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Hornady Critical DUTY Tactical 9mm Luger 135 Grain Handgun Ammo vs Hornady Critical Defense 9mm Luger 115 Grain Handgun Ammo

rancherMike

rancherMike

Alpha
Howdy, howdy.
I own an older Springfield XD subcompact. I do not shoot very much. I haven't bought new ammo for many years. I am going to shoot all my old ammo and purchase some new.

For my Springfield XD subcompact, for home defense ammo, I was considering purchasing either Hornady Critical DUTY Tactical 9mm Luger 135 Grain Handgun Ammo or the Hornady Critical Defense 9mm Luger 115 Grain Handgun Ammo.

My understanding is the Hornady Critical Defense 9mm Luger 115 Grain Handgun Ammo is a better choice for shorter barreled pistols.

Is there anyone out there that shoots the Hornady Critical DUTY Tactical 9mm Luger 135 Grain or the Hornady Critical Defense 9mm Luger 115 Grain in their XD subcompact?

If please share your thoughts and recommendations.
 
Critical Duty tends to under expand and over penetrate in short barrels.

Critical Defense can under penetrate, and can have feed issues with some pistols (including XD’s).

I’d consider something like Federal HST, Speer Gold Dot, Winchester PDX1/Defender (or Ranger-T if you can find it), or Remington Golden Saber…even a Hornady XTP over them.

Either way, be sure to vet your chosen carry load by putting at least a couple magazines worth through it.
 
HansGruber said:
www.luckygunner.com

Handgun Self-Defense Ammunition - Ballistic Testing Data

Lucky Gunner tests more than 110 different 9mm, 45 ACP, 40 S&W and 380 ACP handgun self-defense ammunition loads in ballistic gel with analysis and video.
www.luckygunner.com www.luckygunner.com

Info on loads tested out of short barrels pistols. Their test protocol is pretty solid.
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Gosh, that information is sure helpful. My oh my, how things have changed. I am near 70 years old and haven't kept up with pistol related things. So thank you VERY much for your opinion and helpful information.
 
Hornady has some videos explaining the difference between Critical Duty and Critical Defense, which are helpful.

Ditto what was mentioned earlier about possible feed issues with Critical Defense. Wife's P365 won't feed it. Looks to be something with the polymer(?) plug in the projectile. Have noticed that on occasion the plastic is proud of the nose of the bullet, and expect that may be the issue.

Have planned to take an X-Acto knife and shave some of these rounds to see if it is a fix, but don't have any results for you along those lines. Maybe someone else can comment.
 
If your intent is only to shoot up old ammo to allow for purchase of new, then a paper target or fence post won't care about under expansion or over penetration. But if you want a reliable self defense round for a real predator, two legs or more, go with one of the suggested well known jhp manufacturers. Out on the range there's nothing wrong with fmj of your choice, lacking the ability to expand though.

I had to shoot an aggressive female javelina 3 years ago in our mountain residential neighborhood. It was coming after our diabetic blind Rottie and my wife. I told wife to run with the dog while I distracted it. When it got within 15ft of me, I shot it with a round of 135gr Critical Duty in a 3" 1911. Incorrect round out of a short barrel according to the ballistics testing, but it put the darn javelina down with a shot to the eye. HST 147gr is my usual all around choice.
 
Blackmesa96 said:
Hornady has some videos explaining the difference between Critical Duty and Critical Defense, which are helpful.

Ditto what was mentioned earlier about possible feed issues with Critical Defense. Wife's P365 won't feed it. Looks to be something with the polymer(?) plug in the projectile. Have noticed that on occasion the plastic is proud of the nose of the bullet, and expect that may be the issue.

Have planned to take an X-Acto knife and shave some of these rounds to see if it is a fix, but don't have any results for you along those lines. Maybe someone else can comment.
Click to expand...

I tried the 185gr .45’s in my Baer 1911–choked it—and a USP45 Compact—choked it.

Both of these pistols had never choked on any other round…

I watched 9mm CDef choke a buddy’s Shield, and another’s Glock 26…that was enough for me.

No CDef in bottom feeders; I will only use them in revolvers.

I run the 135+P CDuty in my 9mm M&P Carbine, though; that runs great, and hits HARD…and will still print a 6” group at 100 yards, if I’m on my game.
 
az4783054 said:
If your intent is only to shoot up old ammo to allow for purchase of new, then a paper target or fence post won't care about under expansion or over penetration. But if you want a reliable self defense round for a real predator, two legs or more, go with one of the suggested well known jhp manufacturers. Out on the range there's nothing wrong with fmj of your choice, lacking the ability to expand though.

