Federal Power Shok Ammo Review: Bread and Butter Hunting Ammo

If you’re in the market for some budget-friendly hunting ammo that won’t require a second mortgage to afford, then you shouldn’t hesitate to grab a few boxes of Federal Power-Shok ammo.

Although it might not be as technologically advanced as other rounds, this stuff just works and has been trusted by hunters for generations.

No matter if you enjoy hunting with your grandfather’s classic lever-action 30-30 or you’ve got a tricked-out Ruger Hawkeye or Savage 10, Federal Power Shock rifle ammunition has the terminal performance you need for taking down the trophy buck of a lifetime.

If you’re concerned that Federal Power Shok might not be the right rifle ammo for you this fall, or if you simply want to learn more about the brand, make sure to keep reading as we’ve done our research and have a full Federal Power Shok review waiting for you.

However, if you’re ready to stock up for hunting season, make sure to check out all the Federal Power-Shok ammo we have in stock and ready to ship to your door.

Federal Power Shok Ammo Overview

Once Charles Horn took control and re-founded the Federal Cartridge Corporation, Federal Ammunition became one of the primary ammunition manufacturers for the U.S. Military, law enforcement, and civilian shooters across the USA.

Federal Premium has numerous ammo lines encompassing every aspect of shooting, ranging from hunting, target shooting, plinking, self-defense, and competition. Federal Ammunition produces rimfire, centerfire handgun, centerfire rifle, and shotshell ammunition, as well as reloading components and muzzleloading bullets.

The Federal Power Shok (sometimes misspelled as “Power Shock”) line of ammunition is Federal’s offering for the budget-minded hunter. For their rifle ammunition, all Power Shok ammo is loaded with their classic jacketed soft point (JSP) bullet. This projectile has an exposed lead tip that mushrooms and expands rapidly when it encounters soft tissue.

This expansion creates a wide wound channel that is excellent for putting down medium to large game animals quickly and with as little suffering as possible. The Federal Power Shok is roughly equivalent to Remington Core-Lokt and Winchester Super X hunting ammo, as all three cartridges are loaded with traditional soft-point bullets.

Although Power Shok ammo is budget-friendly, you shouldn’t interpret this as “cheap” since Federal loads all their ammo to very stringent quality control standards. This means that Power Shok ammo will be reliable, accurate, and will get the job done so long as you do your part.

Power Shok ammo is primarily loaded for centerfire rifle cartridges; however, it is also loaded in handgun hunting calibers and shotshell ammo.

Although Federal Power Shok might not be the fanciest ammo on the market, it simply gets the job done, which is what any hunter looks for in their chosen hunting ammo.

Our Federal Power Shok Ammo Review

When the leaves begin to change colors and the morning air becomes crisp, hunters across the USA and Canada know that deer season will be arriving soon. And when this happens, I know that I need to make sure to pick up some Federal Power Shok ammo in their classic blue box to make sure I’m ready for deer hunting.

My father brought me up shooting Federal Power Shok and Remington Core-Lokt rifle ammo in our 22-250 Rem bolt-action ground hog slayer. Although I didn’t do too much deer hunting back then, I’ve started taking it more seriously over the past few years. And often, I find myself going back to my old standby, the Federal Power Shok.

Compared to other modern hunting ammo like a Nosler Partition or Accubond, Power Shok ammo isn’t all that special. It’s a standard jacketed soft-point bullet. And although this bullet design has proven itself for generations, there are some limitations to it that we can’t ignore.

First and foremost, JSP ammo is notorious for having a lower ballistic coefficient compared to polymer-tipped or hollow-point equivalent bullets. This is due to the design of the soft point itself, as it is not aerodynamic by any stretch of the imagination and really suffers for long-range shots.

However, if you’re hunting in thick brush or heavily wooded areas, as we have here in the forests of the Midwest, then Federal Power Shok ammo is a great choice. As these conditions aren’t well suited for shots over 200 yards, Power Shok can get the job done for a fraction of the price.

I mentioned Nosler Accubond ammo earlier in my review; well, if we look at the price, you can have Federal Power Shok for considerably less. And I suspect the deer isn’t going to lecture you on the differences in terminal ballistics between these two rounds after he takes a double-lung broadside shot.

The truth is that unless you’re taking shots over 400-500 yards, Federal Power Shok ammo is more than enough bullet to meet your hunting needs while saving you some hard-earned cash that can be used at your taxidermist instead!

Numerous hunters every season are more than happy to take Federal Power-Shok ammo out into the woods. It might not be as technologically advanced as other bullets on the market, but the Power Shok JSP gets the job done…And that’s good enough for me.

What’s It Best For?

Federal Power Shok ammo is best used for medium to big game hunting. This ammo offers reliable expansion at traditional hunting ranges and is accurate enough for jacketed soft-point bullets. It is extremely reliable and a great budget option for hunting whitetail deer, feral hogs, elk, and mule deer. Furthermore, Federal uses high-quality brass cases that are Boxer-primed, which are perfect if you like to make handloads like me.

Disadvantages

By their nature, soft point bullets are not ideal for long-range shooting as they have a lower ballistic coefficient compared to polymer-tipped bullets like the Hornady ELD-X or Nosler Accubond. Although Federal Power Shok ammo is accurate enough for hunting, do not expect to get match-grade accuracy out of them.

Pros and Cons

As much as we love ammo, we understand that no manufacturer is perfect. Here are some of the pros and cons of Federal Power Shok ammunition you should be aware of.

