Almost PERFECT?...Hornady Critical Duty .357 Sig Self-Defense AMMO Ballistic Gel Test & Review!

Published on February 22, 2025
Duration: 13:02

This video provides a detailed ballistic gel test and review of Hornady Critical Duty .357 Sig ammunition. The instructor, with apparent expertise in firearms testing, evaluates the ammunition's performance across different barrel lengths, focusing on velocity, penetration, and expansion. The results indicate that Critical Duty performs optimally in longer barrels, delivering consistent penetration and moderate expansion suitable for self-defense.

Quick Summary

Hornady Critical Duty .357 Sig ammunition, featuring a Flex Lock projectile, offers controlled expansion and deep penetration with excellent weight retention. Testing indicates optimal performance from longer barrels (around 4.5 inches), achieving velocities over 1200 ft/s and penetrating approximately 18-20 inches in ballistic gel.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction & Setup
  2. 00:49Hornady Critical Duty .357 Sig Overview
  3. 01:38Cartridge & Projectile Details
  4. 01:49Test Barrel Configurations
  5. 02:23Velocity Testing: Short Barrel (3.4")
  6. 03:50Velocity Testing: Long Barrel (4.5")
  7. 05:25Ballistic Gel Test: Short Barrel
  8. 06:11Ballistic Gel Test: Long Barrel
  9. 06:32Gel Test Results Analysis
  10. 08:57Projectile Examination
  11. 10:33Final Review & Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key performance characteristics of Hornady Critical Duty .357 Sig ammunition?

Hornady Critical Duty .357 Sig ammunition is known for its Flex Lock projectile, which provides controlled expansion and deep penetration. It retains significant weight after passing through barriers, making it suitable for self-defense scenarios where barrier penetration is a concern.

How does barrel length affect the performance of Hornady Critical Duty .357 Sig?

Barrel length significantly impacts the velocity of Hornady Critical Duty .357 Sig. Testing showed higher velocities and more consistent expansion from longer barrels (4.5 inches) compared to shorter barrels (3.4 inches), indicating it's optimized for duty-sized firearms.

What were the average velocities recorded for Hornady Critical Duty .357 Sig?

In ballistic testing, the Hornady Critical Duty .357 Sig averaged 1177 feet per second from a 3.4-inch barrel and 1235 feet per second from a 4.5-inch barrel. The manufacturer claims 1225 ft/s from a 4-inch barrel.

How much penetration and expansion can be expected from Hornady Critical Duty .357 Sig?

In ballistic gel, the .357 Sig Critical Duty achieved approximately 18-20 inches of penetration. Expansion was moderate, not extreme, which is characteristic of this ammunition line, prioritizing weight retention and penetration over maximum wound channel width.

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