I had to shoot an aggressive female javelina 3 years ago in our mountain residential neighborhood. It was coming after our diabetic blind Rottie and my wife. I told wife to run with the dog while I distracted it. When it got within 15ft of me, I shot it with a round of 135gr Critical Duty in a 3" 1911. Incorrect round out of a short barrel according to the ballistics testing, but it put the darn javelina down with a shot to the eye. HST 147gr is my usual all around choice.
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Shot placement does tend to trump bullet performance…;)

Nice shooting, there, though.
 
Hornady CD ( either one) is a no go for me. One of them ( I don't recall which) wouldn't run in my XD or my Shield and the other one wouldn't run in my 1911s. I don't recall if I switched them around to check but I would imagine I did. I bought some 230 gr. HST and it runs great in all my .45s. I run 124 gr HST in all my 9mm autos and never had an issue with any of them. HST for the win.
 
Critical Duty runs fine in my SIG P220 (45acp), P226(9mm) and 1911(45acp) The 9mm version runs fine in Mrs Greener's SIG P290. I like it for its barrier penetration. We don't shoot a lot of it due to cost and +P wear and tear. Of course the round won't perform as well in short barreled micro pistols. A good option there might be SIG's 365 V Crown that was developed for micro gun
 
HayesGreener said:
Critical Duty runs fine in my SIG P220 (45acp), P226(9mm) and 1911(45acp) The 9mm version runs fine in Mrs Greener's SIG P290. I like it for its barrier penetration. We don't shoot a lot of it due to cost and +P wear and tear. Of course the round won't perform as well in short barreled micro pistols. A good option there might be SIG's 365 V Crown that was developed for micro gun
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I like the HST 150gr Micro load…but I’ve never really run enough to verify reliability…and I don’t own any true Micro 9’s.

My P30SK/P2000sk run 147gr HST.
 
rancherMike said:
Gosh, that information is sure helpful. My oh my, how things have changed. I am near 70 years old and haven't kept up with pistol related things. So thank you VERY much for your opinion and helpful information.
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Keep in mind that LuckyGunner's ballistics test uses Clear Ballistics gel. That's not the correct type of gel nor is it what the FBI used when coming up with their 12"-18" recommendation. IIRC, Clear Ballistics allows for greater penetration while retarding expansion. Take their testing with a grain of salt.
 
WellArmed said:
Keep in mind that LuckyGunner's ballistics test uses Clear Ballistics gel. That's not the correct type of gel
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Malarkey. Their testing was accurate and precise enough for me to choose Federal Premium HST across the board for my self defense pistol needs. IMO, that's what really matters.
 
WellArmed said:
Keep in mind that LuckyGunner's ballistics test uses Clear Ballistics gel. That's not the correct type of gel nor is it what the FBI used when coming up with their 12"-18" recommendation. IIRC, Clear Ballistics allows for greater penetration while retarding expansion. Take their testing with a grain of salt.
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This is true, that you get slightly less expansion and slightly more penetration with clear gel.

That being said—it is very consistent, and repeatable; the results are quite applicable (and, I might add, are very close to the same loads when shot through similar barriers in true 10% ordnance gel—usually within .05” expansion and 1” penetration).
 
rancherMike said:
Howdy, howdy.
I own an older Springfield XD subcompact. I do not shoot very much. I haven't bought new ammo for many years. I am going to shoot all my old ammo and purchase some new.

For my Springfield XD subcompact, for home defense ammo, I was considering purchasing either Hornady Critical DUTY Tactical 9mm Luger 135 Grain Handgun Ammo or the Hornady Critical Defense 9mm Luger 115 Grain Handgun Ammo.

My understanding is the Hornady Critical Defense 9mm Luger 115 Grain Handgun Ammo is a better choice for shorter barreled pistols.

Is there anyone out there that shoots the Hornady Critical DUTY Tactical 9mm Luger 135 Grain or the Hornady Critical Defense 9mm Luger 115 Grain in their XD subcompact?

If please share your thoughts and recommendations.
Click to expand...
Welcome to the forum from South Texas.
 
rancherMike said:
Thank you for all the input folks. If I can find it locally I would like to try the Federal Premium 9mm 124 grain hst. My local Bass Pro doesnt have it. However, I did find it at another local gun shop. I may also give the Winchester PDX1 9mm Luger 147 Grain Jacketed Hollow Point a gander because Bass Pro carries it.
So thanks folks!
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Top Gun Ammo has 50 rd. Boxes cheaper than anyone. Over $200 is free shipping and anything under $200 is a flat rate $12.50.

www.topgunammo.com

Federal HST 9mm HST 124gr JHP (50rds) P9HST1 | Top Gun Ammo

www.topgunammo.com
 
^^^This.

You may want to buy a box or two locally first, and verify it runs well in your pistol when you shoot it, and that it has acceptable accuracy & control…but after that? Buy a few hundred rounds,, so you can cycle your carry mags from time to time, and you’ll be set for a good long time.
 
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