Federal HST 9mm +P 124gr (P9HST3S)

Federal HST 9mm +P 124 Grain JHP (P9HST3S)

Federal HST 9mm +P 124-grain (P9HST3S) is a +P-rated 9mm Luger personal defense load with the 124-grain HST jacketed hollow point, listed by Federal at 1,200 fps — higher than the 1,150 fps standard-pressure 124-grain.

Specifications (from Federal): 9mm Luger +P · 124 gr · HST JHP · 1,200 fps · 20 rounds · P9HST3S.

+P ammunition is loaded to higher pressure; use it only in firearms rated for +P — check your manual. Federal markets HST as a duty line; these are the manufacturer’s statements.

Federal product overview (manufacturer description)

Federal describes the Personal Defense HST line as ammunition engineered for consistent expansion, optimum penetration, and reliable terminal performance, and lists HST as a law-enforcement duty load. According to Federal:

• The specially designed hollow point is built to expand reliably through a variety of barriers and resists plugging as it passes through them.
• Expanded diameter and weight retention are designed to reach the penetration wanted for personal defense without over penetrating; Federal states the jacket and core hold together for nearly 100 percent weight retention.
• Federal cites superior performance in the FBI test protocol that agencies use to assess and select duty ammunition.
• A specific bullet nose profile, a nickel-plated case, and a high-performance primer are specified for function and reliability.

These are Federal’s published statements, presented here for reference and attributed to the manufacturer. Independent ballistic-gel tests of HST loads are widely available for third-party results.

Specifications

Source: Federal Ammunition product page, 2026-09-23. Price and stock from our catalog.

Ballistics

Federal’s published data for P9HST3S (4-inch test barrel). Charts rendered from Federal’s figures; real-world results vary with barrel length and firearm.

Velocity (feet per second)

Energy (foot-pounds)

Average range (bullet path in inches, zeroed at 25 yд)

FAQ

1. What does +P mean? A higher-pressure loading. Use only in firearms rated for +P.
2. How is it different from standard HST 124? Same bullet; Federal lists the +P at 1,200 fps vs 1,150 fps standard.
3. Is there a standard-pressure 124-grain? Yes, P9HST1S.