2018 SHOT Show, held Jan. 23-26 at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, according to a recent press release from Federal Premium.

The new ammunition, which will initially be offered in a 135-grain 9mm Luger, was built to meet new FBI requirements, Larry Head, director and chief engineer of handgun ammunition, said in the press release.

"FBI performance requirements and protocol testing have evolved over time," he said. "One of the most notable changes has been the desire for deeper-penetrating rounds and more consistency in penetration depths though all intermediate barriers."

The Hydra-Shok Deep bullet features a core design that provides up to 50 percent deeper penetration than original Hydra-Shok and similar loads from competitors, according to the release. Its center post is more robust, which provides better integrity and performance through barriers.

Testing shows that Hydra-Shok Deep penetrates 15 inches in bare ballistics gelatin -- the depth required by FBI standards, the release states.

The Hydra-Shok brand was originally created in 1989 in response to the FBI's request for a projectile with better terminal ballistics, the release states. The bullet features a notched jacket, non-bonded lead core and unique center-post hollow-point design.

The new Hydra-Shok Deep is a "hard-hitting new round" that delivers improved penetration and superior reliability to outperform the competition, Head maintains.

"Hydra-Shok Deep offers consumers a round that results in consistent, reliable performance through typical defensive barriers and penetrates to the depth deemed optimum by the leading law-enforcement agency in the United States," he said.

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.