Hornady is launching their new line of Critical Defense ammunition loaded with the new FTX bullet at the SHOT Show. Hornady’s Steve Johnson said that he was the one to test it against other hollow points on defense media (like blue jeans and leather) and found that the materials used in Hornady’s Critical Defense ammo do not enter the cavity of the bullet nose and distort the expansion process like other hollow points do.

Conventional hollow points have always had issues with the cavity becoming clogged with fibers from clothing, rendering them ineffective in terms of expansion in soft tissue after they encounter the clothing barrier. But Hornady’s Critical Defense cartridge plugs this with their closely-guarded rubber material making for a clean penetration and predictable expansion with every shot. Nickel cases eliminate corrosion and premium low flash propellants deliver maximum velocity in short barreled handguns. To start Hornady is offering this in .380 Auto (90-gr./1,000 fps/200-ft.lbs.), .38 Special (110-gr./1175 fps/337-ft. lbs.), .38 Special +P (110-gr./1270 fps/394-ft.lbs.) and 9mm Luger (115-gr./1140 fps/332-ft.lbs.).