hornady critical defense ammo - The Firearms Forum

ryan42 · 03-04-2012, 08:18 AM

This ammo has a silver case,does that mean these are steel cases?What is anybodys opinion on using this as there personal defense carry ammo?And my next question what are your thoughts on carrying reloads in you carry gun for personal protection?

carver · 03-04-2012, 08:21 AM

It's not steel, it's just nickled brass. As for as I'm concerned it's the cat's meow, and I use it in all my SD weapons. I never carry reloads in my SD weapons. Not because they may not work, but because I don't want to give the D.A. anything he may use against me. At home reloads are fine in a SD weapon, but for me, not on the streets. Most of my reloads are Hornady XTP, the same bullet you can buy in the box from the factory, but I just don't feel comfortable with my reloads in my SD weapons.

BobMcG · 03-04-2012, 09:11 AM

For me, I use Hornady Critical Defense ammo in my carry firearms. However, in my house guns, anything goes including handloads.

76Highboy · 03-04-2012, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobMcG

For me, I use Hornady Critical Defense ammo in my carry firearms. However, in my house guns, anything goes including handloads.

You summed that up pretty good for me.

gdmoody · 03-04-2012, 11:09 AM

I do use the Hornady Critical Defense ammo in the pistol I carry the most, my Sig P238. When I carry my LCR, I really have no problem having reloads in it. I have heard the arguments about - if you have to shoot someone, how a prosecutor can tell the jury about how you loaded up some super bullet to make sure the person was dead, or some such crap. My thought is WHO CARES, you are alive and he is not!

bntyhntr6975 · 03-04-2012, 11:23 AM

Best I understood it (a few years ago), reloads or handloads are not allowed for self-defense use here in Kansas. Does not make sense to me but I'm nobody. So my carry (and so far un-used for defense) ammo is pretty much the only factory ammo I buy. I have heard good things about Hornady Critical Defense but have not tried any to see what it does. I carry Ranger XST T-series, the 6 petal. Have shot quite afew things with it to get an idea of performance and I like it. 2x4s, wallboard, milk jugs, trees, phone books, etc., etc. There are afew brand/loads that I did not like the results tho. My father-in-law swears by the Hornady but has never touched one off, just goes by what he has been told. I prefer to see for myself. Whatever ammo you choose to trust your life on, make sure you actually shoot enough of it to KNOW that it will function correctly in your firearm and KNOW where it shoots. If it is ever needed, it's the wrong time to find out that it don't work for you.

carver · 03-04-2012, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gdmoody

I do use the Hornady Critical Defense ammo in the pistol I carry the most, my Sig P238. When I carry my LCR, I really have no problem having reloads in it. I have heard the arguments about - if you have to shoot someone, how a prosecutor can tell the jury about how you loaded up some super bullet to make sure the person was dead, or some such crap. My thought is WHO CARES, you are alive and he is not!

God forbid that any of us ever have to shoot another person. When a shooting is examined, and it might be, one of the things they will be looking at is the distance you were form the BG. You have told the LEO how far away you were, so now they want to look at powder residue to really dertermine the distance. The first thing they are going to find is that you used TITEGROUP powder, if that's what you use, and they now know that this is a hand loaded bullet. Again, if they do check your story they will have your gun, and the ammo in it, this will again tell them that you were using hand loaded ammo. Now, if the DA is a butt then he might tell the jury that you make your own bullets, that are much deadler, and more accurate, than anything bought off the shelf, making you look like you were just waiting for the chance to shoot someone. As far as I know this has never happened, but you never know when it might! If you do tragically get into a situation where you have to defend yourself, why have that, even as a remote possibility, being ruled a possible motive.

ryan42 · 03-04-2012, 02:12 PM

that sums it up for me too.I always carry critical defense and thats what ill continue to do.thanks Carver must be a phsycic I only use tightgroup.

armoredman · 03-04-2012, 02:33 PM

I believe Massad Ayoob stated it was used once and put a good guy behind bars, among other evidence. I choose to use factory for carry. I have handloaded SD ammo for "serious bad times" ammo.

norahc · 03-04-2012, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by armoredman

I believe Massad Ayoob stated it was used once and put a good guy behind bars, among other evidence. I choose to use factory for carry. I have handloaded SD ammo for "serious bad times" ammo.

Yep.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost....&postcount=140

ryan42 · 03-04-2012, 07:02 PM

I saw a show on tv with ayoob I think it was personal defense he was talking about using reloads for carry weapons.Ive always carried critical defense but I didnt know about the reloads,but like the ARMORED MAN inferred to if shtf it probably wouldnt matter.

JohnTheCalifornian · 03-05-2012, 05:02 PM

I read those accounts by Ayoob, and the biggest issue wasn't that the reloads were more powerful or more deadly, it's the fact they may be inconsistent with thier loadings as compared to store bought ammunition, so the defense or prosecution has no real way of duplicating the event to prove innocense or guilt on the defendant.

norahc · 03-05-2012, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnTheCalifornian

I read those accounts by Ayoob, and the biggest issue wasn't that the reloads were more powerful or more deadly, it's the fact they may be inconsistent with thier loadings as compared to store bought ammunition, so the defense or prosecution has no real way of duplicating the event to prove innocense or guilt on the defendant.

