Question for cast bullet experts

[onebigelf]

HydroShock started off years ago with a 38 special load that consisted of a wadcutter style bullet of soft lead with a severe hollow-point. It was loaded to very modest velocity and they guaranteed that the bullet would expand to a minimum of .60" and would not go through a human body. It made a great defense round for a lady's bedside gun: short range, low recoil, no over-penetration. The round hasn't been made in a couple of decades, but does anyone make a bullet like that for reloading anymore? Or does anyone know of a mold for that sort of thing? My wife keeps my grandfather's old S&W 38 combat masterpiece service revolver next to her side of the bed, particularly when I'm out of town. I've got 2 dozen of the old HS rounds for it, but they are over 25 yrs old. Time to shoot them and get some new rounds.

John

[zxcvbob]

It sounds to me like a hollow-based wadcutter loaded backwards. Perhaps they are not made anymore because hollow-point SWC's do a better job?

[WhiteTiger]

The hydrashock wasn't just a hollow point slug. The key to the performance was a tapered central post in the hollow point cavity that served to wedge target material outward and force the expansion of the hollow point. Expansion could be had at very modest velocities with that post (provided that both it and the cavity were dimensioned correctly).

ETA> Sheesh, forgot to say that as far as I know no such slugs or molds are in the current lineups, but any hollowpoint mold can be modified to produce the things by a decent metalworker; all it takes is a reworked or new center pin. (I was making and testing them for almost 5 years before the hydrashock came on the market).



Tiger

[griz]

Maybe I'm just dense, but I don't see how you could make a mold that would cast a post in the center of the hollow point. Seems like the mold would be locked together once the alloy cooled.

[griz]

Thought about it some more and I see what you mean. The pin for the HP has a hole in it for the post.

[Smythe]

Federal bought the rights to the Hydrashock several years ago and as far as I know, they still sell the loaded ammunition.

Smythe

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

I suggest you go to Midwayusa and take a look at the bullets they have for sale on their website. In addition, check out Hornady, SSA, Winchester, Federal, Remington and others websites for newer bullet designs. There are great designs available both as bullets and as loaded cartridges that surpass the bullet you mention in performance.

regards,

Dave

[brickeyee]

Maybe I'm just dense, but I don't see how you could make a mold that would cast a post in the center of the hollow point. Seems like the mold would be locked together once the alloy cooled.

The pin is removable from the mold.
The same method allows you to cast hollowpoints.

[onebigelf]

The advantage of he design was that it gave tremendous expansion at exceptionally modest velocity. Essentially it was a wadcutter target load, and recoiled like one, that would really screw up your badguy. The current HS load retains the center rod design, but in a more traditional JHP loaded considerably hotter. Better range, but much more recoil. The old load was pretty much just a pointblank self defense round. Perfect for dainty little chicks and use in a home where you don't want a miss blasting through the wall and blowing up the housecat.

John

John