Federal 9 mm HST Micro

[Different Drummer]

While enroute to Florida I stopped into a Cabela's in Fort Mill SC looking to pick up some 147 gr Federal HST.
Not a single round to be had. However sitting all by itself looking lonely was a single box of 20 150 gr HST Micro. At the expense of showing my ignorance I admit to having fever heard of such a 9mm round. Supposed to be for the"micro" pistols I guess. Since I was looking to buy ammo for a 2 inch revolver and didn't have to worry about cycling ixsues I figured I would take the one box they had. I doubt I will replace my usual choice of 147 gr HST especially when considering the price. $28.00 for a box of 20.
Anyone ever give the HsT Micro a try? I did the Google dance and it seems to get decent reviews.
Anyone with first hand experience?

 

[Bananabandit]

Ouch. No wonder why it wss sitting alone.

 

[Marine Cpl]

Perhaps if you run them through a long barrel they would work but through a short barrel, you might as well save your money and buy FMJ. They don't expand and only reach about 850 fps. Way too slow.

 

[Different Drummer]

Ouch. No wonder why it wss sitting alone.

Yeah, I thought they were more than a tad pricey. And I didn''t notice until the cashier rung them up! LOL
Someone must be buying them though. Their spot on the shelf was empty with the exception of the one box.
It was my third attempt at findi the 147gr and I wanted to get something besides ball in the revolver.
I cycle my carry ammo every so often and had exhausted my 147HST at the range prior to leaving home.

 

[Different Drummer]

Perhaps if you run them through a long barrel they would work but through a short barrel, you might as well save your money and but FMJ. They don't expand and only reach about 850 fps.

As whatsherface on SLN said, " it just goes to show you".
The reviews I happened to findi sfhowed the 150 gr Micro had good penetration and very nice even and consistent expansion.

 

[Podmonkey]

That's a stupid high price but performance is similar to 147gr HST. But the flash levels seem to be markedly lower. So a good round for G43 type pistols. But at that price not worth it IMO.

I can get HSTs for $.50 a round shipped from SG ammo. Nyah!

 

[togmaster]

With the popularity of the newer pocket pistols a lot of ammo manufacturers have come out with "short barrel ammo". I really don't see a lot of difference other than the marketing.

 

[Podmonkey]

With the popularity of the newer pocket pistols a lot of ammo manufacturers have come out with "short barrel ammo". I really don't see a lot of difference other than the marketing.

There are a few videos and articles that have shown the flash of that cartridge to be reduced compared to other HSTs. Is it worth the premium? IMO no. But regardless of the price, it is good stuff.

 

[Different Drummer]

There are a few videos and articles that have shown the flash of that cartridge to be reduced compared to other HSTs. Is it worth the premium? IMO no. But regardless of the price, it is good stuff.

I agree, almost universally what I found place it's performance on par with the 147 gr. They also agreed that the cost was the prohibiting factor. I will stay with the 147's but I will not be worried about dropping the 150"s in the cylinder in the meantime.

 

[togmaster]

I agree, almost universally what I found place it's performance on par with the 147 gr. They also agreed that the cost was the prohibiting factor. I will stay with the 147's but I will not be worried about dropping the 150"s in the cylinder in the meantime.

I really don't worry about any ammo I carry. Realistically quality FMJ will do just fine.

 

[Podmonkey]

I agree, almost universally what I found place it's performance on par with the 147 gr. They also agreed that the cost was the prohibiting factor. I will stay with the 147's but I will not be worried about dropping the 150"s in the cylinder in the meantime.

Nah man, it's fine to drop the dosh on the odd box or so. A case of it would break me though.
I think federal should just use that powder across their line, then the 147gr would do the same thing.

 

[Podmonkey]

I really don't worry about any ammo I carry. Realistically quality FMJ will do just fine.

9mm FMJ sucks. Well established that it has very poor terminal effect, 9mm NATO is notorious for it.

 

[togmaster]

9mm FMJ sucks. Well established that it has very poor terminal effect, 9mm NATO is notorious for it.

Sucks is the sound the chest makes after being struck by 9mm FMJ.

 

[Podmonkey]

Sucks is the sound the chest makes after being struck by 9mm FMJ.

When you shoot somebody with a 9mm FMJ rainbows and ponies come out the other side.
Then your attacker beats the shit out of you and steals your wallet............... And makes a getaway on one of the ponies.

