damionkeller
New member
Anyone have any experience with Honady's Critical Defense FTX ammo? I bought a box for my 9mm Ruger, but haven't shot any yet.
Hornady Ammo
- Thread starter damionkeller
- Start date
I shot some of the Critical Defense 9mm ammo. Functions well in my 9mm pistols (Xdm, Kahr k9, Sig P6, and Walther P99). Seems the felt recoil is less with the Critical Defense than the Federal hydra shocks. I think the Critical defense I have are lighter bullets than the Hydra Shocks it replaced.
marine6680
New member
There are two important factors with HP ammo for defense use...
Does it perform well as a defensive round...
Does it function 100% in the pistol it's to be used in...
The first question can be answered on a basic level by looking at gel tests. So long as they are done properly. One with several shots is nice, as that gives a good average. Having several different people with tests is better, as lot numbers will be different usually. So if they all are consistent, you can reasonably assume the ammo will perform similarly for you.
Hornady critical defense has been shown to perform well. I can not remember the projectile size, but it is at least 124gr or more.
A note: Lighter than 124gr projectiles tend to be less consistent in their performance. So avoid those rounds... Some manufacturers offer several weights in their HP ammo, so know what you are picking up.
The second question can only be determined by test firing the ammo in the pistol you wish to use.
How much testing you need to be comfortable and confident in its performance in your pistol is up to you.
Some may say one 20rd box is enough for them... Cost may be a factor there... Others say a hundred rounds... Or two hundred.
Me, cost is a factor, but I need more than one box. I use at least 50 rounds as a minimum. More if I can, a hundred and I am pretty confident, but I do periodically test a mag or two as well, to ensure it remains viable ammo for me.
Does it perform well as a defensive round...
Does it function 100% in the pistol it's to be used in...
The first question can be answered on a basic level by looking at gel tests. So long as they are done properly. One with several shots is nice, as that gives a good average. Having several different people with tests is better, as lot numbers will be different usually. So if they all are consistent, you can reasonably assume the ammo will perform similarly for you.
Hornady critical defense has been shown to perform well. I can not remember the projectile size, but it is at least 124gr or more.
A note: Lighter than 124gr projectiles tend to be less consistent in their performance. So avoid those rounds... Some manufacturers offer several weights in their HP ammo, so know what you are picking up.
The second question can only be determined by test firing the ammo in the pistol you wish to use.
How much testing you need to be comfortable and confident in its performance in your pistol is up to you.
Some may say one 20rd box is enough for them... Cost may be a factor there... Others say a hundred rounds... Or two hundred.
Me, cost is a factor, but I need more than one box. I use at least 50 rounds as a minimum. More if I can, a hundred and I am pretty confident, but I do periodically test a mag or two as well, to ensure it remains viable ammo for me.
biohazard313
New member
ive used crit def before, i tend to like the crit duty line better.
i scrapped both hornaday lines for winchester ranger t series for my EDC .40 cal
i scrapped both hornaday lines for winchester ranger t series for my EDC .40 cal
Hornady Critical Duty; Winchester Ranger T/T Series....
Id feel very safe & confident with the "Critical Duty" line of handgun rounds.
I got a 50rd box of Hornady Critical Duty .45acp from www.Policehq.com in 2013.
I looked into the highly rated Ranger T/T Series bonded line but couldn't find any open sources for it under 500rd lots.
SGammo.com of Stillwater OK was a decent source for Ranger-T in .40/9x19mm/.45acp prior to Sandy Hook 2012. I purchased 2 boxes of 127gr +P+ 9x19mm JHP in 2010.
Now, they never seem to have any Ranger T/T series calibers in stock.
A few online reviews & video clips document + results with the Critical Duty rounds & they seem to have more vendors/retail sources.
I no longer buy or shoot any Golden Saber defense rounds. The QC is really sub-standard. Corbon, www.ShopCorbon.com , has merit. The PowRball line & DPX are fine for most carry-duty-protection roles.
Speer Gold Dot has been purchased & used by 100s of US law enforcement agencies for many years with + results. I'd buy the 135gr +P JHP .38spl round for a snub or J frame S&W revolver.
Clyde
Id feel very safe & confident with the "Critical Duty" line of handgun rounds.
I got a 50rd box of Hornady Critical Duty .45acp from www.Policehq.com in 2013.
