20rds - 38 Special +P Federal Personal Defense Micro 130gr. HST JHP Ammo

Federal Ammunition 130 Grain Jacketed Hollow-Point (JHP) Ammo Details

For shooters who prefer a wheel gun for self defense purposes, this premium 38 Special +P ammo from Federal has the power you need and the terminal performance you rely on. The 130gr. HST jacketed hollow point (JHP) expands consistently into a full mushroom formation, destroying soft tissue as it drills devastating wound channels on impact. These 38 Special +P rounds are made for self-defense situations, with a low felt-recoil and flash suppressant powders. The low flash component is especially important in tight spaces and darkness as ordinary rounds can cause momentary blindness and give the attacker an edge.

Federal loads these rounds into new production, Boxer-primed nickel-plated brass casings that are malleable for the reloading expert. The nickel-plated brass reduces the likelihood of firearm malfunction because of its silky-smooth feeding and ejecting. Federal has been manufacturing trusted ammunition since 1922, so you can order your self-defense ammo with confidence. Always check with the manufacturer of your firearm to ensure it is equipped to fire ammo with higher pressures.
  • Product Type
    Ammo
  • Manufacturer
  • Condition
    New
  • Bullet Weight
    130 Grain
  • Use Type
    Self Defense
  • Casing Type
    Nickel-Plated Brass
  • Quantity
    20
  • Ammo Caliber
    38 Special
  • Pressure
    +P
  • Manufacturer SKU
    P38HST1S
  • Primer Type
  • Muzzle Velocity
    890
  • Muzzle Energy
  • UPC Barcode
    604544623581
  • Cost Per Round
    $1.25/ppr

Gel test Results

As you hunt for the best self-defense 38 Special ammo, we thought you might enjoy seeing the results of some testing we recently conducted with calibrated Clear Ballistics gelatin.

We shot five of these Federal Ammunition rounds through a four-layer cloth barrier using a S&W 640. The results are detailed in the video you see above as well as the photographs. Through the charts, you should get a great idea how this Federal Ammunition ammo stacked up relative to other 38 Special ammo products available to American shooters.

To get a better sense of our tests, be sure to check out all the protocols we followed when conducting our tests to determine the best self-defense ammo.

Unfired versus Fired Round Comparison

Image detailing before and after firing 20rds - 38 Special +P Federal Personal Defense Micro 130gr. HST JHP Ammo Image detailing before and after firing 20rds - 38 Special +P Federal Personal Defense Micro 130gr. HST JHP Ammo

How do the results for this Federal Ammunition 38 Special compare to other 38 SPECIAL?

20rds - 38 Special +P Federal Personal Defense Micro 130gr. HST JHP Ammo Gel Test Results

  Median
Bullet Depth (in.) 11.9 11.9 12 13 14.5
Expanded Diameter (in.) 0.71 0.72 0.72 0.73 0.74
Bullet Weight after shot (gr.) 129.7 129.8 130 130 130
Bullet Velocity (fps) 849 853 859 861 936

Federal Ammunition 38 Special Ballistic Data

Federal Ammunition 38 Special Ammo Details

Barrel Length inches
4
Ballistics Coefficient (G1)
0.143
Ballistics Coefficient (G7)
0.000
Sectional Density
0.146
Muzzle 25 yds. 50 yds. 75 yds. 100 yds.
Velocity fps 890 866 844 823 803
Energy ft lbs 229 217 206 196 186
Bullet drop inch n/a 0 -2 -7.1 -15.3

Trajectory Line Graph Federal Ammunition 38 Special

Velocity / Energy Comparisons

Ammo Muzzle Velocity Muzzle Energy
148 Grain Lead Wadcutter Fiocchi Ammunition
#25
648 fps
#24
138 ft lbs
130 Grain Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) Federal Ammunition
#12
852 fps
#14
209 ft lbs
130 Grain Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) Tula Ammo
#7
890 fps
#7
229 ft lbs
130 Grain Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) Remington Ammunition
#17
787 fps
#22
179 ft lbs
130 Grain Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) Fiocchi Ammunition
#6
899 fps
#6
233 ft lbs
158 Grain Lead Round Nose (LRN) Federal Ammunition
#19
745 fps
#17
195 ft lbs
148 Grain Lead Wadcutter Remington Ammunition
#23
710 fps
#25
110 ft lbs
130 Grain Jacketed Hollow-Point (JHP) Federal Ammunition
#13
844 fps
#15
206 ft lbs
158 Grain Lead Semi-Wadcutter Hollow Point(LSWCHP) Federal Ammunition
#10
866 fps
#2
263 ft lbs
148 Grain Lead Wadcutter Winchester Ammunition
#24
690.5 fps
#23
157 ft lbs
130 Grain Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) Winchester Ammunition
#16
791 fps
#21
181 ft lbs
125 Grain Jacketed Hollow-Point (JHP) Blazer
#8
888 fps
#11
219 ft lbs
158 Grain Lead Round Nose (LRN) Blazer
#21
729 fps
#19
186 ft lbs
158 Grain Lead Round Nose (LRN) Magtech
#22
723 fps
#20
183 ft lbs
158 Grain Lead Round Nose (LRN) Federal Ammunition
#20
745 fps
#18
195 ft lbs
158 Grain Lead Flat Nose Black Hills Ammunition
#15
800 fps
#10
225 ft lbs
158 Grain Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) Sellier & Bellot Ammunition
#14
802 fps
#8
226 ft lbs
125 Grain Semi-Jacketed Hollow-Point (SJHP) Remington Ammunition
#4
921 fps
#5
235 ft lbs
125 Grain Jacketed Hollow-Point (JHP) Black Hills Ammunition
#1
1050 fps
#1
306 ft lbs
158 Grain Total Metal Jacket (TMJ) Speer
#11
861 fps
#3
260 ft lbs
132 Grain Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) PMC Ammunition
#9
879 fps
#9
226 ft lbs
158 Grain Jacketed Hollow-Point (JHP) Hornady Ammunition
#18
775 fps
#13
211 ft lbs
110 Grain Jacketed Hollow-Point (JHP) Federal Ammunition
#5
911 fps
#16
203 ft lbs
90 Grain Jacketed Hollow-Point (JHP) Hornady Ammunition
#2
1032 fps
#12
213 ft lbs
125 Grain Jacketed Hollow-Point (JHP) Federal Ammunition
#3
950 fps
#4
250 ft lbs
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The Reviews

Why Shooters and Hunters love or hate 20rds - 38 Special +P Federal Personal Defense Micro 130gr. HST JHP Ammo

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  • ☆☆☆☆☆

    posted on by RJ Ryder

    Best personal defense ammo tested in my S&W 442. I trust it and utilize it with only the Hornady Critical Defense being my runner up defense ammo.

    It's ballistic data, test results in gel and other materials prove it to be A+ grade. I recommend it to anyone carrying a snub revolver. 5*****

  • ☆☆☆☆☆

    posted on by Louiskornegaygmail.com

    Good

  • ☆☆☆☆☆

    posted on by Dom Pastore Jr. dpast32

    FWIW, This particular .38 SPL+P Loading appears to excellent as an 'summer season' choice. It exhibit exceptional expansion, although it's penetration does appear to be somewhat lacking with an average of approximately 12.5". If chosen for very 'lightly clad' targets, it does represent an viable choice, IMHO.

  • ☆☆☆☆☆

    posted on by Jack

    Really like this ammo

  • ☆☆☆☆☆

    posted on by J.M.

    Excellent customer service and support, great product, fast shipping. What more to ask for?

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