Federal HST 124gr: Still the Benchmark Carry Load?
We chronographed and gel-tested the load that half the internet carries. It largely lives up to the reputation — with a caveat on price.
What works
- Consistent, uniform expansion
- Low velocity deviation
- Feeds reliably across barrel lengths
What doesn't
- Price and stock fluctuate
- Nothing exotic — it just works
The verdict
A deservedly default carry load. If you can get it at a fair price, buy a case and stop overthinking it.
Ask any group of concealed carriers what's in their magazine and Federal HST comes up fast. The 124gr standard-pressure load has become a default recommendation, and for good reason: consistent expansion, reliable feeding, and clean ignition across a wide range of barrel lengths.
Chronograph
From a 4-inch barrel our ten-shot string averaged just under the advertised velocity with a low standard deviation — the kind of consistency that matters more than raw speed.
Terminal performance
In calibrated gel behind heavy denim, expansion was uniform and penetration landed squarely in the FBI-preferred window. Nothing surprising here, which is exactly what you want from a defensive load.
The catch
Availability and price swing with the market. When it's in stock at a fair price, it's hard to argue against. When it's not, several other bonded and standard hollow points perform comparably.
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