Hornady's Critical Defense Ammunition is the pinnacle in self-defense ammunition. Using a variation of the materials
used in the revolutionary LEVERevolution® line of ammunition, Hornady engineers achieved 100% reliable
expansion when shooting through even the toughest clothing barriers. Conventional hollowpoint bullets have had
issues with the cavity clogging from clothing fibers, which hinder them from expanding in soft tissue after going
through a cloth barrier. The soft polymer insert in the tip of the bullet is what prevents this from happening. Nickel
cases eliminate corrosion and premium low-flash propellents that deliver maximum velocity and impact. Per 25.
Hornady Critical Defense Handgun Ammo
Item:9IS-216932
$19.99 – $20.99
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Item notes If this ammunition is being used in a rifle, we are required by Federal Regulations to ask if you are at least 18 years of age. If this ammunition is being used in a handgun, we are required by Federal Regulations to ask if you are at least 21 years of age.
ALL orders placed from or shipped to Illinois, MUST be placed through the Catalog Gun Department by calling 1-800-237-4444 ext 132; available Monday-Friday 7am-9pm & Saturday 8am-5pm (Central Time).
Hazardous Shipping restrictions prevent these items from being returned. Hazardous materials MUST be shipped by UPS Ground Service ONLY. They can NOT be shipped via air.
Hornady's Critical Defense Ammunition is the pinnacle in self-defense ammunition. Using a variation of the materials used in the revolutionary LEVERevolution? line of ammunition, Hornady engineers achieved 100% reliable expansion when shooting through even the toughest clothing barriers. Conventional hollowpoint bullets have had issues with the cavity clogging from clothing fibers, which hinder them from expanding in soft tissue after going through a cloth barrier. The soft polymer insert in the tip of the bullet is what prevents this from happening. Nickel cases eliminate corrosion and premium low-flash propellents that deliver maximum velocity and impact. Per 25.
Average Customer Rating:
4.9 out of 5
37 of 37 (100%) customers would recommend this product to a friend.
Customer Reviews for Hornady Critical Defense Handgun Ammo
Overall Rating:
5
out of 5
38 Special Ammo,August 24, 2009
By OlderandWiserfrom Texas
"Good shipping, good product, good shopping experience."
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Review 2 for Hornady Critical Defense Handgun Ammo
Overall Rating:
5
out of 5
KELTEC 380-HORNADY CRITICAL DEFENSE,August 7, 2009
By HOCOMOJOfrom Baltimoe- Annapolis area
"Like most of you, I have not killed anyone, yet.
After reading some bad stuff about my cheap Keltec P3AT 380, I decided to try all sorts of ammo.
I had " fluff and buffed " the weapon before my test. I had NO failures with any ammo, but I'll stick with Hornady as I could shoot better with it The P3AT is painful to shoot, but I believe the Hornady concept is great and works fine with my gun. After all, if you are defending your life, what's a little hand pain?
I hope I never have to do a more detailed test, but I am ready.
HOCOMOJO"
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Review 3 for Hornady Critical Defense Handgun Ammo
Overall Rating:
5
out of 5
Great Product,July 25, 2009
By Flajaybirdfrom Boca Raton, Fl
"It's tough finding ammo, so I picked what was in stock. Works great in my new LCP."
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Review 4 for Hornady Critical Defense Handgun Ammo
"Love it....shoots right to the point of aim with minimal muzzle flash.....I keep everything in the 9 & 10 rings...no flyers. Very high quality and worth the wait."
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Review 5 for Hornady Critical Defense Handgun Ammo
Overall Rating:
5
out of 5
critical defense ammo,June 19, 2009
By los1949from dandridge, tn.
"Just what you need for maximum knockdown and stay down power."
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Review 6 for Hornady Critical Defense Handgun Ammo
"I am very pleased with this ammo. The top two reasons I purchased this round was #1 the great balistic info I reviewed, #2 it comes in a .38 Spl in standard pressure (not +P). I dare you to try and find a good self defense round for your 38 thats not +P. What a lot of ammo companies don't realize is some of us still own older revolvers that are not +P rated, and some of us have women in our family that can't handle the recoil of a +P round in our airweight guns. I've been waiting for a round like this to come out for a long time. It's perfect for use in older guns and the new airweights or airlites."
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Review 7 for Hornady Critical Defense Handgun Ammo
"Great product. I had experienced jamming with others but this ammo is silky smooth and dependable. Highly recommended!"
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Review 8 for Hornady Critical Defense Handgun Ammo
Overall Rating:
5
out of 5
9 mm Hornady Critical Defense Handgun Ammo,June 12, 2009
By Bigmcfrom Retired in Lakewood, CO
"Hornady literature claims its new ammo design provides great terminal performance compared to other 9 mm expanding ammo. I have loaded both magazines of my XDm 9mm with it and fortunately have not had the opportunity to see how well it works in a self defense situation."
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Review 9 for Hornady Critical Defense Handgun Ammo
Overall Rating:
5
out of 5
Great Ammo,May 22, 2009
By mcss383from Houston, TX
"I have shot close to 250 rds of this stuff and the only two 'problems' I had was the slide not locking fully but that was due to a dirty gun, not the ammo."
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Review 10 for Hornady Critical Defense Handgun Ammo
Overall Rating:
5
out of 5
Critical defense handgun ammo,May 18, 2009
By Wadjufrom St. Paul, MN
"The Hornady ammunition performed very well, in a Ruger LCP 380. Slow fire and rapid fire was very good with the Hornady ammunition in this handgun.
The only suggestion that I can make for improvement, is price. I would certainly purchase larger quantities of this product if it was more reasonably priced."
