Hornady

Doc Holliday 1950 · September 30, 2014, 10:03 PM

I don't understand why more people don't love Hornady ammo. For Critical Defense I'm leaning to use Hornady 38 special +P 110.gr. hollow point or the 357 mag 125 grain of the same. I know Speer make a 38 spec +P 135 gr. ammo, but this is very difficult to obtain. Both my 2 & 4 inch 357's love the Hornady loads..
Am I missing the Boat here??

lamarw · September 30, 2014, 11:19 PM

My boats don't leave without me on board and turning the key. All my center fire firearms shoot best with my own reloads.

They are also a lot less expensive.

Make sure you hang onto your brass in case you decide to do the same in the future.

DAVID NANCARROW · October 1, 2014, 06:15 AM

Have not purchased factory fodder for my weapons in years. However, the Hornady XTP has proven to be a very accurate bullet in all of my 45ACPs, from my Officer model to my Gold cup.

skoro · October 1, 2014, 08:00 AM

In my experience, Hornady is top shelf stuff equal to anyone else's.

jimbob86 · October 1, 2014, 08:08 AM

I generally like their stuff. Love the inexpensive Interlock rifle bullets .... and they're local.

skizzums · October 1, 2014, 08:34 AM

I think everyone likes hornaday ammo. They are probably the newest kid in town in defense ammo, so I hear most of the old school folks touting Speer and Winchester more than anything. I don't think it's anything to do with hornaday not doing the trick, its just what was the best at the time and names they have stuck with for the last 20 year's. I think most all of them do a great job, but on slower or smaller calibers, hornaday flex-tip is the only thing I have found to reliably expand with good penetration with .38spl and .380. I could be wrong, but I think hornaday invented the polymer inserts and have proven to be a great development in hollow-points. You used to have to choose between the expansion and penetration,t the flex-tip goes a long to solve that problem.

usnr2003 · October 1, 2014, 11:10 AM

One nice thing about Hornady is that you can get the same bullets for your own load that is in their commercial defense ammo (XTP/FTP).

This way, you can make a little less expensive practice ammo that works very similar to the commercial. Or, you can make your own defense rounds and skip the commercial all together.

EdInk · October 12, 2014, 01:18 PM

I love Hornady ammo.

Hunter0924 · October 14, 2014, 11:48 PM

I reload myself and have for about 16 years but I favor factory Hornady ammunition for defensive carry.

Inazone · October 15, 2014, 02:02 PM

I'm a fan. My 9mm carry ammo of choice is Fiocchi Extrema with Hornady XTP 124gr JHPs, and although I don't use an AR for SD/HD purposes here in the `burbs where I rub elbows with my neighbors, I have a fair amount of Hornady .223 SPs and Fiocchi .223 with Hornady V-Max. Generally speaking, Hornady ammo is at the top of my list, and the price tends to be quite reasonable.

SARuger · October 15, 2014, 09:58 PM

When I'm serious and not just "plinking" I use Hornady. My first deer was taken with a 170gr 30-30 Hornady bullet that was loaded by my high school football coach for me. I bought the Marlin from him as well. One shot-one kill on my first day of my first deer season. I was hooked. I shoot it in all of my CF revolvers, pistols, rifles and my 20ga slug gun. The SST Sabot is a really nice round for deer in the brush(I also like the Fed Fusion 3" mag Sabots). The critical defense ammo is great, I hope I never need it.

I just got 2 boxes of 240gr XTP for my SBH .44 mag. A very accurate round for deer with a good balance of penetration and knockdown power.

NWPilgrim · October 16, 2014, 01:46 AM

The only Hornady ammo I have is .44 mag 300 gr XTP. It is almost as accurate as my handloads and more so than budget ammo from the big factories.

mboylan · October 16, 2014, 10:14 PM

Rethink your choice and go for Critical Duty. People tend to hold hands and arms up in defense. You are likely to have to shoot through hands, arms or shoulders to get to the vitals. Barrier penetration is necessary for self defense. Penetration is your most important factor.

Snyper · October 17, 2014, 12:49 AM

Quote:

People tend to hold hands and arms up in defense. You are likely to have to shoot through hands, arms or shoulders to get to the vitals.

What is that saying in Ferguson, MO ?:

"Hands up, don't shoot"

You'd better be sure they have a weapon in those hands before you shoot

Doc Holliday 1950 · October 17, 2014, 09:40 PM

Thanks everyone for your input. I was able to purchase both the Speer 135 gr 38 sp +P( seems the market is abundant with Speer's) and of course Hornady 110 gr 38 sp +P for my 2 " 357. Went to the range and shot 50 rounds each and really liked the action of the Hornady, but I fully understand the benefits of the Speer. Maybe I'm wrong but I alternated the 2 rounds in my chambers.
Does anyone see or think of anything that is not right with this?

Grunt96 · October 18, 2014, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by usnr2003

One nice thing about Hornady is that you can get the same bullets for your own load that is in their commercial defense ammo (XTP/FTP).

This way, you can make a little less expensive practice ammo that works very similar to the commercial. Or, you can make your own defense rounds and skip the commercial all together.

The XTP is a great bullet, and has been very accurate in my handloads for 45, 10mm, and 40s&w. I think it's an underrated jhp.