 

[Marine Cpl]

There are a few videos and articles that have shown the flash of that cartridge to be reduced compared to other HSTs. Is it worth the premium? IMO no. But regardless of the price, it is good stuff.

Did you see the video above with the 2 failures to expand from the SHORT Barrel S&W Shield?

This is crap ammo. The other HST's in both 124 and 147 are consistent. This doesn't even reach 850 fps. One shot chronoed at 803 fps. Utter crap.

 

[Marine Cpl]

When you shoot somebody with a 9mm FMJ rainbows and ponies come out the other side.
Then your attacker beats the shit out of you and steals your wallet............... And makes a getaway on one of the ponies.

BS. 9mm FMJ have killed thousands of people from pistols and other platforms like the MP5.

I hate when people spew this crap. No matter what the caliber, with a pistol, you have to hit vitals. A perfectly expanded bullet doesn't immediately stop someone if a vital isn't struck. Pistol rounds suck compared to rifles and only shot placement to vitals are sure stoppers.

 

[Podmonkey]

BS. 9mm FMJ have killed thousands of people from pistols and other platforms like the MP5.

I hate when people spew this crap. No matter what the caliber, you have to hit vitals. A perfectly expanded bullet doesn't immediately stop someone if a vital isn't struck.

Ponies dude.

 

[Marine Cpl]

View attachment 36658
Ponies dude.

So I take it that you don't have an intelligent response to the points made.

Cool.

 

[Podmonkey]

So I take it that you don't have an intelligent response to the points made.

Cool.

Arguing on the internet is a fruitless endeavor.

Hey, what is your favorite fruit?

 

[Marine Cpl]

Arguing on the internet is a fruitless endeavor.

Hey, what is your favorite fruit?

I'll pass. You've been doing a lot of this lately.

I prefer to talk about the round itself.

 

[Podmonkey]

I'll pass. You've been doing a lot of this lately.

I prefer to talk about the round itself.

I endeavor to not take internet stuff too seriously.

 

[Marine Cpl]

I endeavor to not take internet stuff too seriously.

Except others who may want to consider this round for personal protection may take this thread seriously. Just saying.

 

[Podmonkey]

Except others who may want to consider this round for personal protection may take this thread seriously. Just saying.

I offered my serious personal opinion already.
Then I offered my dissent that 9mm FMJ is an effective round and now I'm out.

 

[togmaster]

Did you see the video above with the 2 failures to expand from the SHORT Barrel S&W Shield?

This is crap ammo. The other HST's in both 124 and 147 are consistent. This doesn't even reach 850 fps. One shot chronoed at 803 fps. Utter crap.

Just wondering what you would consider good performance out of a 3" or less barrel without uncontrollable recoil. I wouldn't want to see much more than 1000 fps and probably would prefer less. A micro pistol is for deep concealment and up close and personal contact. I would want a round tailored for that use.

Edit: Talking about 9mm

 

[Different Drummer]

Exactly! The micro is not designed as a hyper velocity round. Further more what criteria does anyone
Use to determine that the one review posted in this thread is goapel? There are other reviews that agree the Micro 150 is a perfectly viable personal defense round. Adequate penetration, uniform and very nice expansion
With 100% weight retention was obtained. ( 99% in one shot of one review ). Albeit all cited cost as a negative.
From what I read Federal chRges a premium for 20 round boxes and brings the price into a more reasonable range when packaging in 50 round boxes.
So what review you take as being the authority on the matter is subjective to the individual.
Anyone in the "Velocity" camp will most likely give the round two strikes from the get go.
Where as the actual performance regardless if velocity is adequate evidence for others.

 

[Marine Cpl]

Just wondering what you would consider good performance out of a 3" or less barrel without uncontrollable recoil. I wouldn't want to see much more than 1000 fps and probably would prefer less. A micro pistol is for deep concealment and up close and personal contact. I would want a round tailored for that use.

Edit: Talking about 9mm

If hollow points are your thing, a hollow point that actually expands. The 124 gr HST Standard pressure penetrates the most out of the bunch.

 

[Darth]

Hey, what is your favorite fruit?

Clay Aiken.

