Hornady Critical Defense Ammuntion

I would like to share an experience with everyone that I recently had with Hornady's new Critical Defense ammunition. I'm wondering if anyone else has had the same problem.

I recently had to qualify with my duty weapon and off duty weapon for my department and thought it would be a good chance to see how the new ammo shot through my off duty weapon (Kahr CW9). The first round went off great and the recoil was just what I expected and the bullet went right where I was aiming. When I pulled the trigger a second time all I got was a click from the firing pin striking the primer. I ejected that round, chambered another and squeezed the trigger...click. Nothing. Again I ejected that round, chambered another and squeezed the trigger... BANG! Just what I was wanting. On trigger squeeze #4 I got another bang, but #5 and #6 all I got was the click of the firing pin striking the primer.

I picked up the rounds that I had ejected and looked at the primers. All the rounds had nice dents on the primers. I put them back in the magazine and on the second strikes three of the four rounds fired.

Thinking that something might even be wrong with my off duty gun, I loaded some more rounds into my duty weapon (Glock 17) and attempted to fire. Of the ten rounds I loaded in my Glock magazine only eight of them fired. Two of them had nice dents on the primers but didnt go bang until I put them back in the magazine and attempted to fire them again. This time they fired.

The scariest part about this whole situation is that I had been carrying these rounds in my off duty gun before testing them. (I know, stupid on my part)

I have since contacted Hornady and told them of the problem and I have yet to hear back from them. That was over 3 weeks ago. I plan on calling them and personally speaking with a representative. I have used Hornady ammo in the past without any problems which is why I never saw need to test fire any of the rounds before carrying them. I have since switched to Buffalo Bore 124 grain +P hollow points (using Hornady XTP bullets) and have not had a problem.

Speer Gold Dots have always worked for me too and is our current duty ammo. But I had read all the hype on the CD ammo that I thought I would use it. Not anymore!

I just got off the phone with Hornady and spoke with a technician. Apparently they had not received my e-mail or had not gotten to it yet. He asked if I had the rounds that I had fired, and unfortunately I didn't. I also didn't save the box to give him a lot number. After talking with him he and I both agreed that I must have gotten a bad batch. He did apologize and said that if I had anymore problems with Hornady ammo to save the box and any ammunition and send it back to them for a full replacement. They were very apologetic and very helpful. I would suggest if you have any Hornady CD ammo to try a box or a least a few rounds before you carry it. Of course I do that with any ammo I buy for self defense, I just didnt do it with that particular brand. I'm sure the rest of the Hornady ammo is good and I may buy some more CD when it comes time to rotate the current stuff I have.

Nothing wrong with my firing pin or extractor. No build up or anything obstructing my firing pin. I keep all of my guns meticulously clean and in good working order. I guess being a former Marine I can't help but do that.

I've also owned two Glocks and currently carry a Glock for duty weapon and in my experience if my Glocks wont fire it, its not the gun. I have fired thousands of rounds through Glocks and NEVER had a misfire or any other problems. Glocks in my experience have been 100% reliable.

Not the guns, it was the ammo. Im sure of it.