Hornady Critical Duty

wilson45 · 03-26-2012, 10:01

Received four boxes of the new Critical Duty 9mm 135gr +P round from Midway USA ($22.99/box - 20/box). Fed fine through my G19. I "test" my carry ammo by shooting into 4 gallon jugs of distilled water at 15 feet from first jug. The Critical Duty round went through all 4 jugs and I couldn't find the slug. This is the only defensive round that I've ever shot through this "test" that went through all 4 jugs. tnoutdoors9 who puts his tests on youtube tested this round through gel and got a 16.75" penetration (4 layers of denim) with 0.52" expansion. Little too much penetration and expansion for my tastes. Conclusion: I'm staying with my Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P round (13.5" penetration with 0.75" expansion).
[URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJZFZFmBKa0"]

OrGlocker · 03-26-2012, 10:10

Congrats I think just about any good defensive round will work well in a Glock.

wetworks44 · 03-26-2012, 10:31

Critical duty was made to penatrate heavier mediums so its doing what it was designed for.

The Gemini · 03-26-2012, 10:58

The problem is that you aren't going to always be shooting through a barrier.

Hornady is using a heavier lead in the Critical Duty line. This is one of the techniques they've employed to pass all the barrier tests. They have made a much tougher bullet. From what I've been seeing and reading about this bullet line, it may be just a little too tough, which is why it's getting these higher penetration depths. Maybe the non +p version of the 9mm would fare better?

Anyway, I believe the jury is still out on this ammunition. I'd hate to call it a gimmick, but usually when you focus too much in one area, you're going to come up short in another. We'll have to just wait and see.

BTW, this thread will probably get moved to the Ammo Bunker....

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cowboy1964 · 03-26-2012, 11:20

$23 for 20 rounds of Critical Duty or $30 for 50 rounds of Gold Dots. Easy call IMO.

dawgchamp · 03-26-2012, 12:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowboy1964

$23 for 20 rounds of Critical Duty or $30 for 50 rounds of Gold Dots. Easy call IMO.

Same here. $24 for 20 rounds of Hydra-Shoks, or $34 for 50 rounds of Ranger-T. Also an easy call.

OctoberRust · 04-05-2012, 09:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawgchamp

Same here. $24 for 20 rounds of Hydra-Shoks, or $34 for 50 rounds of Ranger-T. Also an easy call.

I'll one up you

17$ for a box of 50 98BPLE +P+ @ 1300 fps

MinnesnowtaWild · 04-05-2012, 14:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by OctoberRust

I'll one up you

17$ for a box of 50 98BPLE +P+ @ 1300 fps

Yep that is also an excellent option. Very affordable and they have been effectively incapacitating people for years.

unit1069 · 04-05-2012, 19:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by OctoberRust

I'll one up you

17$ for a box of 50 98BPLE +P+ @ 1300 fps

No question this is an outstanding value for a proven 9mm JHP round.

And take a look at tnoutdoors' backyard test of the standard pressure Speer 115-grain Gold Dot. It compares favorably with the highly-praised 124-grain Gold Dot +P round. I also have some of these I purchased some time ago but put away after purchasing other, better known JHP self-defense rounds.

stevewonderful · 04-27-2012, 16:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by OctoberRust

I'll one up you

17$ for a box of 50 98BPLE +P+ @ 1300 fps

And they work! Superb track record. But the naysayers will say it only penetrates 9", history says otherwise.
And this:

9mm +P+ Federal 9BPLE 115 gr Gel Test - YouTube

G26S239 · 04-27-2012, 17:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by OctoberRust

I'll one up you

17$ for a box of 50 98BPLE +P+ @ 1300 fps

I have never tried those but I have several hundred Winchester RA9115HP+ 115 grain +P+ stashed that I picked up at a good price some time back. Hot 115s are fine with me.

cowboy1964 · 04-27-2012, 20:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by OctoberRust

I'll one up you

17$ for a box of 50 98BPLE +P+ @ 1300 fps

That's one nasty lil bugger, as long as you get the penetration you need when you need it (yes, I am talking about ammo performance

) Velocity seems to come in a bit lower than advertised (but what doesn't?) Overall though I'll stick with Gold Dots if I can get them.

9mm +P+ Federal 9BPLE 115 gr Gel Test - YouTube

Ak.Hiker · 05-01-2012, 00:35

The Critical Duty line looks like just the ticket for Fish and Wildlife officers to carry in their duty sidearms. The bullet design looks similar to an Interlock hunting bullet. It does seem that Hornady is confusing folks with similar product names like Critical Duty and Critical Defense. They are very different designs.

phi1281 · 03-26-2012, 12:38

Until I see many LE organizations moving to this stuff, it's my inclination to stay away from it. That being said, sounds like this is your stuff when you absolutely want to punch a hole in something.... or someone through something.