Agreed...but why complicate matters if you ever go to court?

jce07a · 03-05-2012, 10:40 PM

if it is a true case of self defense then the DA isnt even going to press charges. and if the DA is enough of a jerk to do so then a good defense attorney will be able to help you out. im glad i have a room mate who knows all sorts of stuff about guns and is going to be a defense attorney so on the off chance that i ever end up having to defend myself i can hire him or someone in his firm and be confident that they know what is going on if i were to mention carrying my own load. (even though i dont, i carry critical defense)

BobMcG · 03-10-2012, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bntyhntr6975

Whatever ammo you choose to trust your life on, make sure you actually shoot enough of it to KNOW that it will function correctly in your firearm and KNOW where it shoots. If it is ever needed, it's the wrong time to find out that it don't work for you.

Agreed. Speaking for myself, I always shoot plenty of what I carry.

03-04-2012, 08:18 AM	#1
ryan42 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: marion indiana Contributor Posts: 1,589	hornady critical defense ammo This ammo has a silver case,does that mean these are steel cases?What is anybodys opinion on using this as there personal defense carry ammo?And my next question what are your thoughts on carrying reloads in you carry gun for personal protection? -->

03-04-2012, 08:21 AM	#2
carver TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DAV, Deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas, just west of Shreveport, LA Contributor Posts: 11,555	Re: hornady critical defense ammo It's not steel, it's just nickled brass. As for as I'm concerned it's the cat's meow, and I use it in all my SD weapons. I never carry reloads in my SD weapons. Not because they may not work, but because I don't want to give the D.A. anything he may use against me. At home reloads are fine in a SD weapon, but for me, not on the streets. Most of my reloads are Hornady XTP, the same bullet you can buy in the box from the factory, but I just don't feel comfortable with my reloads in my SD weapons. __________________ Y'all be safe now, ya hear! Lamentations Chapter 5: 1. Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows. 5. Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest. 16. The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 21. Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old. Last edited by carver; 03-04-2012 at 08:24 AM..

03-04-2012, 09:11 AM	#3
BobMcG Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Somewhere in the Twilight Zone. Contributor Posts: 1,119	Re: hornady critical defense ammo For me, I use Hornady Critical Defense ammo in my carry firearms. However, in my house guns, anything goes including handloads.

03-04-2012, 11:09 AM	#5
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,409	Re: hornady critical defense ammo I do use the Hornady Critical Defense ammo in the pistol I carry the most, my Sig P238. When I carry my LCR, I really have no problem having reloads in it. I have heard the arguments about - if you have to shoot someone, how a prosecutor can tell the jury about how you loaded up some super bullet to make sure the person was dead, or some such crap. My thought is WHO CARES, you are alive and he is not! __________________ NRA Endowment Member GeorgiaCarry.Org Member Retired US Army Postal Worker Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

03-04-2012, 11:23 AM	#6
bntyhntr6975 V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Wichita, Ks. Posts: 296	Re: hornady critical defense ammo Best I understood it (a few years ago), reloads or handloads are not allowed for self-defense use here in Kansas. Does not make sense to me but I'm nobody. So my carry (and so far un-used for defense) ammo is pretty much the only factory ammo I buy. I have heard good things about Hornady Critical Defense but have not tried any to see what it does. I carry Ranger XST T-series, the 6 petal. Have shot quite afew things with it to get an idea of performance and I like it. 2x4s, wallboard, milk jugs, trees, phone books, etc., etc. There are afew brand/loads that I did not like the results tho. My father-in-law swears by the Hornady but has never touched one off, just goes by what he has been told. I prefer to see for myself. Whatever ammo you choose to trust your life on, make sure you actually shoot enough of it to KNOW that it will function correctly in your firearm and KNOW where it shoots. If it is ever needed, it's the wrong time to find out that it don't work for you. __________________ There is a fine line between paranoid and prepared. Last edited by bntyhntr6975; 03-04-2012 at 11:26 AM..

03-04-2012, 02:12 PM	#8
ryan42 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: marion indiana Contributor Posts: 1,589	Re: hornady critical defense ammo that sums it up for me too.I always carry critical defense and thats what ill continue to do.thanks Carver must be a phsycic I only use tightgroup.

03-04-2012, 02:33 PM	#9
armoredman Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Proud to be in Arizona Posts: 1,381	Re: hornady critical defense ammo I believe Massad Ayoob stated it was used once and put a good guy behind bars, among other evidence. I choose to use factory for carry. I have handloaded SD ammo for "serious bad times" ammo.

03-04-2012, 07:02 PM	#11
ryan42 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: marion indiana Contributor Posts: 1,589	Re: hornady critical defense ammo I saw a show on tv with ayoob I think it was personal defense he was talking about using reloads for carry weapons.Ive always carried critical defense but I didnt know about the reloads,but like the ARMORED MAN inferred to if shtf it probably wouldnt matter.

03-05-2012, 05:02 PM	#12
JohnTheCalifornian V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Bakersfield Posts: 439	Re: hornady critical defense ammo I read those accounts by Ayoob, and the biggest issue wasn't that the reloads were more powerful or more deadly, it's the fact they may be inconsistent with thier loadings as compared to store bought ammunition, so the defense or prosecution has no real way of duplicating the event to prove innocense or guilt on the defendant. __________________ Im not a complete idiot.... parts are missing Last edited by JohnTheCalifornian; 03-05-2012 at 05:14 PM..

03-05-2012, 10:40 PM	#14
jce07a V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Abilene, Texas Posts: 216	Re: hornady critical defense ammo if it is a true case of self defense then the DA isnt even going to press charges. and if the DA is enough of a jerk to do so then a good defense attorney will be able to help you out. im glad i have a room mate who knows all sorts of stuff about guns and is going to be a defense attorney so on the off chance that i ever end up having to defend myself i can hire him or someone in his firm and be confident that they know what is going on if i were to mention carrying my own load. (even though i dont, i carry critical defense)