Hornady Critical Defense 45ACP 185gr Gel Test Results

plouffedaddy · January 8, 2013, 11:14 PM

Loaded up some Hornady Critical Defense 45ACP 185gr JHP rounds, brought out the Clear Ballistics gel (calibrated to manufacturors specs), grabbed my Springfield Armory TRP (5'' barrel), and the video camera and here's what I found.

Chrono Data:

-1017 fps, 425 ft/lbs energy

Results:

-14.5'' penetration

Hornady Critical Defense 185gr 45ACP Gel Test HD Video

The manufacture of the gel block, Clear Ballistics, claims their gel meets FBI specs for testing. I calibrate my gel per their specs prior to testing and use 4 layers of denim per IWBA protocol.

However, by no means am I saying this test is a substitute for the great work industry professionals like Dr. Roberts and others do. I'm just a shooter that likes to learn about the products I use.

Budda · January 8, 2013, 11:25 PM

Nice gun grip.....I use the same. I use the same bullet in my 9mm. I feel it is an excellent PD round.

jason_iowa · January 8, 2013, 11:35 PM

I prefer a bit more penetration. Critical Defense has a lot of haters though and the statistics look pretty good to me...

chris in va · January 9, 2013, 03:42 AM

Quote:

As you'll see in the video below, the round failed to expand but did tumble in the block.

The video shows perfect expansion.

Cheap 870 · January 9, 2013, 07:07 AM

I see perfect expansion all so? And 14.5" is good penetration.
I started a thread about these bullets with no response.
I wanted to know if anyone heard if Hornady was going to offer these bullets to reloaders?

plouffedaddy · January 9, 2013, 09:05 AM

Quote:

As you'll see in the video below, the round failed to expand but did tumble in the block.
The video shows perfect expansion.

That's what happens when I'm writing two posts as once

bikerbill · January 10, 2013, 04:11 PM

Excellent test, not sure how much more you can ask than 14 1/2 inches of penetration and full expansion ... I have that round in my nightstand gun, a Springer Loaded, and I carry the same ammunition in my carry PM9, my house .357 Taurus 617 and the NAA Pug that's in my pocket at home and walkin' the dog ... very accurate, never fails to fire ... a satisfied customer ...

**Spats McGee** · January 10, 2013, 06:42 PM

plouffedaddy, for those of us who are firewalled off from The Almighty Youtube while at work, have you run any tests on the 165 grain Cor-bon Pow-r-balls? If so how do they stack up against these? How was feeding and ejection with these Hornady bullets?

plouffedaddy · January 10, 2013, 08:13 PM

Quote:

plouffedaddy, for those of us who are firewalled off from The Almighty Youtube while at work, have you run any tests on the 165 grain Cor-bon Pow-r-balls? If so how do they stack up against these? How was feeding and ejection with these Hornady bullets?

I've never tested the Cor-Bon load so I can't say how they compare. Feeding/ejection were perfect in my TRP and I've also used them in my M&P45s and Glock 21/30 without issue.

**Spats McGee** · January 10, 2013, 08:59 PM

Good to know. I've been wishing that the Powerballs came in something heavier than 165 grain, and these might make a good alternative.

Thanks.

bacardisteve · January 11, 2013, 07:51 AM

How much diffrence did you get in point of impact vs a 230gr load?

plouffedaddy · January 11, 2013, 10:54 AM

It impacts a little low, maybe 1-2'' at 15m. Unless I'm really concentrating it's tough to really tell but it is there when I do.

January 8, 2013, 11:14 PM	#1
plouffedaddy Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2011 Location: Carolina Posts: 2,960	Hornady Critical Defense 45ACP 185gr Gel Test Results Loaded up some Hornady Critical Defense 45ACP 185gr JHP rounds, brought out the Clear Ballistics gel (calibrated to manufacturors specs), grabbed my Springfield Armory TRP (5'' barrel), and the video camera and here's what I found. Chrono Data: -1017 fps, 425 ft/lbs energy Results: -14.5'' penetration Hornady Critical Defense 185gr 45ACP Gel Test HD Video The manufacture of the gel block, Clear Ballistics, claims their gel meets FBI specs for testing. I calibrate my gel per their specs prior to testing and use 4 layers of denim per IWBA protocol. However, by no means am I saying this test is a substitute for the great work industry professionals like Dr. Roberts and others do. I'm just a shooter that likes to learn about the products I use. __________________ Mrgunsngear's Youtube Channel Certified Glock Armorer Last edited by plouffedaddy; January 9, 2013 at 09:04 AM.

January 8, 2013, 11:25 PM	#2
Budda Senior Member Join Date: November 7, 2011 Location: Earth Posts: 384	Nice gun grip.....I use the same. I use the same bullet in my 9mm. I feel it is an excellent PD round. __________________ ...They have the internet on computers now....-Homer Simpson-

January 10, 2013, 04:11 PM	#7
bikerbill Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2007 Location: Lago Vista TX Posts: 2,134	Excellent test, not sure how much more you can ask than 14 1/2 inches of penetration and full expansion ... I have that round in my nightstand gun, a Springer Loaded, and I carry the same ammunition in my carry PM9, my house .357 Taurus 617 and the NAA Pug that's in my pocket at home and walkin' the dog ... very accurate, never fails to fire ... a satisfied customer ... __________________ "The gun has been called the great equalizer ... It insures that the people are the equal of their government whenever that government forgets that it is servant and not master of the governed." --Ronald Reagan

January 10, 2013, 06:42 PM	#8
Spats McGee Staff Join Date: July 28, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 3,338	plouffedaddy, for those of us who are firewalled off from The Almighty Youtube while at work, have you run any tests on the 165 grain Cor-bon Pow-r-balls? If so how do they stack up against these? How was feeding and ejection with these Hornady bullets? __________________ A gunfight is not the time to learn new skills. If you ever have a real need for more than a couple of magazines, your problem is not a shortage of magazines. It's a shortage of people on your side of the argument. -- Art Eatman

January 10, 2013, 08:59 PM	#10
Spats McGee Staff Join Date: July 28, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 3,338	Good to know. I've been wishing that the Powerballs came in something heavier than 165 grain, and these might make a good alternative. Thanks. __________________ A gunfight is not the time to learn new skills. If you ever have a real need for more than a couple of magazines, your problem is not a shortage of magazines. It's a shortage of people on your side of the argument. -- Art Eatman

January 8, 2013, 11:35 PM	#3
jason_iowa Senior Member Join Date: July 30, 2011 Posts: 569	I prefer a bit more penetration. Critical Defense has a lot of haters though and the statistics look pretty good to me...

January 9, 2013, 07:07 AM	#5
Cheap 870 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 159	I see perfect expansion all so? And 14.5" is good penetration. I started a thread about these bullets with no response. I wanted to know if anyone heard if Hornady was going to offer these bullets to reloaders?

January 11, 2013, 07:51 AM	#11
bacardisteve Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 343	How much diffrence did you get in point of impact vs a 230gr load? __________________ Kill em all and let God sort em out! USAF

January 11, 2013, 10:54 AM	#12
plouffedaddy Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2011 Location: Carolina Posts: 2,960	It impacts a little low, maybe 1-2'' at 15m. Unless I'm really concentrating it's tough to really tell but it is there when I do. __________________ Mrgunsngear's Youtube Channel Certified Glock Armorer