Hornady .45 acp Critical Defense range report

[Guest BEARMAN]

Well, I have finally found a .45 acp hollow point round my Kimber ultra CDP will feed without problems.

Shot 6 rounds Friday after work on my range @ seven yards with Hornady Critical Defense 185 grain FXT.

I used three dry, 1" thick phone books, back to back, for a back stop.

Penetration on the first round stopped through the first two phone books, and put a golf ball size indention in the third one.

Most of the rest went all the way through the three phone books, except one other, of which I have both recovered on the target, in each lower corner of the pic.

The rounds were very accurate out of my 3" Kimber ultra CDP, and I will use them as my carry defense rounds in the little Kimber.

I am very pleased at how these rounds performed, the only drawback is they are hard to get. Hopefully, Hornady will have that problem ironed out soon, as it seems everyone is starting to get them in now.

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Edited April 18, 2010 by BEARMAN

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Looks good. I had to go and find a pic of the round. I got a bunch of

free Hornady XTP's with my LNL reloader. I had a lot of trouble with

feeding in all of our .45's. I stuck with Remington Golden Sabers to

reload. I might give these a shot.

[JAB]

I currently have Critical Defense loaded in my .38 snubbie and have been looking for them in .380 and 9mm. However, I have seen reports on other forums where one or two members have experienced some problems with failure to ignite, probably due to bad primers (primer was dented by firing pin but round did not fire) - especially in .380 which has me thinking about just sticking with Hydrashoks in that caliber. I don't know how common these problems are or if they could include their .45 ammo, however - just thought you might like to know.

[Oh Shoot]

Well, I have finally found a .45 acp hollow point round my Kimber ultra CDP will feed without problems.

Shot 6 rounds Friday ..

Six whole rounds?

- OS

[Guest redbarron06]

I picked up 2 boxes from G&L last time I was up there. I have fired one mag with zero problems through my Nighthawk Custom Predator II. They all hit where aimed and fed and extracted fine.

In the following weeks I went to the range a few times shooting regular FMJ rounds. What I then discovered was the the top round of Critical Defense in the mag (which got loaded and unloaded several times that week) started to over seat in the casing. This let to a failure to feed. Combine that with the increased pressure from the rounds being to far in the case and you could have a KABOOM moment. I will shoot the rest of them down range next time I go and stick with 185gr Golder sabers. I have some that have been first in the mag and loaded and inloaded 20 times and not sank into the casing and they still feed fine.

BTW Critical Defense is not a hollow point it is a polymer tip.

[willis68]

Man, in all honesty you need to shoot at the very least 2 to 5 hundred rounds before you know your pistol will reliably feed a round. I have had $2k 1911's choke on Hornady Tap after 100 rounds were fired through them, it is your life though

Edited April 21, 2010 by willis68

[Oh Shoot]

...and stick with 185gr Golder sabers. I have some that have been first in the mag and loaded and inloaded 20 times and not sank into the casing and they still feed fine...

Yeah, I carry GS in 9mm and have found that they are quite resistant to bullet setback, too, from being chambered 6 or 8 times, anyway.

- OS

[Guest BEARMAN]

Six whole rounds?

- OS

Yes OS, results= 6 round holes....

BTW Critical Defense is not a hollow point it is a polymer tip.

Tis too, a hollowpoint, red, it just has a little polymer ball, sticking in it, for feeding purposes....

Man, in all honesty you need to shoot at the very least 2 to 5 hundred rounds before you know your pistol will reliably feed a round. I have had $2k 1911's choke on Hornady Tap after 100 rounds were fired through them, it is your life though

Time, willis, time....that is what I was lacking in...was time, my Brother.

It will get fed plenty of CD, trust me...I was just trying em for quick confirmation, and posted the results for you guys to evaluate the round.

[willis68]

Time, willis, time....that is what I was lacking in...was time, my Brother.

It will get fed plenty of CD, trust me...I was just trying em for quick confirmation, and posted the results for you guys to evaluate the round.

I hear you, Im glad that you know better I can not begin to tell you how many people I see who trust ammo after firing 20 rounds and when they are up to 35 nothing but issues, just looking out for you my friend