I Pulled The PLUG!...Surprising Results! Hornady Critical Defense NO INSERT 9MM Ballistic Gel Test!

I'm ok without the tip, exactly what I thought

Great test!
My edc( unless im campaign or going to Atlanta)is 38special,so i don't use them.
But ALWAYS down to learn some ammo info!!
Thank u😊

Now ya got me curious. Take out the insert and put in pre chewed bubblegum.
😁👍🇺🇸👊

Very cool test! Without the polymer insert you can see how gnarly those bullets are.

Yep that plug is just hype a nother way to sell ammo

I may be wrong as I'm sure smarter people than myself have measured and tested and so forth but I think the basic reason for projectile expansion failure is velocities lower than 1000 fps... Maybe that polymer plug aids in the expansion even if that velocity is below the threshold but most of the tests i've seen it appears that when you're at 1100 fps or more there doesn't seem to be a problem with fabric spoiling the expansion effects.

I tote critical defence as well as norma, soft lead and I can bet someone is gonna not hurt me or mine. Just saying

Could you test the PMC SFC in 9mm?

Brother, do you live on top of a ridge ? nice views all around.

It was my understanding that the insert was to control expansion as the bullet goes thru fabric t-shirt, jacket etc, so it won't start to expand until it goes thru clothing.

That tip does 1 thing for sure. It makes those rounds legal in states like NJ where hollow points are illegal. Stupid commie states.

As a horndaddy expert and company owner I will say that this ammo is not meant to be used without the insert or it will lose accuracy and consistency. Also you should try and use a clothing barrier for your tests, this is just rookie stuff come on.

I love the Hornady Critical Duty and the Federal HST!

I've always been underwhelmed by critical duty and critical defense. Honestly, the XTP has always seemed to perform better. Plugged bullets strike me as more of a gimmick than a real performance enhancer.

Very interesting

Things that make you go hmmmmmm.🤔

Try this with the 45acp

Would the critical duty with it's harder bonding mushroom more?? Would love to see that as well.

Questionable anti-clogging features aside, one big advantage of that insert can be ease of chambering. In my experience the difference is noticeable when chambering a 9mm FTX compared to a traditional hollowpoint. It's even more noticeable in caliber 380, to the point where an FTX actually chambers smoother than an FMJ. If you're buying something like a Shield-EZ or a Security-380 because you have grip strength issues that make it difficult to operate the slide, that extra smooth chambering might help to reduce jams due to shortstroking or fingers slipping off the slide mid-operation.

The plug material used is very similar to what dentists use to make dental molds you can find it online.
Maybe test it on some 10mm rounds, most likely get massive energy dump almost immediately.

Pulling the plug gives you a Hornady XTP, it's that simple.

Would be nice to see you add some cloth materials over the gel for a more "real world" test. Would the open cavity hollow do "worse" compared to the polymer insert version after going thru 1, 2 or 3 layers of clothing material?

Thanks for your comparison. I don't use critical defense of duty. But, its nice to no about the design. I currently use Fed. Hydro shok Deep in 9mm. From your video reviews. Thanks so much. Next.....for me is. I what to find out if Hydro shok deep. 380 will past the test in 2.7"and 3.5"barrel in .380. Some times in summer I switch my .380 for carry.

LOL. Just the tip. That's what she said. :)

I'd be interested to see how the 380 would perform without the tip/insert???

I've always been a fan of Hornady products but Critical Defense is not one of them. There is much better ammo out there like Speer Gold dot, Federal HST, Sig V Crown and many more

Try putting in some wax instead

"Just the tip"
Goes in over 14 inches.
Gel block: HEY!

They honestly look exactly like the federal hydrashok deep 135gr 9mm with the insert is pulled out from the Hornady but the hydrashok deep has a mean looking centerpost but the hollow points shape is the same

I got a box for $27 and wasn't paying attention closely I was kind of disappointed they weren't nickel plated 😭

Great job 👍🏻 this is my main edc ammo and good to see how it performs. One thing I’d like to mention that I have noticed with this ammo is that they don’t crimp them to good. I had a like 5 bullets in a box that the bullets were loose and spinning in the casing. I have a total of over a dozen bullets I just set aside and not want to use them. Any home remedy trick of how to recrimp them is welcomed. Other that that I love this product.

I did the same thing withh the 22 mag rounds for my NAA black widow. NASTY !

Interesting but inconclusive as it's just a small sample size. Results are roughly what I would have expected "most" of the time; would be interesting to see if any noteworthy trends or observations emerged from a larger test, though I understand that's logistically and practically challenging. Piqued my interest at least -- Conceal and Carry on!

Some states do not allow hollow points for carry. NEW Jersey comes to mind first but they allow the critical defense with the palmer tip/insert.

Repeat that 3,6,9 times. One of each really means nothing other than questions.

I seriously have to wonder what Hornady's PR is about this, like what's the design philosophy of the FTX Critical Defense if the polymer tip doesn't actually assist with expansion upon impact?

Need to try with clothing in front of the gel

🇺🇸

Cool video 💯 👍

Need to test multipe shots with and without the insert. Testing one shot of each doesn't tell you much.

Would love to see a similar test with the projectile passing through particle board or a windshield.

Could you do the test with their 380? The extra penetration combined with some expansion could be a winning combination with the smaller caliber

So, the moral of the story is that if ya want maximum expansion buy Federal HST, lol.

Good test Tools God Bless.

Great test!

Great testing as always, thank you for doing this. Glad to get more information and be better informed. You are a legend

The extra fps on the non tipped projectile could allow more expansion. Good to see that it worked just fine tho

Wonder if the 380 critical defense would perform better without the insert? 🤔

🤦‍♂🤦‍♂THERE IS A HEAVY CLOTHING BARRIER USED IN THIS TEST!🤦‍♂🤦‍♂ Some of y'all need to stop watching only 2 minutes of the video and pay attention. The time that you took to run down to the comments and look foolish about how there was "no clothing barrier" could have been used to actually watch the video and see me pointing out the cloth specifically, along with it being used throughout the testing just like every other video of mine for the past multiple years.

Stop making yourself the stereotypical short attention span, empty headed internet troll!