Hornady Critical Defense

[Wolfpacker]

Does anyone carry or shoot this ammo regularly? I picked up a box as the gun shop owner swore by it and I didn't know much better as a new CCW carrier. Can't seem to find a great deal of reviews about it out there and wanted to see what my fellow Kahr owners thought.

[Dinger]

If you have a chronograph, run three rounds over the screens using your carry gun. Let us know what the velocity is. What bullet weight is it? I think alot of Hornady bullets & ammo, but still a new product that you're going to defend your life with needs scrutinized. Accuracy should be good with just about any defensive ammo @ 7-10 yards. Maybe around 4" offhand, but naturally less is better. Of course you can shoot some guns better than others.......try three rounds @ 7 yds. Let us know what you think.

[DKD]

Hornady Critical Defense Ammo

I purchased some for my wifes LCP and pack it in some of my 9mm guns. Several articales have been written about in in several gun mags.

Since I havn't shot anything with it all I can say is I believe the design is sound and Hornady is a very good ammo manufacturer. The plastic ball nose will not allow the accumulation of fabric materials from entering the nose cavity of the bullet, but will be pushed back into the fragile front of the jacket to promote expansion. many other hollow point designs can expand unpredicably should the velocity drop too low or get plugged with material.

From the test media I have seen on TV "Best Defense" program on the Outdoor Channel....seems to allow good penetration and expansion without over penetration, especially with the weaker 32 ACP & 380 ACP rounds and overpenetration issues with most 9mm rounds. They also are using low flash powders for better night vision recovery. I understand they even have a specialty round for short barreled 2" & 3" compacts as well. The nose configuration they use should also fair well in your pistol.

Hope this helps you out.

[recoilguy]

My CW-9 is loaded with the 115 gr Critical defense rounds. i have never shot one through a Chrono but the bullets are accurate and do not jam at all imn my weapon.

The 2009 edition of Shooters Illustrated a NRA mag has a very comprehensive review of the bullets. I can not link the mag on the internet but have the article at home. Also the November issue of Combat Handguns has a similar article and you'll see some outside Hornady testing that takes place. In their article the 9mm 115gr round will penetrate 13-1/2 inches in ballistic gel, had a velocity of 1039fps and expanded to 1-1/2 times the original size. The test weapon was a P239 Sig. I am happy with mine.

RCG

[Steve-$]

I have been shooting these in 9mm & .38+P.
I have been very happy with the results, and both my K9 & 340sc are loaded with them.

[Wolfpacker]

Thanks Gents!

[Alfonse]

There have been some questions of primer issues on other sites. I haven't been able to get any to try.

[Dinger]

There have been some questions of primer issues on other sites. I haven't been able to get any to try.

Can you give more details?

[TheSorb]

Just picked up a box to try in my carry gun...haven't been to the range yet, but I'll get there soon...

[End of Tour]

Alfonse according to some people Hornandy was using foreign made primers and they were getting alot of light primer strikes (alot of guys with Ruger LCP's were complaining ) also guy's with finikey 1911's were stating that the material insde the round was getting caught up on the feed ramp and causing a ftf. Never used this ammo so can't confirm just passing along what I've read.

[jeep45238]

Hornady makes some top notch ammo. Make sure it'll feed from a full mag and with one in the mag - fire a few to make sure there's no light primer strikes and carry on.

Hornady's published velocity numbers are usually very close to independent measuring with similar barrel lengths.

[Little Dragon]

I have a cw-9 and a sig p-238 and both are loaded with it, I love it very accurate and have never had a jam!!
Joe

[jfrey]

I picked up a box a while back and function tested 5 rounds through my CW9 at the range. All 5 rounds were right there in the middle of a 3 inch orange dot at 10 yds. These are new but all other Hornady ammo I have shot in other guns was really good. Best shooting ammo I have put through my .220 Swift, and that thing is finiky. Based on that, I would think the CD ammo would preform as advertised.

[medezyner]

Hornady's CD is the only round in my .45. I havent tried the 9 yet, but I bet its in the same league; accurate and flawless feed. Need to get some of their 9 on order.

[mtn44]

380 TAP ammo

I don't know about the critical defense ammo as I have not yet received my order of it but I tried the Hornaday .380 TAP ammo in my P380 and had 2-3 light strikes per magazine. No other issues with Gold Dot or the Herter's brass cased ammo. I tried multiple times and got the same result. Some rounds took 2-3 tries to get it to fire. Not going to use it as defensive ammo at this point. I have full confidence in the XTP round that I have had for quite a while. I may wait and try again later once the ammo shortages get better and maybe their loading process or primers will get better.