I am assuming that .40S&W would be better than 9mm at penetrating intermediate barriers, but don't know that for a fact, so I'm asking you guys/gals about that. Also, how well does it work when fired from 3.5" barrels, and lastly, is it any better than other brands of ammunition?
Hornady Critical Duty Questions
- Thread starter cmdc
- Start date
Critical duty is designed for duty sized pistols: 4.5" barrel or longer.
Critical defense is for compact and subcompact like your 3.5" gun.
Both are accurate, with the edge going to Critical Defense in MY GUNS and in 9mm
What sold me on both lines is the lack of flash at night. Whatever flash suppressant Hornady uses is amazing.
I can hold 17/18 rounds in an 8" circle at 50 yards. Most practice ammo runs 1-2' at that distance for me.
Critical defense is for compact and subcompact like your 3.5" gun.
Both are accurate, with the edge going to Critical Defense in MY GUNS and in 9mm
What sold me on both lines is the lack of flash at night. Whatever flash suppressant Hornady uses is amazing.
I can hold 17/18 rounds in an 8" circle at 50 yards. Most practice ammo runs 1-2' at that distance for me.
https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?4337-Service-Caliber-Handgun-Duty-and-Self-Defense-Ammo
http://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/#9mm
http://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/#40SW
Here are three info sources which can be picked apart or relied upon to aid in making a decision. It can be difficult to even find certain ammo even if you can make a choice.
Intermediate Barrier. To some, this means automobile glass. Do realize once a round shatters the glass, the barrier behaves differently as rounds then are more able to punch holes through the glass and not deflecting the rounds' paths as much. If the main intent is to shoot through auto glass, perhaps the handgun isn't the best tool, compared to say, a shotgun slug or rifle round.
The original question concerns Hornady Critical Duty and the 135gr+P 9mm round makes the list on the pistol-forum reference. I don't know why the .40 version didn't make the list. I don't even know if Hornady Critical Duty in .40 was even tested.
The LuckGunner references don't seem to have tested through an "intermediate barrier".
What do I use? My employer used to issue Winchester Ranger RA40T and that's what I use in my .40 guns. We now issue Winchester Ranger RA9B and I try to use that, except I've got so many 9mm guns I don't have enough. My other 9mm carry ammo is Speer 124gr Gold Dot and Federal 124gr +P HST.
I noticed the Speer 124gr Gold Dot is not on either list and I don't know if it didn't make the lists due to failure or just not tested. Whether I shoot it up and use something else is unknown right now.
http://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/#9mm
http://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/#40SW
Here are three info sources which can be picked apart or relied upon to aid in making a decision. It can be difficult to even find certain ammo even if you can make a choice.
Intermediate Barrier. To some, this means automobile glass. Do realize once a round shatters the glass, the barrier behaves differently as rounds then are more able to punch holes through the glass and not deflecting the rounds' paths as much. If the main intent is to shoot through auto glass, perhaps the handgun isn't the best tool, compared to say, a shotgun slug or rifle round.
The original question concerns Hornady Critical Duty and the 135gr+P 9mm round makes the list on the pistol-forum reference. I don't know why the .40 version didn't make the list. I don't even know if Hornady Critical Duty in .40 was even tested.
The LuckGunner references don't seem to have tested through an "intermediate barrier".
What do I use? My employer used to issue Winchester Ranger RA40T and that's what I use in my .40 guns. We now issue Winchester Ranger RA9B and I try to use that, except I've got so many 9mm guns I don't have enough. My other 9mm carry ammo is Speer 124gr Gold Dot and Federal 124gr +P HST.
I noticed the Speer 124gr Gold Dot is not on either list and I don't know if it didn't make the lists due to failure or just not tested. Whether I shoot it up and use something else is unknown right now.
Thanks for the replies. I have a bunch of HST so that's a good thing.
The reason for my question is that I am contemplating an XDm 3.8 9mm compact or a Sig p320 compact and was wondering if the 3.8" and 3.9" barrels would get enough velocity for the Critical Duty to function properly.
I saw online where a guy shot some of it from a Kahr PM9. It expanded well, but he didn't shoot it through any barriers. He chronographed both standard pressure and +p and lost 50fps and 100fps respectively from the advertised velocity.
The reason for my question is that I am contemplating an XDm 3.8 9mm compact or a Sig p320 compact and was wondering if the 3.8" and 3.9" barrels would get enough velocity for the Critical Duty to function properly.
I saw online where a guy shot some of it from a Kahr PM9. It expanded well, but he didn't shoot it through any barriers. He chronographed both standard pressure and +p and lost 50fps and 100fps respectively from the advertised velocity.
Cyanide971
New member
.1 or .2 of an inch smaller from 4" is splitting hairs. Where you would need to worry about 9mm Critical Duty not performing properly is 3.5" and smaller length barrels (which is why I have HST for those shorter barrels myself, E.G. my Glock 26 and Beretta PX4 Subcompact).
The shortest barrel equipped pistol that I currently carry on a regular basis, is one of my two CZ's, both with barrel lengths just under 4" (P-07 & CZ 100), and at any given time you will find their magazines loaded with Critical Duty, 115gr or 124gr Gold Dot, and/or 124gr HST (all standard pressure loadings). I have faith in the chosen ammunition to do it's job, provided I do mine. Like the old saying goes, there is no "Magic Bullet"!
If you have any doubts about the Critical Duty performance from a 4-inch barreled handgun (Glock 19), here is a link to a video test of standard pressure 9mm ammo by Tnoutdoors9:
https://youtu.be/c8gm7ZTkDxc
If you wish to simply skip the video and see 3 of the 4 results, here are screen captures from his test (all standard pressure rounds). His caliper measurement is the highest expansion diameter, with the average listed beside it. The results may be surprising to some....
124gr Gold Dot:
124gr HST:
135gr Critical Duty:
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