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Review 11 for Hornady Critical Defense Handgun Ammo
Overall Rating:
4
out of 5
My Critical Defense,May 16, 2009
By KennethPfrom Georgia
"I recently purchased some of the new Critical Defense loads in .38, and .380. I had to wait forever for Cabela's to get them in and when they did my name I was told was way down far down on the list. This means when they do get some in to there facility they do it on a first come, first serve basis according to the list. So it took about three months to get my loads. This was not Cabela's fault. You know the difficulty in getting ammunition these days because of the demand. Well anyway I got my loads and went to the range and they performed well. I had no failures to feed or function in any way which is usually typical of Hornady's products anyway. There accuracy which we all know depends on the firearm and the users skills and/or abilities which is a great determing factor, regaurdless the accurracy was most excellent in my .380 and was not as good but still very good in my .38. I shot these loads in my .380 at 10ft.,and 20ft. In my .38 I shot them at 10ft., 25ft., and 50ft. I was well pleased with there accuracy.There internal and exteroir ballistics were pleasing to me. There terminal ballistics I at this point can not say but upon another trip to the range( an outdoor next time) I will be testing there terminal ballistics. I like the thought behind there design and so far there perfomance. We will see what the terminal ballistics show me later. So far though Hornady has done it right. I thank Cabela's for carrying there products."
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Review 12 for Hornady Critical Defense Handgun Ammo
Overall Rating:
5
out of 5
If it won't feed, it won't shoot,May 9, 2009
By MohaveTecfrom Las Vegas, NV
"Just put a magazine of these in your Kel-Tec P3AT .380. Pull the slide back and keep your hand on the slide as it returns. Feel how smooth the round chambers. Now try this with ANY other .380 round. Just the feel of "least resistance" will sell you on this round. If your short carry won't feed then eject reliably then it won't shoot and the rest don't and won't matter. It's the nose design that makes this unique round the best feeding for the ultra short ramps of the small CC guns."
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Review 13 for Hornady Critical Defense Handgun Ammo
Overall Rating:
5
out of 5
100% Reliable,May 6, 2009
By SgtReconfrom NC
"Great Ammunition, it expands as advertise every time! No more problems with the bullet getting clogged up and not expanding thus turning into a Full Metal Jacket. Customer Service is outstanding!"
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Review 14 for Hornady Critical Defense Handgun Ammo
Overall Rating:
5
out of 5
Self Defense Handgun Ammo,May 5, 2009
By Colonelbw
"Cabela's was able to get this new, hard to find item, at a reasonable price. If I need an item for shooting or the outdoors, I look to Cabela's first."
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Review 15 for Hornady Critical Defense Handgun Ammo
Overall Rating:
5
out of 5
.380 Hornaday Critical Defense Ammo,May 4, 2009
By 9mmRugermanfrom Vinton, VA
"I highly recommend this ammo. I had no feed problems with this ammo in my .380 self defense carry pistol. I plan to use it for everyday carry ammo. Gets the job done!!!"
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Review 16 for Hornady Critical Defense Handgun Ammo
Overall Rating:
5
out of 5
Cabela's Delivers,May 4, 2009
By techofrom Sunrise, Florida
"Cabela's came through when no one else could. I received the .380 auto Hornady Critical Defense ammo in less than 2 weeks. Now I have the perfect ammo for my Ruger LCP. Thanks Cabela's"
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Review 17 for Hornady Critical Defense Handgun Ammo
Overall Rating:
5
out of 5
Critical Defense ammo,May 4, 2009
By Mizlfrom NC
"Excellent performance! Would like to see this product offered in .327 Federal and 45 acp."
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Review 18 for Hornady Critical Defense Handgun Ammo
Overall Rating:
5
out of 5
Excellent product,May 4, 2009
By LDinSCfrom SC
"I have used hornady ammunition for many years in my hunting rifles and have always been extremely pleased with the results. So when Hornady came out with this new ammo for personal protection, I was eager to try it.
I was looking for a lighter round to use with my .38 special for concealed carry. I purchased the 110 grain +P rounds. I like the lighter weight of these bullets when my gun in loaded. In all reality, 10-20 grains of added weight are not going to make much difference in stopping power from my five shot revolver, a Smith & Wesson Model 38 Airweight Special. It's what some folks call a "gut gun," point and click at point blank and the results should be very evident very fast.
These bullets do what Hornady says they do as far as as reduced recoil and decreased muzzle flash.
I hope I never have to report on the expansion properties but have no doubt that if it's Hornady ammo, it will perform as expected.
At least I know that I have done everything on my end to ensure that should such a horrible event unfold that I have to use it for personal protection and it comes down to mne or the bad guy, I'll win."
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Review 19 for Hornady Critical Defense Handgun Ammo
Overall Rating:
3
out of 5
.380 Critical Defense,May 2, 2009
By Flightfrom AZ
"I shot up some milk jugs and phone books with this stuff, along w/ DPX, and Golden Saber's. The Critical Defense had, by far, the smallest expanded diameter of the three. The "petals" of this round are much thinner, and bend much easier than the DPX or GS--In-fact, the petals were folded completely back against the bullet, thus the smaller expanded diameter. The testing was informal, with no penetration depths measured; however, the manufacturer touts the penetration capabilities of this round. The smaller expanded diameter may be the trade off for this added penetration. Any .380 round is a compromise, at best, and Hornady's Critical Defense may be a good compromise between penetration and expansion. All rounds fed, and expanded, reliably when shot from my CZ 83."
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Review 20 for Hornady Critical Defense Handgun Ammo
Overall Rating:
5
out of 5
Excellent Product,April 25, 2009
By TxEMTP69from Rockport, TX
"I have this in both .380 and 9mm, the .380 was purchased for a Bersa .380 which are known to be picky about what ammo it likes. I have had no problems with this ammo feeding at all. The 9mm shot like a champ also."