 

[Marine Cpl]

Exactly! The micro is not designed as a hyper velocity round. Further more what criteria does anyone
Use to determine that the one review posted in this thread is goapel? There are other reviews that agree the Micro 150 is a perfectly viable personal defense round. Adequate penetration, uniform and very nice expansion
With 100% weight retention was obtained. ( 99% in one shot of one review ). Albeit all cited cost as a negative.
From what I read Federal chRges a premium for 20 round boxes and brings the price into a more reasonable range when packaging in 50 round boxes.
So what review you take as being the authority on the matter is subjective to the individual.
Anyone in the "Velocity" camp will most likely give the round two strikes from the get go.
Where as the actual performance regardless if velocity is adequate evidence for others.

It failed to expand 2 times with heavy clothing. Why anyone wants to ignore that is beyond me when other HST rounds have never failed to expand in all YouTube tests out there.

The 9mm penetrates hard barriers better than other slower rounds like the .45 or .38 due to it's velocity. This particular load goes about 800 fps. That slow velocity turns it into a .38.

If the 150 gr HST penetrated deeper and expanded bigger than the other HST loads out there, the slow velocity could be overlooked. But it doesn't.

 

[Different Drummer]

It failed to expand 2 times with heavy clothing. Why anyone wants to ignore that is beyond me when other HST rounds have never failed to expand in all YouTube tests out there.

The 9mm penetrates hard barriers better than other slower rounds like the .45 or .38 due to it's velocity. This particular load goes about 800 fps. That slow velocity turns it into a .38.

If the 150 gr HST penetrated deeper and expanded bigger than the other HST loads out there, the slow velocity could be overlooked. But it doesn't.

Yes, according to one review. As you said " why would anyone want to ignore that" more than one other review come to different conclusions in all respects. Velocity is gtreater than the 800 Ft /Sec you keep referencing, penetration is consistently over 12 inches and as much as 16 inches and expansion was excellent. In one test the diameter of the expanded bullet was greater than the average expansion of all 9mm hollow points tested across all weights. The HST 124 &147 were in that group.
I really don't see an argument here. Just saying you cannot pick just one review at ones pleasure and call it the definitve authority on the matter.
As I stated earlier I will grab my usual 147 gr HST WHEN I can find them. Until then I have no worries about having the 150 gr Micro in my weapon.
When I get the 147's I will expend the 150's. Who knows, if I like how they fire , sound and feel over the 147's I may very well switch! Time will tell. I do know that unless I can find consistent and reliable information that shows the 150gr Micro to be a poor performer it will not keep me awake at night worrying about using hem.

 

[Marine Cpl]

Yes, according to one review. As you said " why would anyone want to ignore that" more than one other review come to different conclusions in all respects. Velocity is gtreater than the 800 Ft /Sec you keep referencing, penetration is consistently over 12 inches and as much as 16 inches and expansion was excellent. In one test the diameter of the expanded bullet was greater than the average expansion of all 9mm hollow points tested across all weights. The HST 124 &147 were in that group.
I really don't see an argument here. Just saying you cannot pick just one review at ones pleasure and call it the definitve authority on the matter.
As I stated earlier I will grab my usual 147 gr HST WHEN I can find them. Until then I have no worries about having the 150 gr Micro in my weapon.
When I get the 147's I will expend the 150's. Who knows, if I like how they fire , sound and feel over the 147's I may very well switch! Time will tell. I do know that unless I can find consistent and reliable information that shows the 150gr Micro to be a poor performer it will not keep me awake at night worrying about using hem.

How much more expansion does the test that you saw have over the other HST'S? Enough to warrant 800 fps and lose hard barrier penetration? Did you see TNoutdoors9's video where the 147's actually expanded larger and penetrated consistently further than the 150's?

And yes. I say 800 fps. If you watch the video I posted above, one shot was 803 the other 830 something, ect.

The 9mm wasn't designed for such a heavy round that's why it goes so damned slow.

Why do you think the light .357 Magnum 125 gr was such a solid performer on the street compared to a heavier bullet in .38 Special that goes 800 fps?

Answer. Speed.

Anyway. Here is another video where it expanded beautifully on bare gel and failed to expand through heavy clothing. So far that's 2 tests where it failed. Living up here in NY in the winter you may have to go through a leather jacket, a hoodie, a flannel shirt, and a t-shirt. Now if that bullet goes through an arm, it has to penetrate that clothing 3 times.