Hornady Critical Duty vs Critical Defense! Whats The Difference?

Published on May 17, 2019
Duration: 10:55

This video compares Hornady Critical Duty and Critical Defense 9mm ammunition. Critical Duty (124gr +P) excels in barrier penetration and full-size pistols, achieving 15 inches in gel tests. Critical Defense (115gr) is designed for compacts, prioritizing rapid expansion and less penetration (9.5-10.5 inches) to avoid over-penetration. Barrier tests show Critical Duty maintains integrity while Critical Defense fails.

Quick Summary

Hornady Critical Duty (124gr +P) is designed for duty pistols and barrier penetration, achieving 15 inches in gel tests. Critical Defense (115gr) is for compacts, prioritizing rapid expansion and less penetration (9.5-10.5 inches) to avoid over-penetration. Critical Duty excels through barriers, while Critical Defense is optimized for concealed carry.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction: Critical Duty vs Defense
  2. 00:32Ammo & Firearm Specs
  3. 01:31Critical Duty Gel Test
  4. 03:33Critical Defense Gel Test
  5. 05:32Car Door Barrier Test
  6. 08:38Recovered Bullet Analysis
  7. 09:52Conclusion & Recommendations

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between Hornady Critical Duty and Critical Defense 9mm ammunition?

Critical Duty is a 124gr +P round for full-size duty pistols, excelling in barrier penetration. Critical Defense is a 115gr round for compact carry guns, designed for rapid expansion and less penetration to avoid over-penetration.

How did Hornady Critical Duty perform in barrier tests?

In a car door barrier test, Hornady Critical Duty penetrated 15.5 inches into ballistic gel and retained its bullet integrity, demonstrating its effectiveness against obstacles.

Which Hornady 9mm ammo is better for concealed carry?

Hornady Critical Defense is recommended for concealed carry. Its 115gr FTX bullet is designed to expand quickly in shorter barrels, minimizing the risk of over-penetration and hitting bystanders behind the target.

What were the ballistic gel penetration depths for Critical Duty and Critical Defense?

Critical Duty penetrated approximately 15 inches in gel from both Glock 17 and Glock 43. Critical Defense penetrated 9.5 inches from a Glock 17 and 10.5 inches from a Glock 43.

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