I looked into the highly rated Ranger T/T Series bonded line but couldn't find any open sources for it under 500rd lots.
SGammo.com of Stillwater OK was a decent source for Ranger-T in .40/9x19mm/.45acp prior to Sandy Hook 2012. I purchased 2 boxes of 127gr +P+ 9x19mm JHP in 2010.
Now, they never seem to have any Ranger T/T series calibers in stock.
A few online reviews & video clips document + results with the Critical Duty rounds & they seem to have more vendors/retail sources.
I no longer buy or shoot any Golden Saber defense rounds. The QC is really sub-standard. Corbon, www.ShopCorbon.com , has merit. The PowRball line & DPX are fine for most carry-duty-protection roles.
Speer Gold Dot has been purchased & used by 100s of US law enforcement agencies for many years with + results. I'd buy the 135gr +P JHP .38spl round for a snub or J frame S&W revolver.
Clyde
FrankenMauser
New member
I have tried Critical Defense .380 Auto, 9mm, and .38 Special.
The .380 Auto ran well and didn't cause any problems.
The 9mm didn't run well at all in a Ruger P95 that has never had problems with anything else.
And, the .38 Special was ridiculously hot. I had to support the cylinder and take a rubber mallet to the ejector rod to extract the cases from a revolver that doesn't have extraction problems with anything else. -And that was with Hornady's 'slippery' nickel-plated cases.
Overall, I prefer Federal Hydra-Shoks or something from the Winchester Ranger line. I do run some 115 gr Gold Dots in .327 Federal, and 125 gr Remington HPs in .38 Special; but they're the oddities.
The .380 Auto ran well and didn't cause any problems.
The 9mm didn't run well at all in a Ruger P95 that has never had problems with anything else.
And, the .38 Special was ridiculously hot. I had to support the cylinder and take a rubber mallet to the ejector rod to extract the cases from a revolver that doesn't have extraction problems with anything else. -And that was with Hornady's 'slippery' nickel-plated cases.
Overall, I prefer Federal Hydra-Shoks or something from the Winchester Ranger line. I do run some 115 gr Gold Dots in .327 Federal, and 125 gr Remington HPs in .38 Special; but they're the oddities.
damionkeller
New member
Thanks for all the feedback. Nice to hear from people with firsthand experience. Think I'll hit the range and give them a run this weekend.
It's a quality round.
The sort of "dumbed down" version is that Critical Defense is formulated for shorter barrels, while Critical Duty is formulated for full-size firearms. I haven't run the numbers myself so take all of this for what it is, a guy who read statements on the internet. I carry accordingly, although I'll be testing some Federal Light Recoil 135gr 40 S&W in my Glock 22 next range trip...
The sort of "dumbed down" version is that Critical Defense is formulated for shorter barrels, while Critical Duty is formulated for full-size firearms. I haven't run the numbers myself so take all of this for what it is, a guy who read statements on the internet. I carry accordingly, although I'll be testing some Federal Light Recoil 135gr 40 S&W in my Glock 22 next range trip...
Derbel McDillet
Moderator
Critical DEFENSE is for concealed carry-sized pistols.
Critical DUTY is for duty-sized (full size) handguns. It does not perform well when fired from the shorter barrels of smaller concealed carry handguns because the lead core is harder.
If you want to be prepared to shoot through auto glass or sheetmetal then Critical DEFENSE is a poor choice. More info here.
In addition Critical DEFENSE cannot be relied upon to penetrate deeply enough to reach vitals.
Whereas the terminal performance of Critical DUTY is inconsistent.
There are better JHP loads available - Gold Dot, HST.
Critical DUTY is for duty-sized (full size) handguns. It does not perform well when fired from the shorter barrels of smaller concealed carry handguns because the lead core is harder.
If you want to be prepared to shoot through auto glass or sheetmetal then Critical DEFENSE is a poor choice. More info here.
In addition Critical DEFENSE cannot be relied upon to penetrate deeply enough to reach vitals.
Whereas the terminal performance of Critical DUTY is inconsistent.
