Hornady Black vs Hornady Critical Defense 5.7x28 Ballistic Gel Test & Review

Published on May 7, 2025
Duration: 20:55

This video provides a detailed ballistic gel test comparing Hornady Black and Hornady Critical Defense 5.7x28mm ammunition. The instructor, demonstrating significant expertise in ballistics testing, highlights the performance differences in expansion, penetration, and weight retention. The Critical Defense round, featuring an FTX bullet, produced a significantly larger wound cavity and better weight retention, making it a recommended carry load for the 5.7x28mm caliber.

Quick Summary

Hornady Critical Defense 5.7x28mm ammunition is recommended for self-defense due to its superior performance in ballistic gel tests. It demonstrated a significantly larger wound cavity and retained nearly 100% of its weight, unlike Hornady Black which fragmented more and retained less mass.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key differences between Hornady Black and Hornady Critical Defense 5.7x28mm ammunition in ballistic gel tests?

Hornady Critical Defense, featuring an FTX bullet, created a significantly larger wound cavity and retained nearly 100% of its weight. Hornady Black, with a V-Max bullet, fragmented more, retaining about 50% of its weight in some tests, and showed slightly more penetration but a less impressive wound channel.

Which 5.7x28mm ammunition is recommended for self-defense based on this ballistic gel test?

Based on the test, Hornady Critical Defense 5.7x28mm is recommended for self-defense due to its superior expansion, massive immediate energy dump, and excellent weight retention, resulting in a more effective wound cavity compared to Hornady Black.

What were the advertised specifications for the Hornady Black and Critical Defense 5.7x28mm ammunition tested?

Both Hornady Black and Hornady Critical Defense 5.7x28mm rounds tested were 40-grain bullets, advertised with a muzzle velocity of 1,810 feet per second.

How did the barrier test affect the performance of Hornady 5.7x28mm ammunition?

The makeshift barrier test did not significantly alter the performance differences between the two ammunition types. Both rounds performed similarly to their bare gel tests, with Critical Defense still producing a larger wound cavity and Black showing more fragmentation.

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