Thanks to Kyle's Gun Shop in Cincinnati, OH and San Diego Police Equipment for generously providing much of the ammunition used in this testing.
We tested the new Hornady Critical Duty ammunition using Fed HST and BH Barnes Tac-XP as control loads.
9 mm Hornady 135 gr Critical Duty at 1085 fps:
BG: Pen = 15.7, RD = 0.52, RL = 0.49, RW = 134.6
4LD: Pen = 17.8, RD = 0.47, RL = 0.55, RW = 134.1
(dime)
9 mm Fed 147 gr HST at 1005 fps:
BG: Pen = 14.0, RD = 0.65, RL = 0.41, RW = 147.6
4LD: Pen = 16.5, RD = 0.60, RL = 0.53, RW = 147.5
9 mm Hornady 135 gr +P Critical Duty at 1185 fps:
BG: Pen = 17.9, RD = 0.52, RL = 0.50, RW = 135.6
4LD: Pen = 18.1, RD = 0.48, RL = 0.53, RW = 134.1
(dime)
9 mm Fed 135 gr +P bonded Tactical (LE9T5) at 1069 fps:
BG: Pen = 14.5, RD = 0.58, RL = 0.34, RW = 134.6
4LD: Pen = 15.0, RD = 0.56, RL = 0.43, RW = 134.1
9 mm BH 115 gr +P Barnes Tac-XP at 1069 fps:
BG: Pen = 15.0, RD = 0.52, RL = 0.49, RW = 115.4
4LD: Pen = 14.0, RD = 0.52, RL = 0.49, RW = 115.7
9 mm 147 gr +P HST (P9HST4) at 1069 fps:
BG: Pen = 14.4, RD = 0.64, RL = 0.41, RW = 147.5
4LD: Pen = 16.3, RD = 0.59, RL = 0.43, RW = 147.8
(dime)
9 mm Fed 147 gr HST (P9HST2) at 1005 fps:
BG: Pen = 14.0, RD = 0.65, RL = 0.41, RW = 147.6
4LD: Pen = 16.5, RD = 0.60, RL = 0.53, RW = 147.5
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.40 Hornady 175 gr Critical Duty at 985 fps:
BG: Pen = 16.9, RD = 0.51, RL = 0.56, RW = 175.1
4LD: Pen = 19.4, RD = 0.45, RL = 0.60, RW = 174.6
(dime)
.40 Fed 180 gr HST (P40HST1) at 986 fps:
BG: Pen = 13.8, RD = 0.70, RL = 0.33, RW = 181.5
4LD: Pen = 15.8, RD = 0.65, RL = 0.48, RW = 183.5
.40 Fed 165 gr HST (P40HST3) at 1129 fps:
BG: Pen = 13.5, RD = 0.69, RL = 0.39, RW = 165.6
4LD: Pen = 18.0, RD = 0.60, RL = 0.47, RW = 167.8
.40 Fed 155 gr HST (P40HST2) at 1150 fps:
BG: Pen = 12.5, RD = 0.67, RL = 0.34, RW = 155.4
4LD: Pen = 15.5, RD = 0.61, RL = 0.41, RW = 156.6
.40 BH 140 gr Barnes Tac-XP at 1267 fps:
BG: Pen = 13.5, RD = 0.63, RL = 0.48, RW = 139.5
4LD: Pen = 14.5, RD = 0.61, RL = 0.47, RW = 142.2
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.45 Hornady 220 gr +P Critical Duty at 951 fps:
BG: Pen = 16.0, RD = 0.65, RL = 0.52, RW = 219.3
4LD: Pen = 16.4, RD = 0.63, RL = 0.55, RW = 218.3
(quarter)
.45 Fed 230 gr +P HST (P45HST1) at 936 fps:
BG: Pen = 13.8, RD = 0.82, RL = 0.42, RW = 231.2
4LD: Pen = 14.5, RD = 0.76, RL = 0.50, RW = 234.4
.45 BH 185 gr +P Barnes Tac-XP at 810 fps:
BG: Pen = 13.3, RD = 0.64, RL = 0.56, RW = 185.6
4LD: Pen = 12.5, RD = 0.64, RL = 0.56, RW = 185.5
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In general, the Hornady Critical Duty ammunition did NOT perform as well as several current JHP loads. The best performing Critical Duty load was the .45 Auto 220 gr +P and the worst performing was the .40 S&W 175 gr. In areas where conventional JHP designs are prohibited, the Hornady Critical Duty joins the Federal EFMJ as an option that is better than the Corbon Powerball or FMJ loads.
The Barnes all copper JHP bullets are an outstanding choice when lighter weight service caliber handgun projectiles are desired.
The Fed HST line is among the best duty loads currently available for service caliber pistols. HST’s tend to work best using heavier bullets (147 gr, 180 gr, 230 gr) at moderate velocities, with standard pressures.