[Snubbie K]

Here's a fine review of the Hornady Critical Defense ammo in .380 and .38spl.

Two links follow. The first is the one from Defensive Carry forum where I am a member. The second is the link that Stephen refers us to in that post. Without examining them both with a fine tooth comb, I don't know if there is anything in the first that is not in the second (better pictures in the first, though). So I give both here for easy reference.

I don't think this is posted anywhere else on this forum. If this is the first time, enjoy.

It looks like the Hornady stuff is the real deal - just not quite as hot as some would like.

http://www.defensivecarry.com/vbulletin/defensive-ammunition-ballistics/65157-informal-tests-hornady-critical-defense-ammo.html

http://hipowers-handguns.blogspot.com/2008/12/informal-tests-hornady-critical-defense.html

 

[Snubbie K]

It's always important to compare apples and apples when comparing things. For that reason, I'm giving here the results of the same tester (Stephen A. Camp) concerning the penetration results of a few other ..380 rounds - taken from previous articles by the same author.

This way we have the same guy preparing the same material (wet pack) himself in his way. And we have the very same gun (important) shooting the various rounds into that prepared medium. In this case it is the author's personal .380 Bersa being used. This gun has a little longer barrel than the LCP so the results will be different for us. But, at least, it's apples and apples.

If the ratios stay the same when using the LCP, we have as close to a "head to head" test of different ammo compared to the Hornady Critical Defense round that we have to date.

The wet pack penetration results follow:

Winchester 95-gr. FMJ: 10" + (It completely penetrated the stack and went into the ground.)

Federal 90-gr. JHP: 5 3/4"

Corbon 80-gr. DPX: 5"

Remington 102-gr. Golden Saber: 4 "

Corbon 90-gr. JHP +P*: 4"

Remington 88-gr. JHP: 3 1/2"
---------------

You can read the article yourself concerning the Hornady results. But, for a quick reference here, the Hornady Critical Defense did 6.75" in the wet pack - which probably translates to around 10+" in 10% ballistic gel.

The results of the other ammo testing make no mention of a layered cloth covering over the wet pack. But if no covering was used in those tests the results for the Hornady Critical Defense become even more impressive - because some covering was used in it's particular test.

 

[AZ Outlaws]

A very good post... thank you.

 

[kensteele]

good post/article. that's what i like about the hornady cd 380 ammo, the recoil is very pleasant; not harsh like the gs or bb or dt variant. my hands are particular recoil adverse and i can almost say i'm in love with this round. i can without a doubt say i have decided to keep my ruger lcp specifically because of the hornady critical defense ammo. i am placing a final "lifetime" order for this ammo since i believe when the word gets out, it will either go out of stock or the price will go out of sight.

 

[Snubbie K]

kensteele

It seems from your other posts that you have been a proponent for this round since the first time you fired it.

If it turns out to not be the absolute best there is, it obviously will be right up there with the winners.

Proper functioning in your gun is right up there near the top of any list of reasons to choose a round for self defense. Accuracy and comfort are other reasons for you to like this round from what you've said.

Stephen A. Camp is a very respected writer and tester of all things handgun. This is a very new online article by him. I believe that you are right that the ammo will be selling like hotcakes once this article gets around the net. Hopefully it's posting here will give us a little head start on the Kel-tec and Kahr boys.

Camp is probably my favorite gun writer. He is one of the prime writers who convinced me to go with the DPX line of reduced recoil ammo for use in my very light weight Smith and Wesson .357 magnum. I haven't regretted it. I respect his opinion very much.

Camp is a big time proponent of the DPX line in general. For him to so wholeheartedly endose the Hornady line over DPX speaks volumes to me.

I'm snapping up a few boxes myself - just because. I'm sure I'll use it up over time even if I end up using something else. I do like the idea of picking something to carry and sticking with it rather than changing with every new idea I hear. Hopefully this will be it for me.

I do intend to follow up the majority of my magazine rounds with a couple of rounds of Buffalo Bore stuff. It is by far the best for penetration should the Hornady fail to reach the vitals of the felon.

I like to end my supply of rounds with something big for a variety of reasons. But that's just me.

