Hydra-Shok
Illustration —.45 ACP Hydra-Shok,.45 ACP Hydra-Shok (reduced recoil), 9mm Hydra-Shok • Illustration —.22 LR HP, 9mm Hydra-Shok, 9mm FMJ Hydra-Shok is a type of hollow-point projectile made by Federal Premium Ammunition. It was originally patented by ammunition designer Tom Burczynski. Released in 1988 after the FBI requested a bullet with better terminal ballistics than traditional cup and core projectiles.
Hydra-Shok
KDR (talk) · Public domain
- Field
- hollow-point bullet · expanding bullet · ammunition
- Period
- 1988
- Region
- United States
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
Illustration —.45 ACP Hydra-Shok,.45 ACP Hydra-Shok (reduced recoil), 9mm Hydra-Shok • Illustration —.22 LR HP, 9mm Hydra-Shok, 9mm FMJ Hydra-Shok is a type of hollow-point projectile made by Federal Premium Ammunition. It was originally patented by ammunition designer Tom Burczynski. Released in 1988 after the FBI requested a bullet with better terminal ballistics than traditional cup and core projectiles.
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Broader Term · outgoing
ammunition
Term
http://dams.defenseimagery.mil/defenselink/screenres.action?id=3051d832072cfba80e039fda901f324f366f5f1b

Broader Term · outgoing
expanding bullet
Term
Own work

Broader Term · outgoing
hollow-point bullet
Term
No machine-readable source provided. Own work assumed (based on copyright claims).
Located In · outgoing
United States
Place
Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q5954119 · wikipedia · Hydra-Shok
In this article
Design
Design
The Hydra-Shok bullet features a hollow-point construction which contains a distinctive central post in the base of the hollow. This design makes such bullets easily identifiable in autopsy examinations of gunshot victims. The manufacturer stated that the scored jacket and center post design provide a "programmed" expansion. There has been much debate regarding the bullet's unreliable expansion when fired through clothing or media other than ballistic gelatin. The bullet typically displays very rapid expansion, resulting in a larger but more shallow wound channel than would be typical from most other bullet configurations in the same caliber and of similar weight.
Calibers
Calibers
The Hydra-Shok is available in various calibers; 9x19mm Parabellum, 10mm Auto,.22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire,.32 ACP,.380 ACP,.38 S&W Special,.327 Federal Magnum,.357 S&W Magnum,.40 S&W,.45 ACP,.45 GAP, and.44 Remington Magnum. It can also be found in 12 gauge shotgun slugs.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
- United States
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Hydra-Shok”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q5954119: Hydra-Shok
Reputable secondary · Wikidata
scholarly publication
- Terminal Ballistic Characteristics of Hydra-Shok® Ammunition: A Description of Three Cases, Journal of Forensic Sciences, 1988
Scholarly · Crossref registry · 1988
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Carter, Aaron. Mastery of Metals: Federal HST and Guard Dog Loads. American Rifleman. 23 December 2013.
- 2.Sperry, K. Terminal ballistic characteristics of Hydra-Shok ammunition: a description of three cases. Journal of Forensic Sciences. 33. 1. 42–48. January 1988. 0022-1198.
- 3.http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2015/02/shootingthebull410/350657/
- 4.Federal Premium Ammunition.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
scholarly publication
Terminal Ballistic Characteristics of Hydra-Shok® Ammunition: A Description of Three Cases, Journal of Forensic Sciences, 1988Crossref registry
Institutional witnessreference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
Connections
Knowledge graph
Connections
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Broader subject
2- expanding bulletTerminology
Established from a fact already recorded on a verified source.
- hollow-point bulletTerminology
Established from a fact already recorded on a verified source.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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