[SCCWP]

Has anyone here used this ammo for carrying? I went to Sportsman’s Warehouse to pick up some carry ammo and this was the best they had in stock. What is its reputation for defensive ammo? I have never used it before. Did pick up a couple of extra boxes to make sure it cycles well in my Sig P226 MK25 but I don’t think that will be an issue as it’s went through every kind of ammo I’ve fed it.

 

[ich.ni.san]

I know this isn't very useful, but I know at least one LEO who likes it. He is on some sort of SWAT like team (I forget what he called it, but it was not SWAT) and seems to be a pretty serious "gun guy". The other LEO's in our group seem to respect him and some of them are former SWAT. I still like HST, but after listening to him, I wouldn't feel bad if I had to carry the Critical Duty.

My only concern would be based on the truncated cone design. The only round I ever had trouble with in a G23.3 was some sort of truncated cone. I know they are not all same, but it made me wary of any similar design. So, if it were me, I'd definitely want to shoot a few hundred without cleaning just to feel confident.

 

[Orive 8]

I've been carrying the Hornady Critical Duty 135gr FlexLock in my EDC pistol (WCV Gen 5 Glock 19) for the last 6 or so years.

Tested about 50 rounds through it initially, then have shot my LEOSA retired officer's qual every year with it. No problems.

 

[mikld]

Critical Duty 9mm 135 gr FlexLock reviewa youtube at DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.

duckduckgo.com

 

[Matteo1371]

Has anyone here used this ammo for carrying? I went to Sportsman’s Warehouse to pick up some carry ammo and this was the best they had in stock. What is its reputation for defensive ammo? I have never used it before. Did pick up a couple of extra boxes to make sure it cycles well in my Sig P226 MK25 but I don’t think that will be an issue as it’s went through every kind of ammo I’ve fed it.

Carried the 135gn +P for years. Also run it in my 10" & 16" AR9s

 

[40/45]

I don’t know what you consider “the best”. I personally don’t like any of the Hornady already plugged HP’s but lots of other humans do.
If what you wanted wasn’t in the store why not shop online?

 

[Freak420]

I use flex lock in the winter. HPs in the summer..

 

[4 Paws]

I've used it for years without issue.

 

[walkinguf61]

It depends on what gun you intend to shoot it from. Critical duty was intended for service guns with approximately 4 inch barrel . The lower velocities from a shorter barrel might effect expansion of the “hollowpoint” and make it act closer to the performance of an FMJ.
But it should still be a good overall round if you want the “barrier blind “ performance. Some of us want less barrier performance.

 

[Matteo1371]

It depends on what gun you intend to shoot it from. Critical duty was intended for service guns with approximately 4 inch barrel . The lower velocities from a shorter barrel might effect expansion of the “hollowpoint” and make it act closer to the performance of an FMJ.
But it should still be a good overall round if you want the “barrier blind “ performance. Some of us want less barrier performance.

From a 4.5 to 5" or more barrel I thought the performance was pretty decent

 

[DeltaFiveBravo]

FBI issues 135gr +P Critical Duty to its agents.

 

[SCCWP]

FBI issues 135gr +P Critical Duty to its agents.

Yeah I just read that on the web. I wish they would have had the +P but I don’t think there is too much of a difference. I’ve been reading some good stuff on it since I posted this but still wanted to know how it was working out for the members here. Feeding, accuracy, etc.

 

[Blastus]

I use it and like it

 

[SCCWP]

I use it and like it

What pistol?

 

[Blastus]

What pistol?

Canik TP9sfx

 

[John Hammer]

It's good stuff. I think the HST's came out and overshadowed it as a carry round, but if you do a little digging, you should be able to find lots of videos and other data on it's effectiveness as a carry round.

I still have a couple of boxes and it's what's loaded in my G 19.

TNOutdoors9 had a good video on it 12 years ago -

He hasn't uploaded much in years but his videos and methods are generally up to snuff and respected.

 

[MarkCO]

Hornady CD 135g is what I prefer in 9mm.

I prefer HST in .40 and 45.

I'd be fine with either really.

 

[3fan]

It was designed for law enforcement to defeat barriers as they may encounter them in a shooting. Unless you're likely to encounter the same situation, all Critical Duty loadings are unnecessary for civilian carry & they don't expand to the degree that standard quality hollow points do.

For a citizen, nothing beats the performance HST's provide, in all calibers & weights. The Winchester T-Series are #2 but some of their loadings struggle to expand from shorter barrel lengths. HST's expand in every offering in human targets & humanoid medium, such as calibrated ballistic gel.

 

[Wererat]

Hornady Critical Duty is exceptionally consistent in velocity, in point of impact, and in terminal performance, even through barriers. It does not make big starfish shapes like the HST. HST has more widely differing (but acceptable) results through the harder barriers.
Compare
135 gr FlexLock® - Hornady Law Enforcement
and
135 gr FlexLock® - Hornady Law Enforcement (the +p)
vs.
Law Enforcement - Federal Premium LE, Speer LE, BLACKHAWK!, Eagle - Handgun Details (124gr)
and
Law Enforcement - Federal Premium LE, Speer LE, BLACKHAWK!, Eagle - Handgun Details(147gr)

Each are suitable, provided they suit your firearm. You may elect to fuss about things and what-ifs (e.g. last time some dingbat nearly caused trouble, his compatriot was on the other side of a vehicle. Nothing resulted, but "what if"). The better voices say pick something suitable, verify its reliability in YOUR firearm (not some youtuber's) and get on with life; but it's enjoyable to gnaw at these questions and banter over numbers.

 

[TNOUTDOORS9]

It's good stuff. I think the HST's came out and overshadowed it as a carry round, but if you do a little digging, you should be able to find lots of videos and other data on it's effectiveness as a carry round.

I still have a couple of boxes and it's what's loaded in my G 19.

TNOutdoors9 had a good video on it 12 years ago -

He hasn't uploaded much in years but his videos and methods are generally up to snuff and respected.

Over the past few years the advertised velocity of 1115 fps was consistently coming in closer to 1075 from a G19. When that happened I dropped it from my carry rotation, which also included some 124 +P offerings and 147 std pressure. Hornady recently dropped the advertised velocity to 1070 fps.....WTH. This is how it's listed on their website, and I confirmed couple of weeks ago from boxes on the shelf at Academy. I'm wondering if the bullet has been tweaked to provoke expansion at that lower velocity. The neutering of 9mm ammo continues. It penetrates well and expansion is consistent across all types of media where I've tested it pre-velocity drop (wetpack, SIMTEST, clear gel, water, meat) but I'm over the reduced 9mm momentum game being played by US manufacturers. I will no longer buy it. That's a shame, because this ammo IMO was "best in class" for 135 gr choices. To my way of thinking, 1150 fps is the target velocity for 135 gr 9mm.

On the other hand, I do like the 124 gr +P Critical Duty, which stays in the 1175 fps advertised velocity range from a G19, bit higher from a G17. Post-expansion bullets have a longer OAL than 124 gr Gold Dots, which should imply a bit more penetration. I could carry the 124 gr +P Critical Duty over the 124 gr +P Gold Dot and not lose any sleep over it.

As for video uploads on YouTube and Rumble, there were a dozen or so over the past three years but as of October 2024 I'm out of the firearms media business. Not worth the time and effort. Opened up more range time on my calendar, so these days I'm focusing on handgun tactical anatomy training and 5.56mm heavy for caliber accuracy.