I Pulled The PLUG!...Surprising Results! Hornady Critical Defense NO INSERT 9MM Ballistic Gel Test!
This ballistic gel test reveals that removing the polymer insert from Hornady Critical Defense 9mm 115gr FTX ammunition surprisingly increased its expansion diameter while slightly reducing penetration depth. The standard round penetrated 13 inches, while the insert-less round reached 11.25 inches. However, the latter expanded to 0.57-0.58 inches compared to the standard round's 0.46-0.48 inches, suggesting the insert's primary role is controlling expansion for consistent penetration.









