What are your thoughts on Hornady Critical DUTY rounds?

[jeffgilchriest]

I am interested in any thoughts on Hornady's Critical DUTY (vs Critical DEFENSE) for the CCW carrier.

 

[CR Williams]

I prefer them over Critical Defense. I prefer most bonded HP rounds to Critical Defense, actually.

 

[Tazman]

I've never shot anyone with it, but they seem to have a pretty good reputation!

 

[chapguy]

It's my understanding that they are fantastic in a law enforcement capacity but that they aren't what I would want for my personal or home defense needs. Critical Duty rounds are designed to penetrate all sorts of intermediate barriers; effective for Police but the opposite of what I want in my carry weapon. I want something that will stop a threat but also stop before penetrating interior walls in my home.

 

[JDM]

I had a conversation about six months ago with a LEO from a nearby town at our local gun shop, and he said that the Critical Duty ammo won their department shoot-off because of its ability to penetrate car window glass. Shooting someone through a car window sounded like something I would be very unlikely to do, but the more I thought about it, I realized that I might need to shoot someone through MY OWN car window in a carjacking situation. I carry the .40-caliber version exclusively in my Beretta 96, but the .380 won't feed reliably in my 84F for some reason. They have an annoying habit of hanging in the mag, and they are the only rounds that I have ever had a problem with in the three mags I have for that pistol.

 

[topgun47]

It's my understanding that they are fantastic in a law enforcement capacity but that they aren't what I would want for my personal or home defense needs. Critical Duty rounds are designed to penetrate all sorts of intermediate barriers; effective for Police but the opposite of what I want in my carry weapon. I want something that will stop a threat but also stop before penetrating interior walls in my home.

What do you suggest? Perhaps a pellet gun? No, that will penetrate drywall. How about a BB gun, or slingshot? No, I think both of those won't stop BEFORE penetrating drywall. I got it. How about a rolled up newspaper? Yeh, that's the ticket.

 

[CharlesMorrison]

I prefer them over Critical Defense. I prefer most bonded HP rounds to Critical Defense, actually.

Critical Defense is also bonded.
Sorry to bust your bubble mate but ANY round you fire from your hand gun will go through multiple walls!


Sent from behind Enemy Lines.

 

[Kennydale]

I have read some So So reviews on critical Defense but really good one's on Critical Duty. I carry Critical Duty. Next time i am at an outdoor range I will need to fire off some of my older Hornady Critical Duty. Time to recycle my SD loads.

 

[CR Williams]

Critical Defense is also bonded.
Sorry to bust your bubble mate but ANY round you fire from your hand gun will go through multiple walls!


Sent from behind Enemy Lines.

What bubble of mine do you delude yourself into think you're busting? I haven't expressed concern about barrier penetration. As far as Critical Defense being bonded, I wasn't clear about that, so let me try again. CDef, CDuty, Pow'R'ball, for reasons unknown to me are usually in an 'other' category in my mind although they are all hollow-point rounds. I should have said that I prefer most any other bonded HP to Critical Defense.

 

[mojoman]

I carry 135gr Critical Duty in my G19, the guy said that it is proving to go through window but anyway at all time you suppose to watch what behind.

 

[CharlesMorrison]

What bubble of mine do you delude yourself into think you're busting? I haven't expressed concern about barrier penetration. As far as Critical Defense being bonded, I wasn't clear about that, so let me try again. CDef, CDuty, Pow'R'ball, for reasons unknown to me are usually in an 'other' category in my mind although they are all hollow-point rounds. I should have said that I prefer most any other bonded HP to Critical Defense.

My mistake! Carry on...


Sent from behind Enemy Lines.

 

[BUmmedic]

I've been looking seriously at buying a stock of Hornady Critical Duty 135gr (+P) to keep as another EDC ammo, added to my standard HST 124gr (+P). Everything that I've seen has been pretty mixed, with people coming down on both sides of the the line on it. Some say it's not meant - and shouldn't be used - for personal defense, but instead for LE barrier penetration. Others have said it's accurate, with tame recoil, feeds reliably, and does what it advertises. My personal thought is, at the end of the day, penetration is what matters, and expansion is a bonus... and it would seem that many share in this desire.

But seriously, in considering this ammo... I live in a winter state, with a long and very cold season, necessitating heavy, thick clothing. One of the forums out there had this post:

"I figured that most folks around here wear Carhart jackets during the winter, so rather then test my ammo with 4 layers of denim, I draped my old winter Carhart with the black liner over some gallon milk jugs and let fly. This has become somewhat of a running gag with our shooting group, as 'The Mighty Carhart' has defeated more well known hollow point brand names then I am comfortable with. No expansion= 9mm Speer 115g. Gold Dot, HORNADY Critical Defense .45acp, and, the one time this load did expand, it could not make it through a one gallon jug of water. The two pistols I used were a KAHR P45 and a Kahr PM9, anyway, the Critical Defense 9mm 115 would not expand most of the time either. The white fluffy filler used as insulation in the jackets will really plug up a hollow point, and will also slow down an already slow projectile to the point where it has little energy. The biggest disappointment was the Federal HST 45 230 +P. this load failed to expand 3 out of five tries, but of course, it had plenty of penetration. Of the defense loads I have tried, the Critical Duty +P 9mm, the Critical Duty .40 cal, and the Critical Duty .45 225 +P are the only loads that have never failed to expand and penetrate when fired through the dreaded Carhart. Of course, none of this is exactly scientific in it's approach, and there is no way we can even find half this ammo to play with, much less afford it, but I now hoard the remaining Critical Duty rounds I have left, and consider it a step above the rest. The little red plug makes the odds better for expansion over and above the rounds that do not have them, so long as the speed and energy are within a reasonable range. EDIT TO ADD my buddy used his PM40 for the .40 cal ammo."

This was found here: Whats the 411 on Hornady Critical Duty 135 gr. Flexlock? - AR15.Com Archive

Also, I really respect tnoutdoors9 on YouTube and his ammo reviews and opinions... her are two of his videos, the first being his review of this ammo, and the second being his choices for EDC ammo, of which the CD 135gr (+P) made his five chosen rounds.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wJZFZFmBKa0&desktop_uri=/watch?v=wJZFZFmBKa0

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QuLoUzplbYQ

Anyone have any other thoughts on it? Carry it? Love it? Hate it?

 

[r1derbike]

I'm switching to Critical Duty as soon as my .45acp Ranger Ts are depleted. I use them as a last magazine shot at the range every visit.

My wife uses Critical Defense in her snubbie, I've only shot paper with them, but from all the hoopla, it looks like a good defensive round, but I'll also get her some Critical Duty when she runs low on Critical Defense.

I'll be getting some for the XDm 9mm as well. I hope neither one of us has to find-out their performance as advertised.