Hi guys
This Federal blue box is generally available from any dealer in the UK and is one of the lower priced options (£20-22) for standard calibers. I have been using it in .243, .270 and .308 with good results on roe, fallow, sika and reds and was wondering if they are widespread and popular elsewhere in Europe too?

I saw my first 'funny' two weeks ago when I shot an 18kg fallow fawn and the bullet failed to exit, indeed it was in pieces. After flawless performance on dozens of others I am willing to put that down to bad luck or maybe an unseen obstacle.

Nonetheless, I would definitely class these as 'soft' bullets but which hold together and tend to exit on 95% of deer shot.

You don't hear very much about them (who makes the actual powershok bullet?)....

I've been using Federal Powershok and Vital Shok ammo for about seven years now I think. I use the Vitalshok only now, but have used Powershok on red, fallow, roe and muntjac - all in .308. I find them to be extremely good and would not hesitate to recommend them.

Bullets do wierd things sometimes, I have seen a heavy .308 round exit the same side of a fallow as it went in, I have neck shot red hinds with .270 WIN and had the bullet remain in the neck, and there are lots more stories of bullets doing unexpected things. I think you are right not to judge the Powershok on one aberration. Good luck with them!

If I had to use factory ammo, that's what I'd use. Used it for about 3 yrs in .243 and .308 with great results.

The Federal "Blue" box is fairly popular here in The Fatherland; I know a bunch of hunters who use the 180 gr. .30/06 Sprg. load as it's inexpensive and commonly available.

I haven't heard any complaints about the bullet performance, either.

The only problem I had with the 308's ( I think TSX loads) were that I found them a bit punchy.

The scope kept clouting me and I often lost the sight picture. On top of that my gun didn't really like them, something to do with the powder, (Vhit 160 IIRC). Moved to the same head with a Varget handload and all was happy in the world again...

As for the blue ones, (ammunition boxes not pills) my mate uses them in 243 and 270 on big woodland reds, fallow, roe and munties and has never had a problem.

FB

i used to use Federal hi-shok for every thing in my .243 then it seemed they switched to power-shok
this is where it all went pear shape
thou there was little in it and they printed almost identical,
Hi-shoks were more pointed and streamline, where the power-shok's were a little more rounded and blunt point
the Hi-shok's seemed to knock deer over and hardly a runner ever, even with Sika
rarely did a bullet not exit with side on hits
but with the power-shoks it seemed to rock the deer but they had a tendacy to run if only 20-30 yards but run they did, also had a lot more blood shock than i was used to getting, plus you never seemed to get the same weight heads every time you went to buy any from the gunshop
so i went into home loading, and to be honest never looked back but i do always try to use Federal cases and primers if i can