Anyone try Hornady Zombie Bullets?

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Read Hornady's disclaimer for the ammunition on the bottom of the link in Post #1.

I realize it may be more of a joke than anything else, but do you think that disclaimer could stand up in court, if someone used one of those "for zombies only" rounds in an otherwise "good" SD shooting (against a normal, living person...)?

Idk what (if anything) makes these rounds different, but I know there are some varmint bullets out there designed to "explode" on impact with prairie dog type animals. Maybe these zombie max rounds have something similar, which is why Hornady included the disclaimer?

Or maybe the rounds are garbage, and Hornady want to avoid liability in the event someone tries to use them as standard SD ammo, and ends up dead due to poor performance? This seems more likely to me.
 
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Well, the tips are green instead of the normal red. Maybe that's so you don't accidently chamber an FTX bullet by mistake when the undead are trying to eat your brain.
 
Just another marketing gimmick. Go tsome to give away for Christmas presents.

Cheers,

ts
 
Maybe I'm just being an old fart, but I'm disappointed that Hornady would take off on such a silly marketing scheme.
 
I'd love to see Brassfetcher or tnoutdoors9 do a ammo test of this.
 
Shimitup said:
Maybe I'm just being an old fart, but I'm disappointed that Hornady would take off on such a silly marketing scheme.
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I'm not all the old and I'm not amused. The disclaimer is reason enough NOT to buy it. Ridiculous.

On the other hand, I would think that in court the prosecution would have to prove that zombies exist in order to substantiate the disclaimer --otherwise it could literally be taken in jest. But I wouldn't want to be the person to go through the wringer to prove it.

Hornady, drop this nonsense.

I am interested to see how it performs on the chrono against their FTX. If it is loaded hotter, it may be close to AP ammo against LVL2 armor. I read somewhere, I forget where, that the FTX was tested by (some dept.? armor makers? I forget!) and they said it would penetrate vests.

THAT could be the crux of the disclaimer. What bothers me more is that some person will use this in a crime or murder, and that box is GREAT fodder for the anti's.

Hornady makes good bullets, good ammo, but this nonsense has got to go. I won't be buying any to encourage them, but I will be looking out for chrono comparisons.
 
I think that it is brilliantly fun marketing for self defense ammo. I respectfully differ from those who object. I personally am so tired of political correctness of all sorts that I find a little stupid humor in marketing to be refreshing.
 
Stumper said:
I personally am so tired of political correctness of all sorts that I find a little stupid humor in marketing to be refreshing.
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I can totally understand that perspective. Only reason I disagree is because firearms in general are such a hot topic these days. It seems like the "antis" jump on every opportunity to discredit responsible gun owners or point out those who use guns unethically, attempting to make a minority look like the majority.

I can see how these might be a bit more fuel for the fire. Even if it doesn't end up like that, if there's one area of marketing that should focus on remaining serious (IMO), it ought to be in firearms and ammunition. It doesn't help that Hornady helped connect the dots between zombie nuts and firearm owners. No disrespect to those who enjoy dabbling in the zombie thing, but IMHO... it's just bad press.
 
I'd like to have a box of the stuff just for kicks I honestly don't see Hornady producing this ammo for a long period of time and who knows maybe in the future this stuff may turn collectable;).
 
I just sent them an email:

Hello. I am concered with zombie defense and I was pleased to see your new line of zombie bullets but I don't see any cartridges for the .357 magnum. If you watch the hit show "The Walking Dead" you'd know that the main character uses a Colt Python chambered for that caliber. It's very effective and he kills many of the undead with it. I would be interested in buying some zombie stoppers in .357 if you made them available
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.

I know they make a 140 grain FTX for .357 so maybe they will expand the line.
 
I'm definitively going to buy a box or to just for fun, or keepsake. These would be an awesome holiday gift to some of the other guys on my shooting team.
 
I am an old fart (70) but I think it is just a fun promotion and I will buy them for my 9mm. They look to be the same as their critical defense ammo and don't cost any more.
 
They're basically a collectors item. I'd guess that at least 95% of those that are sold will never be fired. Given the price and nature of the item, it's aptly named as zombies or some other level disaster is about the ONLY time you'd put something like that actually downrange. :) It wouldn't be wise to use them in any self-defense scenario and they're way too costly to use as range ammo.

I bought a box of the 9mm ones, just because I like the genre and wanted them as a conversation piece. :)
 
On the other hand, I would think that in court the prosecution would have to prove that zombies exist in order to substantiate the disclaimer --otherwise it could literally be taken in jest. But I wouldn't want to be the person to go through the wringer to prove it.
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If you ever get involved in a self defense shoot that's questionable and wind up in court on trial, lawyers will try to attack anything and everything. It doesn't matter what ammo, what gun, what you had for lunch. You are being tried for intentional homicide, and the key to proving homicide is showing that use of deadly force wasn't reasonable. What you used for ammo or a weapon does not prove or disprove if you were reasonable. The facts and actions of the case leading up to the shooting prove or disprove. And even so attacking a persons ammo would really only be used to prove intent, which is not something that is ever really in doubt in a self defense case since your whole defense is that "yes I shot the person because of their actions" so intent is already stated and based off the circumstances.

With that said I think this ammo is great and I bought a few boxes. I will have a accuracy report soon, I am sure its just as good as the standard critical defense (since its probably the same thing minus the z-max tip)
 
Bought a box a few weeks ago. Cabela Bucks to burn + clearance price = zombie Max. Honestly, they were the cheapest SD round on the site that day. $16.
 
This zombie ammo is quite a conundrum:

From a practical perspective, rather silly. From a marketing perspective, quite brilliant.

Every retailer that carried them was OOS on at least one of the offered calibers when I shopped around, which means either they didn't order enough or couldn't get enough from Hornady.

No, I didn't buy any. If they offered just the empty packaging, I would buy a couple of 9mm and .40S&W and fill them with my own Zombie loads.

Oops. Now I'm being silly.
 
its just a green FTX polymer filling in the SD Critical defense load. Expect similar ballistics and performence out of it...

Its interesting: the .223 Z-Max load is actually cheaper than the V-Max bullet in .223 here in Cali...
 
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