Range Report - Hornady Critical Defense FTX 44 Special

[44Alaskan]

Designed for snubbies the 165 grain bullet has a barrel velocity of 900 fps. The core of the hollow point has a flexible insert designed to prevent clogging from clothing. I could not find a 44 special gel test video for this load but all the other caliber Critical Defense videos show great expansion and penetration. This was a pleasure to shoot from my Super Redhawk Alaskan, single and double action. I found this ammo to be very accurat shooting from 7, 14, 21 feet, and 25 yards.

Video from the range, 44 Special Critical Defense fired from Ruger Alaskan

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Looks like a pleasure to shoot. Probably a great SD round. - Save the brass -

 

[Three50seven]

Looks like a pleasure to shoot. Probably a great SD round. - Save the brass -

Don't bother...Hornady trims the brass shorter than spec. to accommodate the longer "pointy" bullet :evil: The same goes for all the FTX line.

 

[gramps]

Looks like a pleasure to shoot. Probably a great SD round. - Save the brass -

Don't bother...Hornady trims the brass shorter than spec. to accommodate the longer "pointy" bullet :evil: The same goes for all the FTX line.

Huh? How is a 165 gr projectile longer than an 240 gr projectile?
gramps

 

[Three50seven]

Looks like a pleasure to shoot. Probably a great SD round. - Save the brass -

Don't bother...Hornady trims the brass shorter than spec. to accommodate the longer "pointy" bullet :evil: The same goes for all the FTX line.

Huh? How is a 165 gr projectile longer than an 240 gr projectile?
gramps

I had to look at Hornady's website to confirm, and it looks like I was incorrect. I thought the 165gr FTX in the 44 spl had the rubbery "ballistc tip" like the leverevolution line. Instead it has a blunt tip. I would still measure the brass before reloading it. I have a bag full of Hornady .44 mag brass that is shorter than spec to accommodate the leverevolution bullets. This is also true of their 45-70 and maybe others as well.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

I had to look at Hornady's website to confirm, and it looks like I was incorrect. I thought the 165gr FTX in the 44 spl had the rubbery "ballistc tip" like the leverevolution line. Instead it has a blunt tip.

That's ok. It doesn't hurt to remind people that the brass is shorter with those factory lever-revolution cartridges.

 

[kmoore]

Hey, 44 Alaskan, on the Hornady web page it shows a still photo of the gel test with almost 10 inch's penetration. I did not look for a video.

 

[44Alaskan]

Hey, 44 Alaskan, on the Hornady web page it shows a still photo of the gel test with almost 10 inch's penetration. I did not look for a video.

Thanks for the info.. Good for circumstances where overpenetration would be a concern like apartment living or crowded public places.

 

[Pistolero]

This is the SD bullet I use in my GP100 .44 Special 3 inch. Accurate and a pleasure to shoot.

 

[44Alaskan]

Andrew at TFB TV was nice enough to take the time and do a gel test on the 44 Special Hornady Critical Defense 165 grain FTX.

Gel Test - Hornady 44Special 165 grain FTX Critical Defense

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Andrew at TFB TV was nice enough to take the time and do a gel test on the 44 Special Hornady Critical Defense 165 grain FTX.

Gel Test - Hornady 44Special 165 grain FTX Critical Defense

Near the end of the review he says slower velocity would result in deeper penetration. I had to think about that for a while and I guess I could agree that at a slower speed the bullet might not open as much and therefore penetrate further into the gel but I would like to see it for sure.

Anyone have experience with the same bullets fired into gel at different velocities and the resulting penetration?

 

[Pistolero]

Andrew at TFB TV was nice enough to take the time and do a gel test on the 44 Special Hornady Critical Defense 165 grain FTX.

Gel Test - Hornady 44Special 165 grain FTX Critical Defense

Good informative video.

Thank you,

 

[Mus408]

Great video and round! Try it again with the water jug test if you get a chance.
I have had good results using the 200 gr. Speer Gold Dot going 830-850 FPS out of my Charter Arms Bulldog .44 Special with 2.5 inch barrel. Bullet expansion was .680 dia.

 

[ironhead7544]

Speer makes a 1050 fps load with a 200 gr Gold Dot bullet in 44 Magnum. I use it in my 44s.

They also make a 44 Special load with the same bullet. Chronos at 815 fps from a 3" barrel fro me.

Will have to try the Hornady 165 gr load.