Hornady Critical Defense .380 ACP 90-Grains 25-rounds FTX…

Product Overview

Engineered for the discerning shooter who demands reliable terminal performance in a compact platform, the Hornady Critical Defense .380 ACP 90-Grain FTX cartridge represents a significant advancement in personal defense ammunition. This 25-round box is designed specifically for owners of .380 ACP pistols, a popular caliber for concealed carry and backup firearms. The primary use case for this load is personal protection, where consistent expansion and penetration through barriers are critical. Hornady’s Critical Defense line addresses the historical challenges of .380 ACP terminal ballistics by utilizing a patented Flex Tip technology to ensure the projectile performs as designed, even when fired through heavy clothing. For the responsible citizen prioritizing a dependable defensive round for their everyday carry firearm, this offering combines innovative engineering with Hornady’s rigorous manufacturing standards.

Key Features

• FTX® (Flex Tip®) Projectile: The red polymer tip serves a dual purpose. It prevents clogging with clothing fibers that can inhibit expansion, and it initiates uniform, controlled expansion upon impact for consistent terminal performance.
• Optimized for Short Barrels: The propellant is specifically formulated for reliable ignition and consistent velocities from the shorter barrels typical of compact and subcompact .380 ACP pistols, ensuring dependable cycling and point-of-impact consistency.
• Robust Jacketing: Features a thick, tapered jacket paired with a lead core that is mechanically locked in place. This construction is engineered to prevent core/jacket separation, ensuring the projectile retains its mass and penetrates to the FBI-recommended depth.
• Nickel-Plated Cases: The corrosion-resistant nickel plating ensures long-term reliability in storage, provides smoother feeding and extraction, and allows for easy visual identification of your defense rounds versus practice ammunition.
• Consistent Manufacturing: Like all Hornady ammunition, each round is produced to exacting tolerances for precise powder charges, bullet seating, and crimping. This results in exceptional lot-to-lot consistency for reliable performance you can trust.
• 25-Round Capacity: The package provides an ample quantity for function testing your firearm, establishing your point of aim/point of impact, and loading multiple magazines for ready use.

Performance & Applications

The Hornady Critical Defense .380 ACP is engineered for specific real-world scenarios where performance cannot be left to chance. Its design parameters make it suitable for several key applications.

Everyday Concealed Carry: This is the primary application. For the individual carrying a lightweight, compact .380 ACP pistol, this ammunition is designed to deliver terminal performance that meets modern standards. The FTX projectile is engineered to expand reliably through heavy clothing like denim or leather—a common barrier in defensive encounters—while still maintaining adequate penetration depth in soft tissue. The reliable cycling in short-barreled pistols ensures your carry weapon will function flawlessly if needed.

Backup or Secondary Firearm: Often carried by law enforcement or security personnel as a deep-concealment backup gun (BUG), a .380 must perform decisively. The Critical Defense round’s consistent velocity from very short barrels and its resistance to jacket/core separation make it a responsible choice for this critical role, where shot placement and immediate stopping power are paramount.

Low-Recoil Defensive Option: For shooters sensitive to recoil, such as those with smaller frames or recovering from injury, a .380 ACP pistol loaded with this ammunition provides a more manageable platform. The 90-grain projectile offers effective performance without the pronounced snap of heavier calibers, potentially aiding in faster follow-up shots and encouraging more frequent practice, which is essential for proficiency.

About Hornady

Founded in 1949, Hornady Manufacturing has built an unparalleled reputation in the ammunition and reloading industry through a relentless focus on innovation, precision, and empirical validation. The company’s expertise is demonstrated not just in marketing, but in tangible contributions to ballistic science. Hornady’s engineers and ballisticians utilize state-of-the-art facilities, including their own massive ballistic gelatin laboratory and high-speed photographic equipment, to test and refine every design. The Critical Defense line is a direct result of this rigorous, evidence-based approach, created to solve documented performance issues with traditional hollow-point designs. This commitment to research, development, and quality control over decades has established Hornady as a trusted authority among law enforcement agencies, competitive shooters, and responsible citizens worldwide. When you choose Hornady, you are selecting ammunition backed by a legacy of hands-on experience and a proven dedication to advancing the science of terminal ballistics.

Make Your Decision

Selecting defensive ammunition is a decision based on trust and proven performance. The Hornady Critical Defense .380 ACP 90-Grain FTX load provides a technologically advanced solution tailored to the capabilities and common use cases of the .380 ACP platform. It addresses key concerns of expansion reliability and consistent performance from compact firearms through its thoughtful engineering. We recommend purchasing sufficient quantity to thoroughly function-test in your specific firearm and to familiarize yourself with its ballistic characteristics. For the individual seeking a scientifically developed, reliably manufactured defensive round for a .380 ACP carry pistol, this product stands as a serious and well-regarded option.