Criticism of Hornady Critical Defense

[Fleet]

He was shooting through four layers of denim into sim test media.

Don't think I'll ever encounter anyone wearing 4 layers of denim, no matter where I go in the U.S. But if I ever do...

 

[Sam Cade]

Don't think I'll ever encounter anyone wearing 4 layers of denim, no matter where I go in the U.S. But if I ever do...

A carhartt or similar duck coat on top of a denim workshirt and undershirt would be a tougher barrier than 4 layers of denim I would think.


http://www.carhartt.com/webapp/wcs/...10101&storeId=10051&productId=32102&langId=-1

 

[Nushif]

Dunno, layering has a pretty profound effect on stuff.

Four thin layered boards seem much more resilient than just one board of equal thickness. that'd be interesting to test ... although I don't see where one could find quadruple thickness denim ...

 

[Black Butte]

Will Hornady Critical Defense liquify a side of beef and still retain enough energy to disable a lightly armored truck? Probably not, but it's still a decent round at a reasonable price, so there is no need to condemn it.

 

[sonick808]

seems like ball ammo and shot placement is the way to go in the .32 and .380

 

[Shawn Dodson]

Don't think I'll ever encounter anyone wearing 4 layers of denim, no matter where I go in the U.S. But if I ever do...

Some of you may find this article informative - "Why Four Layers of Denim Cloth?". See - http://www.firearmstactical.com/tacticalbriefs/2006/04/02/0604-02a.htm

 

[earlthegoat2]

Hornady CD is not, in and of itself, a gimmick. It is an inferior self defense ammo though. The company even states themselves it was not designed for ANY barrier penetration. It is designed for quick and reliable expansion. Whether or not it does this under conditions when we need it is anybodies guess.

LE agencies dont use it because of the barrier penetration thing. It also will not penetrate 12" of gelatin. Once again, Hornady is not saying it will. If you read between the lines you can tell it is an inferior round marketed towards defensive carry and nothing else. Hornady has their TAP line to market to LE.

In the end my conclusions are to use something else besides CD. Even though everyone likes to condemn it, the Federal Hydra-Shok is a superior round than CD. LHPs for 38 special are a round no one has been able to really find a whole lot things against yet people dont used it for reasons that are beyond me. I use it and the great number of tests I have seen involving it give me great confidence in it.

Federal HSTs are also a superior round to CD. They will penetrate the 12" even if they dont expand. This is better than the CD which probably also wont expand but wont penetrate as deeply. CDs are loaded a little light I think to help out Joe Average CCW.

 

[zeke]

Many moons ago was looking for a hp that would reliably expand from 3 in 45 acp. The velocity loss from 5 to 3 in was/is approximately 100 fps. Firing various premium rounds and handloaded hp's from the period into moistened sand showed unreliable expansion from 3 incher. Alot of the hollowpints "plugged up" with sand. Filling the hp with silicone sealent ensured expansion, at the reduced velocitys. Also tried tempering (lowering the hardness) in the lead in the bullets. Some bullets actually expanded too much, some expanded quickly then folded back over. While a plus p velocity 230 gdhp (from 5 incher) looks might impressive expanded to 1 in, it may reduce it's penetration.

So if ya are ever attacked by some viscious moistened sand bank

 

[V1ROT8]

Guess I have always felt that if I am comfortable with a 380 or a 38 or a 9 or a 45........then that is what I carry. Same with ammo, Hornady or Remington or Winchester. Whatever I am used to and feel comfortable with, then so be it.