.22 Magnum American Quality vs Hornady Critical Defense Ballistic Gel Test With The 3.5" Rough Rider

Published on October 16, 2021
Duration: 12:12

This video compares the ballistic performance of American Quality 40-grain jacketed hollow points and Hornady Critical Defense 45-grain FTX projectiles in .22 Magnum, fired from a 3.5-inch Heritage Rough Rider revolver. The test involved chronographing velocities and firing rounds into ballistic gel to assess penetration and expansion. The Hornady Critical Defense demonstrated superior performance with greater expansion and slightly more penetration.

Quick Summary

In a .22 Magnum ballistic gel test from a 3.5-inch Heritage Rough Rider, Hornady Critical Defense 45-grain FTX averaged 1119 fps and achieved 12.75 inches of penetration with 3/8 inch expansion. American Quality 40-grain JHP averaged 1185 fps, penetrated 11.5 inches, and expanded to 5/16 inch, tumbling backwards.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction and Setup
  2. 00:20Testing .22 Magnum for Defense
  3. 00:34Firearm: Heritage Rough Rider 3.5"
  4. 00:48Ammunition: American Quality vs Hornady Critical Defense
  5. 02:19Chronographing American Quality 40gr
  6. 03:17Chronographing Hornady Critical Defense 45gr
  7. 04:28.22 Magnum Ballistic Gel Test Begins
  8. 04:46American Quality 40gr Gel Test Results
  9. 05:23Hornady Critical Defense 45gr Gel Test Results
  10. 05:58Gel Test Overview and Initial Observations
  11. 06:50Penetration Measurements
  12. 07:17Top-Down View of Gel Wounds
  13. 08:11Projectile Recovery and Expansion Analysis
  14. 09:07Hornady Critical Defense Outperforms
  15. 09:50Conclusion and Final Thoughts
  16. 10:31Future .22 Magnum Testing Ideas
  17. 11:19Call to Action and Channel Support

Frequently Asked Questions

What were the average velocities for .22 Magnum ammunition tested from a 3.5-inch barrel?

The American Quality 40-grain jacketed hollow points averaged 1185 feet per second, while the Hornady Critical Defense 45-grain FTX projectiles averaged 1119 feet per second from the 3.5-inch Heritage Rough Rider revolver.

How did the Hornady Critical Defense .22 Magnum perform in ballistic gel compared to American Quality?

The Hornady Critical Defense 45-grain achieved 12.75 inches of penetration and expanded to 3/8 inch, while the American Quality 40-grain penetrated 11.5 inches and expanded to 5/16 inch, with the latter tumbling backwards.

Which .22 Magnum ammunition is recommended for defensive use based on this gel test?

Based on this ballistic gel test, the Hornady Critical Defense 45-grain .22 Magnum is recommended for defensive use due to its superior expansion and penetration compared to the American Quality 40-grain.

What firearm was used for the .22 Magnum ballistic gel testing?

The ballistic gel tests were conducted using a 3.5-inch barrel Heritage Rough Rider revolver chambered in .22 Magnum.

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