Hornady's New Critical Duty Looks Like A Winner

[Markis82]

Hi All,

Yesterday I was treated to a demonstration of Hornady's New Critical Duty ammo. I saw it shot through glass, sheet medal, plywood, and drywall. In each case it performed flawlessly. It penetrated about 13" into the gel and expanded into a perfect mushroom every time. Looking at the product info it seems like Hornady has picked a perfect bullet weight for the 9mm, 135gr. and it is being produced in standard and +P pressures, plus a .40 S&W. I hear later in 2012 the .45 ACP will be available. I can't wait to try it out. It looks a little pricey but might just be worth it.

[Thunder71]

After they introduced Zombie ammo I don't think I can put my money with this company. I'll stick to my Winchester PDX1 that feeds like butter in my Kahrs.

[WMD]

Sounds like an interesting demonstration. Where did you see that? I have heard good reports on Hornady's Critical Defense though, I have never tried it. I have been using Remington Golden Saber for years. It has also faired very well in tests, shoots well in all of my guns and is very consistent ammo.

When my stock of GS dribbles down, I may try Hornady CD.

[Markis82]

After they introduced Zombie ammo I don't think I can put my money with this company. I'll stick to my Winchester PDX1 that feeds like butter in my Kahrs.

I agree the Zombie ammo is a stupid marketing idea. However, it is only a marketing idea. The products work! I don't hold a stupid marketing concept against a company. As long as their products perform as they should. If the cartridge has problems or the bullets don't expand or something else like that, I'd stay away. But since Hornady solved their primer problems, their products have been fine.

[Markis82]

Sounds like an interesting demonstration. Where did you see that? I have heard good reports on Hornady's Critical Defense though, I have never tried it. I have been using Remington Golden Saber for years. It has also faired very well in tests, shoots well in all of my guns and is very consistent ammo.

When my stock of GS dribbles down, I may try Hornady CD.

I saw the demonstration at my range. They were given a supply to test and report the results. I was just lucky to be there while it happened. This is the new Critical Duty a step up from the Critical Defense.

[MLESa7990]

What's the difference between this and Critical Defense? Bullet weight?

[Markis82]

What's the difference between this and Critical Defense? Bullet weight?

Bullet weight, yes. but the biggest difference is the use of their new "Interlock Band." This band makes the bullet act like a bonded bullet. But the bonding process requires the bullet core to be a soft composition of lead. The band allow the Critical Duty bullet to be made of high-antimony lead making it extremely tough. Therefore providing better performance when going through things like glass, plywood, sheet medal, drywall than bonded bullets.

[Thunder71]

I see this as a negative for a civilian round, personally. I have no need to shoot through glass, plywood, sheet metal and especially drywall for my defense purposes. If I have to shoot through something my target is not necessarily clear - nor is what's behind the target.

Unlike law enforcement, I see no reason why I'd need to shoot through a car window.

[Markis82]

I see this as a negative for a civilian round, personally. I have no need to shoot through glass, plywood, sheet metal and especially drywall for my defense purposes. If I have to shoot through something my target is not necessarily clear - nor is what's behind the target.

Unlike law enforcement, I see no reason why I'd need to shoot through a car window.

One might never be able to foresee what one might encounter. As they say, "Sometimes real life is stranger than fiction." I'll take every advantage than I can and put the odds in my favor as much as possible. I'd rather have something and not need or use it, than need it and not have it.

[Thunder71]

Depends on what you see as odds in your favor I guess. I share my home with my wife and 3 kids, I don't personally like the idea of this 'super penetration' round, but to each their own.

Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

[Markis82]

Depends on what you see as odds in your favor I guess. I share my home with my wife and 3 kids, I don't personally like the idea of this 'super penetration' round, but to each their own.

Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

I see your point. However, the situation is exactly opposite of how you're looking at it. The Critical Duty is no super penetrating bullet. It will not "go thru more stuff" than your PDX1. It will just be more accurate and have better expansion after is does goes thru that stuff. Your wife and kids would be safer if the bullet continues to head toward it's intended target after it goes thru something than if it gets deformed and starts tumbling, flying in any odd direction after it hits something. But, if you feel comfortable with the PDX1, stick with it. Every round isn't for everybody.

[TheTman]

Inside the house I would rather use a shotgun with some large birdshot, I read that's a good combination for stopping BG's and not over penetrating into other rooms where children may be sleeping. When you hear a door being kicked in or glass breaking in the middle of the night you might not always have time to get your kids into a safe room.

[MO_Soldier]

This is the ideal round for me and I'm anticipating it WILDLY!!

As for the typical concerns of others in the household, my spouse, my daughter, and I all sleep in very close quarters, leaving the rest of the house as my firing lanes

Very good report on this! I was the first on the forum to recognize these rounds as significant, and I'm glad someone who saw them in action first hand can attest to their potential!

[jlottmc]

ooo shiny. Thunder do you get a new phone about every other week or something? I'm just curious, I keep seeing these sent from my ________ from tapatalk.

[Thunder71]

One is my phone, the other is my pad...

Phone = HTC Thunderbolt
Pad = Asus Transformer



I keep the sig line when I post through Tapatalk just so people know that:

1. It's being used, and greatly appreciated.
2. Let's people know why there may be awful spelling or auto correct errors.

Seems everyone is on board with Hornady, guess I'll wait for the reports on how it feeds in our Kahr's.

I do have a tacticool Remington 870 for home defense, but it's counterproductive locked up in the safe.