Owners of .44 Spl. and .44 Mag. revolvers take notice; in its Critical Defense line, Hornady offers a .44 Spl. personal-defense load that, despite producing modest recoil, delivers impressive terminal ballistics. The 0.429”-diameter, non-bonded 165-gr. Flex Tip eXpanding (FTX) bullet is designed to be unaffected by even heavy clothing, as the red, elastomeric material contained within the cavity prevents clogging, which can stop a traditional-type bullet from expanding. The pseudo-hydrostatic material also ensures uniform upset across a range of velocities. Post-expansion diameters vary with velocity, though 1.4 to 1.7-times the projectile’s original diameter is typical, as is 99-percent weight retention. Know, however, that this load is not designed to defeat the full gamut of barriers as defined by the FBI “protocol.”
Factory ballistics touts the muzzle velocity as 900 f.p.s., which result in 297 ft.-lbs. of energy. As with the other Critical Defense offerings, this load utilizes reduced-flash propellants to maintain visual acuity in low-light conditions, and it’s stabilized to minimize velocity swings in differing temperatures. Lastly, the ammunition has nickel-plated cases for improved corrosion resistance. Natchez Shooters Supplies sells twenty-count boxes of Hornady Critical Defense .44 Spl. ammunition for $20.79. Owners of .44 Spl. and .44 Mag. revolvers, what’s your preferred self-defense ammunition?
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