Hornady Critical Defense Ammo

[platoonDaddy]

Just received the 2011 Product Catalog from Hornady and checked out their "Critical Defense" Ammunition. In 9mm they only offer (at least in this catalog) 115gr FTX. Knowing nothing about FTX, was curious why such a light weight for self-defense.

Following asking myself question, I located the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD6Re_Gwcwc

[Guns-up.50]

They do offer the ammo in all popular cal now i believe. But you dont need a super heavy round to get good results. If you're just drilling holes then yes drill big ones but, newer lighter faster ammo hits really hard. Corbon has a 90gr +p round at 1500fps that hits with 449 lbs of ke. (The formula is MV*MV* bullet wt in gr / a constant 450240)

[Sensei]

They do offer the ammo in all popular cal now i believe. But you dont need a super heavy round to get good results. If you're just drilling holes then yes drill big ones but, newer lighter faster ammo hits really hard. Corbon has a 90gr +p round at 1500fps that hits with 449 lbs of ke. (The formula is MV*MV* bullet wt in gr / a constant 450240)

This Corbon load does not penetrate the required depths or perform well against common barriers. It is therefor not a round that I'd take into harm's way.

[sgtjosh]

This Corbon load does not penetrate the required depths or perform well against common barriers. It is therefor not a round that I'd take into harm's way.

Home defense loads do not require great penetration. A huge energy dump on a target with none wasted on anything behind the target is preferred. Light fast loads are also more likely to fragment and penetrate fewer layers of sheetrock walls.

[tpd223]

A huge energy dump on a target with none wasted on anything behind the target is preferred. Light fast loads are also more likely to fragment and penetrate fewer layers of sheetrock walls.

With all due respect Sarge, you need to study this subject more.

"Energy dump" means absolutely nothing when it comes to wound ballistics.

No pistol caliber JHP is going to fragment in sheetrock.

Bullets that have trouble getting through layers of sheetrock are worthless when it comes to disabling bad guys.

[Guns-up.50]

I was just stating that a round doesnt need to be heavy to do the job. Personally i use 124 +p or 147

[Jake'sDad]

I was just stating that a round doesnt need to be heavy to do the job. Personally i use 124 +p or 147

The 90 grain round you referenced does not "do the job".

[DocGKR]

Does the anatomy and physiology of criminal aggressors change when they enter a home to commit a violent offense against innocent citizens?

[snakyjake]

why such a light weight for self-defense.

I have the same question and doing some liberal guessing:

Because of older bullet designs, it used to be you need big and fast bullets to penetrate and expand.

Yesterday's modern bullets have improved the bullet designs where fast and big are no longer necessary for penetration and expansion. But there's still the potential issue of a bullet not expanding or separating.

Today's modern design??? Perhaps Hornady can design a bullet that penetrates and expands with smaller bullet at lower velocity. Maybe the tip insert allows better penetration, and less clogging, and therefore expansion. Maybe.

Or perhaps the new belief is that modern bullets have not been consistent loading, ejecting, penetrating, and expanding.

Or maybe it is just marketing to people in a new demographic. It seems the major trend is ergonomics, conveniences, and making it easier.

Jake

[pisc1024]

I found this interesting in ref to the critical defense.
http://www.firearmstactical.com/tact...06/04/main.htm