September 30, 2014, 10:03 PM	#1
Doc Holliday 1950 Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2014 Location: Bout as south as it gets Posts: 1,238	Hornady I don't understand why more people don't love Hornady ammo. For Critical Defense I'm leaning to use Hornady 38 special +P 110.gr. hollow point or the 357 mag 125 grain of the same. I know Speer make a 38 spec +P 135 gr. ammo, but this is very difficult to obtain. Both my 2 & 4 inch 357's love the Hornady loads.. Am I missing the Boat here??

October 1, 2014, 08:34 AM	#6
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	I think everyone likes hornaday ammo. They are probably the newest kid in town in defense ammo, so I hear most of the old school folks touting Speer and Winchester more than anything. I don't think it's anything to do with hornaday not doing the trick, its just what was the best at the time and names they have stuck with for the last 20 year's. I think most all of them do a great job, but on slower or smaller calibers, hornaday flex-tip is the only thing I have found to reliably expand with good penetration with .38spl and .380. I could be wrong, but I think hornaday invented the polymer inserts and have proven to be a great development in hollow-points. You used to have to choose between the expansion and penetration,t the flex-tip goes a long to solve that problem. __________________ My head is bloody, but unbowed

October 12, 2014, 01:18 PM	#8
EdInk Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2009 Posts: 3,968	I love Hornady ammo. __________________ Sic Semper Tyrannis

October 14, 2014, 11:48 PM	#9
Hunter0924 Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 472	I reload myself and have for about 16 years but I favor factory Hornady ammunition for defensive carry. __________________ My firearms review site. http://rangehot.com/

October 17, 2014, 09:40 PM	#15
Doc Holliday 1950 Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2014 Location: Bout as south as it gets Posts: 1,238	hornady ammo Thanks everyone for your input. I was able to purchase both the Speer 135 gr 38 sp +P( seems the market is abundant with Speer's) and of course Hornady 110 gr 38 sp +P for my 2 " 357. Went to the range and shot 50 rounds each and really liked the action of the Hornady, but I fully understand the benefits of the Speer. Maybe I'm wrong but I alternated the 2 rounds in my chambers. Does anyone see or think of anything that is not right with this?

September 30, 2014, 11:19 PM	#2
lamarw Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2010 Location: Lake Martin, AL Posts: 3,311	My boats don't leave without me on board and turning the key. All my center fire firearms shoot best with my own reloads. They are also a lot less expensive. Make sure you hang onto your brass in case you decide to do the same in the future.

October 1, 2014, 06:15 AM	#3
DAVID NANCARROW Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 2000 Location: Wyoming Posts: 1,761	Have not purchased factory fodder for my weapons in years. However, the Hornady XTP has proven to be a very accurate bullet in all of my 45ACPs, from my Officer model to my Gold cup.

October 1, 2014, 08:00 AM	#4
skoro Senior Member Join Date: April 30, 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 1,952	In my experience, Hornady is top shelf stuff equal to anyone else's.

October 1, 2014, 08:08 AM	#5
jimbob86 Junior member Join Date: October 4, 2007 Location: All the way to NEBRASKA Posts: 8,722	I generally like their stuff. Love the inexpensive Interlock rifle bullets .... and they're local.

October 1, 2014, 11:10 AM	#7
usnr2003 Junior Member Join Date: August 19, 2014 Posts: 14	One nice thing about Hornady is that you can get the same bullets for your own load that is in their commercial defense ammo (XTP/FTP). This way, you can make a little less expensive practice ammo that works very similar to the commercial. Or, you can make your own defense rounds and skip the commercial all together.

October 15, 2014, 02:02 PM	#10
Inazone Member Join Date: April 27, 2012 Location: Minnesota, USA Posts: 89	I'm a fan. My 9mm carry ammo of choice is Fiocchi Extrema with Hornady XTP 124gr JHPs, and although I don't use an AR for SD/HD purposes here in the `burbs where I rub elbows with my neighbors, I have a fair amount of Hornady .223 SPs and Fiocchi .223 with Hornady V-Max. Generally speaking, Hornady ammo is at the top of my list, and the price tends to be quite reasonable.

October 15, 2014, 09:58 PM	#11
SARuger Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 2014 Location: Blue Ridge Mountains of VA Posts: 954	When I'm serious and not just "plinking" I use Hornady. My first deer was taken with a 170gr 30-30 Hornady bullet that was loaded by my high school football coach for me. I bought the Marlin from him as well. One shot-one kill on my first day of my first deer season. I was hooked. I shoot it in all of my CF revolvers, pistols, rifles and my 20ga slug gun. The SST Sabot is a really nice round for deer in the brush(I also like the Fed Fusion 3" mag Sabots). The critical defense ammo is great, I hope I never need it. I just got 2 boxes of 240gr XTP for my SBH .44 mag. A very accurate round for deer with a good balance of penetration and knockdown power.

October 16, 2014, 01:46 AM	#12
NWPilgrim Senior Member Join Date: September 29, 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,346	The only Hornady ammo I have is .44 mag 300 gr XTP. It is almost as accurate as my handloads and more so than budget ammo from the big factories.

October 16, 2014, 10:14 PM	#13
mboylan Senior Member Join Date: March 31, 2011 Posts: 120	Rethink your choice and go for Critical Duty. People tend to hold hands and arms up in defense. You are likely to have to shoot through hands, arms or shoulders to get to the vitals. Barrier penetration is necessary for self defense. Penetration is your most important factor.