Fastfordsrus · 03-26-2012, 13:18

I use Hornady Critical Defense in all my carry guns. Even my wife's Taurus TCP has it. I also use V-max in my AR, I love Hornady...

Beanie-Bean · 03-26-2012, 13:34

Thanks for the review. Almost picked some up today, but Speer GDHP is much cheaper, as are boxes of HST.

I do carry their Critical Defense, though, after researching the performance and after making sure they would cycle in my pistols.

TexasPOff · 03-26-2012, 18:08

I received some test boxes from Hornady and I have run it with good results. For it's intended purposes I think it is a decent round. As an LE we may have to defeat barriers in the even of an involved. This is why I carry a bonded round no matter what manufacturer. Our department issues Remington GS bonded and so that is what I have been carrying. We are looking at the critical duty as an alternative. In a CCW role a bonded round or the critical duty may over penetrate. For this reason off duty I carry Winchester SXT+P or Gold Dot 124 +P. Hornady states this is intended for LE only. I would think it is because of the penetration power this round has. The general public typically has no need to a round that is designed to defeat intermediate barriers. TXPO

cowboy1964 · 03-26-2012, 19:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasPOff

In a CCW role a bonded round or the critical duty may over penetrate. For this reason off duty I carry Winchester SXT+P or Gold Dot 124 +P.

Gold Dots are bonded. Over penetration really isn't a problem. I don't think it is with Critical Duty either, I just think overall Gold Dots have more real-world cred and of course the cost issue.

Gold Dots are the "do it all and do it well" round.

RYNOCG201 · 03-26-2012, 18:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowboy1964

$23 for 20 rounds of Critical Duty or $30 for 50 rounds of Gold Dots. Easy call IMO.

Exactly

RYNOC

phi1281 · 03-26-2012, 18:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fastfordsrus

I use Hornady Critical Defense in all my carry guns. Even my wife's Taurus TCP has it. I also use V-max in my AR, I love Hornady...

You lost me at the zombie ammo. That's the classic definition of "gimmick ammo".

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Fastfordsrus · 03-26-2012, 19:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by phi1281

You lost me at the zombie ammo. That's the classic definition of "gimmick ammo".

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For the special ed. types:

This is Hornady Critical Defense

This is Hornady Zombie Defense:

I have killed a deer with a 19 and Critical Defense ammo with one shot, no gimmicks here.

clarkstoncz · 03-26-2012, 19:21

The new Critical duty is geared towards LE for that reason.

It seems to offer excellent tactical penetration that cops need.

As mentioned, the Critical Defense is another option.

The round is slower than most other 9mm JHPs but has low recoil.. resulting in
delicious accuracy.

I've read accounts where the .380 load has worked well on dogs.

No qualms about carrying that in my MDE or other .380, 9mm, and hope to
see some in .357 SIG as well.

WinterWizard · 03-26-2012, 19:31

Hornady is known for a little more penetration at the cost of expansion. That being said, the Hornady TAP rounds shoots nicer than any hollow point I've shot, so I am willing to give up a little expansion for a superb-shooting round. Also, almost every expert will tell you that penetration is the most important aspect of bullet performace, bullet size being a close second. Bottom line, if you don't consistently penetrate to the vitals, expansion won't matter. I would rather have a little more penetrating power in case you have to go through bone, a light barrier or the attacker's arm, etc. It's also more beneficial in cold weather, were multiple layers of clothing may be worn (I live in Wisconsin where it's cold for about 7 months of the year). In short, I'd rather have a .65" bullet at 15-17" of penentration then a .80" bullet at 12-14". Just my humble opinion.

Dawolf · 03-26-2012, 21:15

>>>No qualms about carrying that in my MDE or other .380, 9mm, and hope to
see some in .357 SIG as well.<<<

Hornady makes it, but only available thru Cabelas.

Neal · 03-26-2012, 21:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dawolf

>>>No qualms about carrying that in my MDE or other .380, 9mm, and hope to
see some in .357 SIG as well.<<<

Hornady makes it, but only available thru Cabelas.

I just looked it up. It's 115 gr ammo, according to Cabela's website. If they load 135 gr bullets in 9mm Critical Defense ammo, then why only 115 gr. in 357 SIG Critical Defense?