Hornady Critical Defense .380 Through S&W Bodyguard

The famed critical defense line from hornady has received a lot of attention in the media and overall I have had good results with the 9mm and 380 loadings so I decided to test some with the camera rolling and you guessed it epic fail. Not sure why it was pretty cold, around 28 degrees and the rounds had been chambered a few times since they had been carried ccw style. I'm not sure it that was the problem or just the perfect storm scenario, but I fired two; one on camera and one through the lcp off camera with piss poor performance. I reshot again with an unchambered round and a warmer day about 55 degrees, and got more similar results: good expansion and adequate penetration. So the test reassured me of what I have read and seen, if you are doing less than 1000ft/sec it's likely you will have unreliable expansion. I love the hornady company and shoot and use alot of their products but i have been more impressed with other 380 loads, death and taxes are absolutes right.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• 380
• acp
• smith and Wesson
• ruger
• lcp
• lc9
• ballistics
• gel
• ballistic gel
• bodyguard 380
• hornady
• critical defense
• defensive ammo
• ammunition test
• ammo
• jug test
• expansion
• flextip
• hollow point
• review
• ccw
• cpl

[timmy101able]

Are water jugs considered suitable testing medium?? I m kinda a new firearm enthusiast but wouldn't the fact that it did not expand in soft medium be good? It shows it does not prematurely expand? Or isn't logic off... Thanks in advance!!

[ghillisniper300]

@timmy101able It is suitable as long as you can replicate it for comparison's sake. And as long as you understand the limitations of the test.  Some "calibration" tests were done using water jugs to compare to other things such as wet pack and ballistic gelatin and it seems to be a decent test. I'd prefer gelatin myself but I don't have that. So long as we have consistent results they mean something. Discerning what they mean is then the trick.

[tubevideoguy762]

@ghillisniper300

........? dont know what to say it appears even hornady cannot make something expand 100% of the time if they cant then nobody can i'd still have to say this is the best preforming ammo i've seen thus far

[ghillisniper300]

@tubevideoguy762 I love Hornady bullets but in my experience these Critical Defense rounds are not the best defensive load out there. From what I've seen, Buffalo Bore loaded .380's expand pretty much all the time and a few other loads do really well, with better performance than Hornady CD. But I know some other people who have had a lot of luck with CD. Thanks.

[ghillisniper300]

@timmy101able As for the pro and con of the expansion, the human body is what, 70% water? If you take out the bone you are left with mostly soft tissue surrounded by a flexible membrane that is mostly liquid. Most bullets that are designed to expand should expand even in soft tissue, but should also (at least in theory) stay together enough to penetrate bone if they hit a bone. That's my idea anyway. This ensures that whether you hit a bone or not you are going to do a lot of damage.

[brandinoa8]

@ghillisniper300

Ammo aside, what do you think of the Bodyguard .380? I also have one along with a Colt pocket Mustang .380, which I like. I have also Had some range time with Diamondback .380 and that gun jammed continuously, even after being sent to Diamondback. I have had good luck with the Bodyguard .380 and I was just wondering what your thoughts/review of it.

[ghillisniper300]

@brandinoa8 I deleted my last comment because it dawned on me that Doc put together a LCP/BG 380 comparison and review that we posted a few weeks ago.

But I haven't shot the BG yet. I think it looks like it would be a good .380 pistol due to better sights and a better feeling grip. The LCP is bare bones and smooth so for a pocket carry that may be what you want. I like the BG better. But I'm also not a .380 owner and shoot them rarely so I can't make that call.

[marine2541]

I purchased a LCP .380CT on the recommendation of my gunsmith last week. I bought 125 rounds of Hornady Critical Defense 90 grain hp's and cycled 100 rounds through the pistol rapidly without a single glitch. The laser makes the pistol very accurate without using the tiny sights provided. Another plus for this ammunition is it's low flash in low light conditions. I've found my carry ammo! :)

[SpaceExplorer31]

The only ammo I use in my BG 380 and P32 is FMJ due to so many mixed results. And short barrels. Maybe the adverttised ft per second was for a longer barrel?

Either way good video and I see A LOT of mixed results here on Youtube with hollowpoints for bug guns. Thanks for the video

[jdymes101101]

it expanded and tumbled..... that'll work! but it did shitty in cold weather. keep these babies in the house

[brandinoa8]

@ghillisniper300

I have the BG .380 and I love it. I have also shot the LCP and I agree with you, it is bare bones pocket pistol. But like you, I like having the option of sights. I just can't get use to the LCP because of the lack of sights, however, it is designed to be a pocket pistol and with the LCP you don't have to worry about it snagging anything. I carry the BG 380 in a crossbreed minituck holster and I love it. I also put XS Big Dot night sights on it (standard dot not the oversized)