Hornady Critical Defense .38 Special Non-Plus P from a Snub Nose...Effective??

S

Southern Shooter

New member
My girlfriend recently purchased a Ruger LCR in .38 Special. We have been looking around town for ammunition that would be effective defense ammuntion and easy to access. Right now her choices are Federal Nyclad Non+P 125 grain, Federal Hydra-shok +P 129 grain, and finally the Hornday Critical Defense Non+P 110 grain.

Because the Hornady Critical Defense is more accessable she is looking at it very seriously. This ammunition is showing 1010 FPS, 249 FPE at the muzzle from a 4" barrel. How would this ammunition perform for defensive purposes from a 2" barreled gun? Any opinions? Any experiences with this combination?

http://www.hornady.com/store/38-Special-110-gr-Critical-Defense/

Thanks
 
Hornady Critical Defense is what I carry in my LCR. It's accurate and reliable thus far.

As for effectiveness, I have not shot anyone with them yet, so I have no idea; I'll keep you posted.
 
I don't have any real data share but I am carrying Hornday Critical Defense +P in both my LCR and S&W M66. You can always order some +P online if it's not available around you. I got mine at cheaperthandirt.
 
I carry a S&W 360PD, a very light revolver and the most pleasant load I've tryed is the Federal Hydra-shok +P 129 grain.
Much more pleasant to shoot than other non +P loads.
 
The non +P will perform adequately, but why not use the +P Critical Defense for .38 spl. The difference in recoil is no big deal.

I use Critical defense +P in my Smith & Colt snub .38 spl. and non +P Critical Defense in my .45ACP pistols.

The +P CD .38 spl. gives you 1090 velocity and 290 ft. lbs.
 
I carry Hornady Critical defense .38 in my Ruger LCR and it is pleasant to shoot. Why bother carrying the +P? Out of the small barrel you don't gain much accuracy, but you gain a lot of felt recoil, which I think would be more of a problem in a self-defense situation.
 
I know the arguments for training with what you carry and point of aim and recovery time ... I have been in a few DF situations and I truly believe, more so for someone who doesn't shoot very much, that in extreme high stress self defense situation you won't notice the difference between the nyclad and +P. Practice with med loads and fill it full of good self defense ammo. Point shooting with one hand at five yards and under is very efficient self defense training for your significant other. She probably won't have the training, experience or ammo for self defense situations involving taking cover and exchanging gun fire with an attacker who is moving and shooting behind cover. There is a good chance that her weak hand will be holding a door knob, pushing something like a curtain or door aside, turning on a light or holding a phone. Just my 2 cents take it for what it's worth. I don't have a problem with non plus P loads for the 38spl. Try the 158 SWC and see how it works. When my son started deer hunting we didn't spend allot of time practicing with slugs and developing a flinch. We just worked on the fundamentals of shooting.
 
From the tests I've seen, Hornady Critical Defense is one of the better choices in a standard pressure .38 Special as it is one of the very few JHP loadings in that caliber that can both expand reliably and penetrate even close to 12" in ballistic gel. In .38 Spl +P, however, I think there are better choices such as Speer 135gr Gold Dot Short Barrel or Remington 158gr LSWCHP.
 
but you gain a lot of felt recoil, which I think would be more of a problem in a self-defense situation.
Click to expand...

Just don't agree, at least from my experience. +P is simply not a big deal, hardly any felt increase in recoil. I doubt CD +P recoil is any more than a standard .38 spl. 158g.

Ok, I know felt recoil is different for each person.

Now full house .357 mag's form a 2" snub, that's something that will get your attention.:D
 
I went to the range today to finally fire my lcr. 38's, no problem. Hornady CD 38+p, a step up but not too much kick and low flash. Golden Saber +P, SWEET JESUS IT'S A FLAME CANNON! It was all fun but those golden sabers really had some kick and crazy flash. Fun at the range, don't want to shoot them in my apartment.
 
From the tests I've seen, Hornady Critical Defense is one of the better choices in a standard pressure .38 Special as it is one of the very few JHP loadings in that caliber that can both expand reliably and penetrate even close to 12" in ballistic gel.
Click to expand...

A bullet which will penetrate nearly 12 inches and expand after passing through four layers of denim may quite possibly the best non-plus-p JHP round available in 38 Special. IF it will do that, and especially from a two inch barrel. That last one is a pretty big if.

While it may not qualify in the FBI denim/jello tests, Hornady does make the point the average personal defense shooter doesn't normally need FBI type ammo performance.
 
Last edited:
On +P, my LCR wants to jump out of my hands; it's punishing.

To say that +P from an LCR has no increased felt recoil over standard pressure rounds is interesting....
 
Carry_24/7 said:
To say that +P from an LCR has no increased felt recoil over standard pressure rounds is interesting....
Click to expand...

Off the shelf .38 spl. +P is only a about a 10% increase in pressure. I find it interesting that some describe that as punishing. But as I said, I understand felt recoil is different for each individual.

My personal experience is there is more difference in recoil due to weight difference than +P. I think a 158g non +P has as much felt recoil as a 110g +p.....but that's my judgment.
 
My Wife loads her Charter Arms .38 Undercover 2" snub with 'Hornady Critical Defence'. (.38 Special)
I keep it in my spare Rossi 2" revolver.
I prefer the minimal recoil.
 
I prefer the non +p rounds and the critical defense loads are in my guns. Not because of recoil but I find them more accurate in my guns. 50 feet per second is not a lot of gain. Non +P at 900 and +p at 950 from 2 inch. Both are good but the non +p is expanding well and going in deep. From what i have seen on the net over 12 inches that's good enough for me and I don't have to worry about my older gun this way. I did have some primer issues with the nickel colored primer ammo but not with the brass ones. Go to you tube and put in critical defense 110 non +P plenty of info there.
 
Given barrel length of the LCR, I would recommend using Buffalo Bore's gas-checked 158gr LSWCHP standard pressure or +P ammo. That is some goooood stuff right there.

As for felt recoil during a self-defense situation, conventional wisdom says you wont even notice +P recoil...

http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=108

171388.jpg
 
gaining a lot of felt recoil is in no way important in a self defense situation

i went to the range with a Smith Bodyguard .38 and if i slow fire it, i'd not say it's the most pleasant pistol to shoot, but i'd not say it's the least pleasant either

it's kind of middle of the road, i can feel the recoil though and i don't particularly like it

when i go full blast with it, unload all 5 rounds as quickly as possible, my hand feels it after i'm done shooting, but in that 2 seconds i'm pulling the trigger i feel nothing at all, and the only reason i notice the recoil at all is because my grouping takes a hit

i can still put them in about a 5" group from 7 yards or so

the point is, all i'm doing is having fun and practicing with the pistol and the felt recoil goes away when i decide to fire quickly

if i was in a SD situation, i'd probably be firing quickly, and i'd probably be under MUCH more stress than i'm under while i'm at the range, therefore i'd probably be even less likely to feel the recoil at all, much less tell the difference between +P and non +P
 
38 spc snub

When I am firing by Snub Rossi, it definitely has some recoil even when using decent Remington range ammo SWC which is certainly not a hot load. But the thing I notice the most when firing that little 2" snub is the muzzle blast.

In subdued light, it looks like a cannon just went off. I suspect the shock and awe of the muzzle blast would discourage an amatuer intruder

When firing my 4" revolver, the muzzle blast is much less noticeable unless I fire some full bore .357's through it. I am much more accurate with the 4".
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top