Help with ammo ID

Guns & Gear Guns
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My neighbor handed me a mixed bag with about 500 rounds of assorted 9mm ammo the other night because he doesn’t have a 9mm and doesn’t plan to get one ever. Not going into details about his background, but definitely not an anti gunner/2A guy. Everything is FMJ or TMJ except these 3 rounds Can any of you identify them past Federal +P+ 9mm?

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I have not made it through all the FMJ/TMJ headstamps, but it is a plethora of them from Federal, Speer Lawman (200 boxed), Winchester, Fiocchi, Remington, and many others. Some are +P.

Edit: I’ve run across some of the Winchester with “88” date stamps

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It looks like Federal Hydra Shok

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Thanks, I’d say you nailed it. I looked up a stock photo of Hydra Shok:

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In more detail it appears to be Federal Hi-Shok 9BPLE. I am pretty sure the “LE” part stands for Law Enforcement. And, NO, my neighbor DID NOT work for AFT :rofl:

This YouTube guy got 1,350 ft/sec out of a 5" barrel:

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If you are going to use the +P+ ammo, make sure your firearm can handle the higher pressure.

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I know what a PIA all the hyper abbreviations can be to decode in any SME subject matter expert’s field, even medical, not all are board certified specialists in every specialty. Not all abbreviations mean the same in different disciplines, or contexts.

Same thing with ammunition manufacturers, it takes awhile to get familiarized just with the most common stuff, and you can always find something new, or rare.

I started by comparing the head stamps with the information printed on the paperboard boxes they came in, and if that did not decode them for me, go on the manufacture’s website to seek details.

Or, like any text that you type, highlight it, and look it up.

You can get fairly adapt at that building your knowledge base.

Many abbreviations are used in different combinations, mix and match, and you get good at deciphering a lot of this stuff.

I still run across stuff that I have to lookup.

It is what it is.

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Good advise :+1: It’s only 3 rounds from an old vintage, so I’ll just keep them unfired for posterity - or these are the last rounds I have to defend myself with :rofl: At that point I won’t care if it cracks the frame!

Seriously, both of my 9mm are aluminum frames, so neither is recommended for +P much less these rounds.

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Oh, that’s a most important safety issue, matching your specific ammunition to the specifications of your firearm, besides reading the manufacturer’s manual of instructions for your firearm, or looking it up online.

Somewhere on most firearms the ammunition specifications are stamped into the frame / slide / barrel, ejection port cover, some place…

9mmX19mm, not just the diameter, but length must match, this being the most common modern dimensions, some older 9mm was shorter.

If your firearm is rated to tolerate higher pressures like: +P or +P+, you don’t have to use higher pressure +/++ but, if you wish to, make sure that it will not damage your firearm, or risk injury using that.

Be sure to use only 1+, and not 2++ unless it is rated for 2++.

Also, match Lugar, or Para is equivalent.

NATO is FMJ, not JHP.

Pay attention to details.

Save on damaging your firearm, and / or yourself.

Make one-to-one comparisons, and make sure everything matches the same.

Other common head-stamps indicate manufacturers and caliber:
like S&W Smith & Wesson .38SP (special) or .40 cal.
And, .45APC Automatic Pistol Colt
There are hundreds to thousands of them…

Most manufacturers put out a lot of different calibers.

As, do a lot of different manufacturers put out the same calibers.

Use what your firearm manufacturer recommends.

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