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I was interested to see that Federal has begun producing a 99gr HST load in .380ACP. I ordered a 20 round box from Abel Ammo who seems to be the only ones I've found who have any in stock. My original plan was to shoot some and see how well they function - they are great looking rounds.

My plan fell apart after spending a full half hour opening the fool box. This was not the cardboard box, but a plastic contraption covered with sticky labels. Those of you who are getting "riper" and sweeter day by day know what I'm about to say. The box is an arthritis sufferer's nightmare. So let the buyer beware. Federal, if you're listening, there is no need for anyone to have to use an explosive breaching charge to gain access to a box of your ammunition. Package your great products so we can get them into our defense guns as quickly as possible.

Now I plan on contacting the guy who has done all the .380 testing and let him know where he can get a box. I don't think I'll tell him about the box though.

I can honestly say I feel your pain. They make them now where it takes a monumental effort to get them open. And those clear sticky circles made of thick plastic are impossible to peel off. I don't even try. On every box that's firmly welded together with that stuff, I take my pocket knife and run the blade down and through every seam. Works for me every time.

An Ex-acto knife would be better, or a box cutter, but I have neither, so a sharp knife blade will do the trick.

Be interested to see how they work. I have a box right now to test in the wife's pistol but haven't got a chance to shoot them yet. I also have some .40 180gr HST to test but haven't found the time to shoot them either.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhByLwyvGpA

Check it out. Nothing special. Good expansion but limited penetration. I think I rather have the hydra shok.

I carry 124 hst in all my 9mms but this is a no go for me in 380. I wish Federal would make a HST load specifically for the 10mm.

CC Italian wrote:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhByLwyvGpA

Check it out. Nothing special. Good expansion but limited penetration. I think I rather have the hydra shok.

Yeah I forgot about watching that particular test when I found these. The 380 is a really finicky little beast. What works well in more powerful calibers doesn't work in it, and what works well in it doesn't work in others. Oh well. I may try a few gallon water jugs to see for myself how they work - or don't. Now that I got the box open.

you down own a knife to open plastic packaging?

had this exact issue with my 9mm "box" of HST.
Get to the range to run some test rounds and can't get the blasted plastic contraption open, ended up pulling out my pocket knife and prying it open and breaking one of the plastic clips.

Who had this brilliant idea? nothing was wrong with cardboard boxes.
Or is this the new form of guncontrol, make ammo boxes so hard to open everyone gives up?

joe817 wrote:......

An Ex-acto knife would be better, or a box cutter, but I have neither, so a sharp knife blade will do the trick.

If your knife isn't as sharp as an Ex-Acto knife, maybe you should sharpen/hone it.

Be forewarned. The box and the contraptions that hold it closed are very strong. I thought my knife (not a cheapie by any means) blade was going to break the first time. It isn't just a matter of cutting tape and it opens easily.

The bad news is that when you close it, it shuts just as securely as at first. This time I nuked it. I used a cold chisel and a ball peen hammer. I put the cartridges in a zip loc bag. I'm thinking of boxing the remains up and sending them back to Federal. How a company with a reputation like Federal could be duped into such a gizmo, is beyond me.

Just bought some of these last weekend and was trying to break open the box too. Then I read the back label and it tells you to push the to smaller sides together to open the box. Worked like a charm!