 

[RLM-BHM]

I see that Fiocchi is using the 90 grain Hornady XTP JHP 380 bullet in their Extrema Ammunition.
Do you think there is any difference between the Hornady cartridge and the Fiocchi cartridge with the Hornady bullet as far a FPS, penetration, and/or expansion?
The Fiocchi is several dollars cheaper....

 

[Snubbie K]

RLM-BHM

The Fiocchi may use the same bullet, the XTP, but it is not the same finished bullet. Hornady packs the hollow point with a soft plastic material to prevent the hollow point from plugging with cloth and the like.

The geat performace seems to be a funcion of that little tweak. The XTP, itself, has been on the market by itself for a while with varying degrees of performace measurement success reported.

By the way- Buds has the Critical Defense ammo in stock for $17.00 plus shipping. I just received some for my self to try. (quick service)

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/56780

 

[45longcolt]

I had posted a similar thread on another forum and got ripped by a few on the legal issues, but I will post it here as well. Please, no legal comments required.

I like the way the new Hornady round performed in the videos. Now here's a thought. Silicone when dry fully is very similar to the flexibilty of the polymer tip they use in the Leverevolution rounds. Unlike some hunting bullet polymer tips which are HARD, this tip in the Leverevolution rounds is pretty flexible. Maybe they noticed those bullets helped with expansion after they were made mainly for the lever actions. Perhaps these bullets, which are now available for reloaders, brought on the new CD rounds?

Anyway, a squirt of silicone in our "present" HP bullets might just help them expand reliably too? It would keep clothes from clogging up the cavity and it may act just like a fluid medium and perform just like the new CD rounds. I have no way of testing this theory though. And I would think it may take a couple of days for the silicone to dry well deep inside a cavity which is sealed from air. But it might be worth a try to see how well they do against the same bullet, same velocity and no silicone, going through a layer of clothing.

If ever asked why I have put silicone in the cavity I will reply to keep dust and lint out of the bullets. I guess I could re-mark tubes of silicone, "HP Lube" and sell them on Ebay or Gunbroker for twice what I paid for them. Nah, this idea/theory is free for all.

 

[Plattinum]

Shot some of this Hornady Critical Defense .380 ammo today along with shooting 100 rounds of Blazer ammo. With the Blazer ammo I had one FTE right at the tail end of the 100 rounds. I must say that I really like the Hornady Critical Defense ammo and so did my LCP. ;D

 

[DesertPunisher425]

I had posted a similar thread on another forum and got ripped by a few on the legal issues, but I will post it here as well. Please, no legal comments required.

I like the way the new Hornady round performed in the videos. Now here's a thought. Silicone when dry fully is very similar to the flexibilty of the polymer tip they use in the Leverevolution rounds. Unlike some hunting bullet polymer tips which are HARD, this tip in the Leverevolution rounds is pretty flexible. Maybe they noticed those bullets helped with expansion after they were made mainly for the lever actions. Perhaps these bullets, which are now available for reloaders, brought on the new CD rounds?

Anyway, a squirt of silicone in our "present" HP bullets might just help them expand reliably too? It would keep clothes from clogging up the cavity and it may act just like a fluid medium and perform just like the new CD rounds. I have no way of testing this theory though. And I would think it may take a couple of days for the silicone to dry well deep inside a cavity which is sealed from air. But it might be worth a try to see how well they do against the same bullet, same velocity and no silicone, going through a layer of clothing.

If ever asked why I have put silicone in the cavity I will reply to keep dust and lint out of the bullets. I guess I could re-mark tubes of silicone, "HP Lube" and sell them on Ebay or Gunbroker for twice what I paid for them. Nah, this idea/theory is free for all.


Some good ideas there. Depending on the hardness of the silicon and the shape, it COULD aid in feeding too; lots of factors at play on that one... plus still having to maintain the benefits to having a more pliable medium tipping your HP bullets

I'm not sure that simply silicone kitchen caulk would do the job though; usually that's not made to withstand any sort of heat... which a bullet will see PLENTY of. Maybe something more along the lines of a high-temp RTV silicone like you'd use at the ends of your intake manifold gasket? You could even pick the color! Black, Red or Clear!

Might be worth some experimenting; get yourself a bullet shot tube and tell us what you come up with!