Pros

• Reliable
• Proven terminal performance
• High-quality brass cases perfect for reloading
• Good accuracy
• Affordable hunting cartridge

Cons

• Soft point bullets are not ideal for long-range shooting
• Not as accurate as other premium hunting loads

Calibers Offered

The Federal Power Shok ammo line comes loaded in multiple rifle calibers. Here’s a list of what’s available in 2023:

• 223 Remington
• 30-06 Springfield
• 300 Winchester Magnum
• 6.5 Creedmoor
• 308 Winchester
• 7mm Rem Mag
• 30-30 Win
• 270 Win
• 243 Win
• 300 Blackout
• 7.62x39
• 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser
• 7mm-08 Rem
• 450 Bushmaster

• 45-70 Government
• 375 H&H Magnum
• 350 Legend
• 22-250 Rem
• 303 British
• 32 Win Special
• 300 WSM
• 7mm Mauser
• 8mm Mauser
• 35 Rem
• 222 Rem
• 25-06 Rem
• 270 WSM
• 30 Carbine
• 300 Savage
• 280 Rem
• 41 Magnum
• 44 Magnum
• 357 Magnum
• 12 Gauge
• 20 Gauge
• 16 Gauge
• 10 Gauge

Variation Review

As you can see from the list above, there are A LOT of different calibers offered in the Federal Power Shok line. However, below, we’ve reviewed some of our favorite factory loads that truly make up the backbone of Power Shok ammo.

Federal Power Shok 30-30 Ammo Review

The 30-30 Winchester is a classic lever-action rifle deer cartridge. With low recoil and excellent terminal performance inside 150-200 yards, the 30-30 has claimed more whitetail deer than any other centerfire rifle cartridge used for hunting.

Loaded with either 150-grain or 170-grain Power Shok jacketed soft point bullets; these rounds from Federal will have zero problems putting a trophy buck on your wall this deer season. Measuring 2,390 and 2,200 fps muzzle velocity, respectively, Federal Power Shok 30-30 ammo will get you just under 200 yards of effective range for whitetail deer hunting.

Federal Power Shok 270 Ammo Review

The 270 Winchester is a classic big game hunting cartridge popularized in the Outdoor Life magazine by the legendary shooter, Jack O’Connor. The 270 Win has a flatter trajectory and less recoil than a 308 Winchester, making it a perfect choice for deer and elk hunting.

Federal Power Shok 270 ammo comes loaded with either a 130-grain or 150-grain jacketed soft point bullet. The 130-grain Power Shok is my personal favorite, as its 3,060 fps of muzzle velocity and 2,703 ft-lbs of energy offer nearly 500 yards of effective range on whitetail deer and 300 yards for elk.

Federal Power Shok 308 Ammo Review

The 308 Winchester is one of the most popular big game hunting cartridges across the USA. Capable of taking down feral hogs, black bears, and everything else in between, the 308 Win is a classic hunting cartridge that isn’t going away anytime soon.

Federal Power Shok 308 ammo is a great choice for any hunter who is looking for a round that simply does it all. Loaded with either 150 or 180-grain jacketed soft point bullets, Federal Power Shok offers a ton of versatility at an affordable price point.

The 308 Win 150-grain Power Shok is perfect for deer and my personal favorite hunting round, with slightly less recoil and 2,820 fps muzzle velocity. However, if I were headed into bear country or planned on elk hunting, the 180-grain Power Shok would be my choice for added penetration.

Federal Power Shok 30-06 Ammo Review

The 30-06 Springfield is America’s favorite big game hunting cartridge. Capable of taking down any big game across the continental USA, the 30-06 is the round by which all other hunting cartridges are compared.

Federal Power Shok 30-06 ammo comes loaded with two bullet weights, 150 gr and 180 gr JSP. These rounds are deadly against large game and leave an exceptional wound channel, putting down deer, elk, and caribou with relative ease.

Federal Power Shok 300 Win Mag Ammo Review

When you need pure stopping power, look no further than the classic big game rifle cartridge: The 300 Winchester Magnum. This belted magnum cartridge has no problem putting down great bears, let alone whitetail deer and elk, with proper shot placement.

Loaded with 150-grain and 180-grain Power Shok soft point bullets, are a force to be reckoned with in the woods and won’t break your budget either.

Ballistics for Federal Power Shok Ammo

Below we’ve compiled ballistics tables for the Federal Power Shok ammunition we reviewed in the previous section. Please note that muzzle velocities listed might vary depending on your hunting rifle barrel length.

Note: This information comes from the manufacturer and is only informational. The actual ballistics obtained with your firearm can vary considerably from the advertised ballistics. Also, ballistics can vary from lot to lot with the same brand and type load.

Parting Shots

Federal Power Shock rifle ammo is a great choice for hunters of all experience levels. It’s offered at an affordable price point and has a long track record of proven performance on big game.

It may not have all the bells and whistles of modern hunting ammo, but these rounds just work if you do your part when it comes to shot placement.

So, if you’re on a budget this fall or you simply can’t find your favorite Federal Fusion or Terminal Ascent rifle ammunition in stock, consider giving Federal Power-Shok ammo a try. You won’t regret it!

Now that you've finished reading this Federal Power Shok Review and you’re ready to get loaded up for deer season, make sure to check out all the Federal Premium ammo we have in stock. Get those scopes zeroed, the deer stands cleaned, and I’ll see you in the woods!

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some questions we get asked a lot here at Ammo.com about Federal Power Shok ammunition.

Is Federal Power Shok worth buying?

Yes, Federal Power Shok is accurate, provides dependable expansion, and will quickly put down game animals humanely and ethically. Federal Power Shok is a classic, budget-friendly hunting round that virtually any hunter can afford.

What is the range of Federal Power Shok ammo?

The effective range of a cartridge will depend on the firearm being used and the cartridge itself. For example, a 30-30 Win will have around 150 yards of effective range for whitetail hunting while a 308 Winchester will have over 500 yards of effective range.