Hornady .45 Auto Critical Defense 185gr FTX Ammo

Hornady Ammo

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$20.18 - $611.26

Additional Specs:

UPC:
090255909005
MANUFACTURER:
Hornady
PRODUCT TYPE:
Ammunition
CONDITION:
New
CASING:
Nickel Plated Brass
UPC:
090255909005
grains:
185
caliber:
.45 ACP/Auto
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Experience the advanced performance of Hornady's .45 Auto Critical Defense 185gr FTX ammunition. Engineered for personal protection, this round features the innovative FTX (Flex Tip eXpanding) bullet, designed to deliver consistent expansion through various barriers. The 185-grain projectile exits the muzzle at 900 fps, generating 333 ft-lbs of energy. With bright nickel-plated cases for enhanced visibility and low-flash propellants to preserve night vision, this ammunition is optimized for concealed carry and home defense scenarios. The Critical Defense line combines Hornady's patented FTX technology with carefully tuned components to offer superior performance in short-barreled, concealed carry style firearms.

Hornady .45 Auto Critical Defense 185gr FTX Highlights:

Specifications
Manufacturer Hornady
Model Critical Defense
Caliber .45 Auto
Bullet Weight 185 grains
Bullet Type FTX (Flex Tip eXpanding)
Muzzle Velocity 900 fps
Muzzle Energy 333 ft-lbs
Ballistic Coefficient .140
Sectional Density .130
Rounds Per Box 20
Case Material Nickel-plated brass
Recommended Use Personal Defense

Key Features

The Hornady .45 Auto Critical Defense 185gr FTX ammunition offers exceptional performance characteristics that make it an excellent choice for personal defense. Here's a breakdown of its key features:

Feature Description
FTX® Bullet Technology Consistent expansion through barriers
Resists clogging when fired through heavy clothing
Nickel-Plated Cases Enhanced visibility and corrosion resistance
Simplifies chamber checks in low-light conditions
Optimized Propellants Reduced recoil and muzzle flash
Helps preserve night vision in low-light scenarios
185gr Bullet Weight Balanced for .45 Auto performance
Offers good penetration and expansion
Consistent Performance Reliable function in various firearms
Designed for short-barreled, concealed carry pistols

Applications & Use Cases

The Hornady .45 Auto Critical Defense 185gr FTX ammunition is specifically designed for personal defense scenarios:

Personal Defense

Ideal for various self-defense situations:

  • Concealed carry
  • Home defense
  • Vehicle defense
  • Personal protection
Firearm Compatibility

Suitable for various .45 Auto firearms:

  • Compact and subcompact pistols
  • Full-size handguns
  • 1911-style pistols
  • Polymer-framed pistols
Performance Highlights
  • Consistent expansion through barriers
  • Reduced recoil for faster follow-up shots
  • Low muzzle flash for better situational awareness
  • Optimized for short-barreled handguns

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • FTX Bullet Technology: Ensures consistent expansion through various barriers.
  • Nickel-Plated Cases: Enhances visibility and resists corrosion.
  • Low-Flash Propellants: Helps preserve night vision in defensive situations.
  • Optimized for Short Barrels: Designed for concealed carry firearms.
  • Reliable Performance: Consistent function across various .45 Auto handguns.

Cons

  • Premium Pricing: More expensive than standard .45 Auto ammunition.
  • Limited Training Use: Cost may prohibit extensive practice with this specific load.
  • Specialized Purpose: Not ideal for target shooting or competition use.
  • Potential Overpenetration: May penetrate more than necessary in some scenarios.

About Hornady:

Hornady Manufacturing Company, founded in 1949 by Joyce Hornady, has become a cornerstone of the American firearms and ammunition industry. Headquartered in Grand Island, Nebraska, Hornady has built a legacy of innovation and quality that spans over seven decades. Their commitment to producing high-performance ammunition for hunters, shooters, and self-defense practitioners has made them one of the most trusted names in the business. With state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and rigorous quality control processes, Hornady continues to push the boundaries of ammunition technology, ensuring that each round meets the highest standards of reliability and performance.

Hornady .45 Auto Critical Defense FTX Ammo FAQ:

The FTX (Flex Tip eXpanding) bullet features a flexible polymer tip that helps initiate consistent expansion upon impact. This design also prevents the hollow point cavity from clogging with clothing or other barriers, ensuring reliable expansion in real-world defensive scenarios.

While this ammunition is designed to function reliably in most .45 Auto handguns, it's specifically optimized for short-barreled, concealed carry pistols. It's always recommended to test any defensive ammunition in your specific firearm to ensure proper function and accuracy.

While the effective range can vary based on the shooter's skill and the specific firearm used, this ammunition is designed for typical self-defense distances, generally within 25 yards. Beyond this range, factors like bullet drop and wind drift become more significant.

While both are designed for self-defense, Critical Defense is optimized for short-barreled, concealed carry pistols and civilian use. Critical Duty is tailored more towards law enforcement needs, with a focus on barrier penetration and performance from longer barrels.

While exact penetration can vary, Hornady designs their Critical Defense ammunition to meet FBI penetration standards, typically aiming for 12-18 inches in ballistic gelatin. This balance ensures adequate penetration for incapacitation without excessive overpenetration risks.

The FTX bullet is specifically designed to perform consistently through common barriers such as heavy clothing. The flex tip prevents the hollow point from clogging with fabric, ensuring reliable expansion even after passing through such barriers.

While it can be used for practice, the higher cost of defensive ammunition often makes it impractical for high-volume training. It's recommended to train primarily with ball ammunition that mimics the recoil and point of impact of your carry load.

Hornady designs their ammunition to perform consistently across a wide temperature range. However, extreme temperature variations can affect powder burn rates and pressure, potentially impacting velocity and point of impact slightly.

This ammunition is optimized for performance in compact, short-barreled pistols, but it will also function well in full-size handguns. In longer barrels, you may see a slight increase in velocity and energy, but the overall performance characteristics remain consistent.

Hornady Critical Defense ammunition is manufactured to high standards and typically delivers excellent accuracy. Most shooters can expect 2-3 inch groups at 25 yards, depending on the firearm and shooter skill.