There are better JHP loads available - Gold Dot, HST.
biohazard313
New member
yep i was same way, crit def > crit duty > win ranger t/fed HST/gold dot
only 3 loads i carry now depending on availability. i do also have a older 50 round box pre ban black talons
havent decided to carry or what to with them yet. they are just sitting in the closet safe
only 3 loads i carry now depending on availability. i do also have a older 50 round box pre ban black talons
havent decided to carry or what to with them yet. they are just sitting in the closet safeHunter0924
New member
I have used Critical Defense in a few calibers and it performed well enough through soft barriers such as cloth and had good penetration, expansion, and weight retention in the ballistic gel.
I find it amazing when people say the FTX critical defense round will not penatrate deep enough to reach the vital organs 
a 165 grain hollow point running at 1185fps is going to punch a big nasty hole into your chest cavity, the heart is about 3" into the chest with the lungs sittin on either side of it, that .40 caliber bullet is going to blow at least 6-10" into the body and expand out close to .60", a good center mass shot will probably hit and break the spine, a round coming in from the sides will tear through the lungs and probably reach the heart or major arteries leaving it.What about barrier penatration? The FTX has collapsed inward and punched clean holes through heavy cast iron skillets and continued on through wet phonebooks while still doing an inverted expansion. Anyone who thinks its not effective let see you volunteer to stand in front of it
a 165 grain hollow point running at 1185fps is going to punch a big nasty hole into your chest cavity, the heart is about 3" into the chest with the lungs sittin on either side of it, that .40 caliber bullet is going to blow at least 6-10" into the body and expand out close to .60", a good center mass shot will probably hit and break the spine, a round coming in from the sides will tear through the lungs and probably reach the heart or major arteries leaving it.What about barrier penatration? The FTX has collapsed inward and punched clean holes through heavy cast iron skillets and continued on through wet phonebooks while still doing an inverted expansion. Anyone who thinks its not effective let see you volunteer to stand in front of it But you present the best case scenario. As far as possible, you should plan for the worst case scenario. That's the whole reason for the FBI protocols -- 12 to 18 inches of penetration. Is ten inches enough? Maybe. Is six inches enough? Not in my book.
BTW, very few good center mass shots break spines. Lots of folks survive center mass shots without being crippled.
I've tested std pressure Critical Duty in bbls from 3" to 5" in water jugs (sorry, can't afford ballistic gel) and except for modest differences in expansion, penetration is sufficient and very similar (in every instance penetration was right at 4 jugs each time, either barely penetrating into the 5th jug or dimpling the back of the 4th which is appx 14"-16" of gel, right in the middle of the FBI's suggested 12"-18").
Shot placement and sufficient penetration are paramount, all else is secondary. We want expansion but we *need* sufficient penetration in a SD round.
Critical Defense deliberately sacrifices penetration (too much, IMHO, except for their .380 load) whereas Critical Duty sacrifices expansion for deeper penetration.
Since all handguns are relatively poor "stoppers" regardless of caliber or bullet used, I don't think a BG could tell the difference if shot w/any of the quality JHP's currently available. However, I choose to err on the side of penetration over expansion which is why I carry std pressure Critical Duty (std pressure over +P for faster followup shots) but YMMV.
Tomac
Shot placement and sufficient penetration are paramount, all else is secondary. We want expansion but we *need* sufficient penetration in a SD round.
Critical Defense deliberately sacrifices penetration (too much, IMHO, except for their .380 load) whereas Critical Duty sacrifices expansion for deeper penetration.
Since all handguns are relatively poor "stoppers" regardless of caliber or bullet used, I don't think a BG could tell the difference if shot w/any of the quality JHP's currently available. However, I choose to err on the side of penetration over expansion which is why I carry std pressure Critical Duty (std pressure over +P for faster followup shots) but YMMV.
Tomac
Hornady
I've fired both the Duty and Defense in 135gr. In both my Cougar Compact and Shield the Duty was a softer felt recoil; thus back on target more quickly. Similar to Gold Dot 124gr (non +P). I like both (GD 124 & Hornady Duty 135) better than any 115gr or 147gr I've tried in my two pistols. I've carried the Gold Dot over the winter with the Hornady in a spare mag.
I've fired both the Duty and Defense in 135gr. In both my Cougar Compact and Shield the Duty was a softer felt recoil; thus back on target more quickly. Similar to Gold Dot 124gr (non +P). I like both (GD 124 & Hornady Duty 135) better than any 115gr or 147gr I've tried in my two pistols. I've carried the Gold Dot over the winter with the Hornady in a spare mag.