Video: Federal Defensive Ammunition

by
posted on June 30, 2015
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
There is no conventional personal-protection projectile available to “civilians” that performs optimally “across the board.” A bullet that is intended to maintain its integrity—for sufficient penetration—even when encountering difficult-to-defeat barriers, such as automobile glass, cannot be expected to exhibit the same traits as one designed to expend most of its energy in a soft target, even wallboard, to reduce damage from over-penetration or a miss. As such, it’s prudent for an ammunition company to offer multiple loads with distinct performance parameters. That’s exactly what Federal Premium did with HST and Guard Dog Home Defense.

Watch this segment from a recent episode of American Rifleman as the staff visits Federal Premium's factory in Anoka, Minn., to see how its Guard Dog and HST loads fare under the most extreme testing.

For more on Federal's defensive ammo, please enjoy the following articles:

Mastery of Metals: Federal's HST and Guard Dog Loads

Editors' Picks—New for 2015: Federal Premium .380 ACP Personal Defense HST 

Federal Premium Personal Defense Low Recoil .45 Auto Ammunition


Six Things to Consider When Choosing Self-Defense Ammunition

Federal Premium Guard Dog Ammunition

Latest

Belt1 1911 Timer
Belt1 1911 Timer

Tactical Belts For The Rest Of Us

Most shooters don’t need a "war belt." While enthusiasts like the idea of preparing for every contingency, the vast majority of us need a reliable platform for a range session, a training class or a local club match.

18 New Shotguns for 2026

Among today's firearm platforms, the shotgun remains one of the most time-tested, but that doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement. Today's new crop of shotguns runs the gamut, giving modern shotgunners new options in nearly every conceivable category.

Derya Arms RAN Series: A New Take on the Lever-Action

Derya Arms' latest entry in the lever-action market, the RAN series of rifles and pistols, seeks to “reimagine” the modern lever gun.

Gun of the Week: Robinson Armament XCR-L

One man, Alex Robinson, took it upon himself to address what he saw as several shortcomings in the AR-15 design. He consulted with special forces operators and asked what they wanted in a rifle platform. The result was the Robinson Armament XCR.

Maryland Bans Glocks and the NRA Responds

Legislation recently signed into law by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore essentially bans nearly every Glock and Glock-style pistol on the market from being sold within the state.

The Armed Citizen® May 29, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.