20rds - 40 S&W Hornady Critical Defense 165gr. HP Ammo

$27.95
$1.4/ppr
☆☆☆☆☆

59 In stock

Hornady Ammunition 165 Grain Jacketed Hollow-Point (JHP) Ammo Details

This is 40 S&W Hornady Critical Defense 165gr. Hollow Point Ammo.The new Hornady Critical Defense ammunition is the pinnacle in self defense ammunition. Using a variation of the tip material used in the revolutionary LEVERevolution® line of ammunition, Hornady engineers were able to achieve 100% reliable expansion every single time. Conventional hollow point pistol bullets have always had issues with the cavity becoming clogged with fibers from clothing which rendered them very ineffective in terms of expansion in soft tissue after encountering the clothing barrier. Critical Defense eliminates this issue — guaranteed. Critical Defense ammo is so effective because of the soft polymer insert in the tip of the bullet. It is rigid enough to prevent clogging when passing through clothing, yet supple enough to deliver violent terminal performance when the bullet encounters soft tissue — EVERY single time. All Critical Defense ammunition is loaded with premium low-flash propellant to deliver maximum velocity – even in very short-barreled handguns. You can trust you and your family’s safety to the only handgun ammunition specifically engineered to deliver 100% consistent performance every single time — Hornady Critical Defense. This ammo comes packed in 20rd. boxes.

  • Product Type
    Ammo
  • Manufacturer
  • Condition
    New
  • Bullet Weight
  • Use Type
    Self Defense
  • Casing Type
    Brass
  • Quantity
    20
  • Ammo Caliber
    40 Smith & Wesson
  • Manufacturer SKU
    91340
  • Primer Type
  • Muzzle Velocity
    1175
  • Muzzle Energy
  • UPC Barcode
    090255913408
  • Cost Per Round
    $1.4/ppr

Gel test Results

In hopes of giving ourselves and our customers a better idea how this 40 Smith & Wesson self-defense ammo would perform if called upon in a self-defense scenario, we tested dozens of the best selling hollow points on the market.

We fired five rounds of this Hornady Ammunition 40 Smith & Wesson ammo through a cloth barrier into Clear Ballistics calibrated synthetic gelatin and recorded the results. For these tests, we used a S&W M&P40c with a -inch barrel. In the photos, graphics and video on this page, you can see specifically how the Hornady Ammunition ammo performed and how it sticks up with the rest of the 40 Smith & Wesson ammo we have tested so far.

To read more about our testing procedures and discover what round makes the best self-defense ammo for you head to this page.

Unfired versus Fired Round Comparison

Image detailing before and after firing 20rds - 40 S&W Hornady Critical Defense 165gr. HP Ammo Image detailing before and after firing 20rds - 40 S&W Hornady Critical Defense 165gr. HP Ammo

How do the results for this Hornady Ammunition 40 Smith & Wesson compare to other Hollow Point?

20rds - 40 S&W Hornady Critical Defense 165gr. HP Ammo Gel Test Results

  Median
Bullet Depth (in.) 17.8 18.3 18.8 19.2 19.3
Expanded Diameter (in.) 0.45 0.47 0.47 0.49 0.49
Bullet Weight after shot (gr.) 163.5 163.7 163.8 163.9 164.4
Bullet Velocity (fps) 1040 1043 1045 1047 1060

Hornady Ammunition 40 Smith & Wesson Ballistic Data

Hornady Ammunition 40 Smith & Wesson Ammo Details

Barrel Length inches
3
Please be adviced that most of our ammo has been tested on 4 inches. Longer barrel increases the exit velocity of the bullet and the effective range of the bullet.
Please be adviced that most of our ammo has been tested on 4 inches. Longer barrel increases the exit velocity of the bullet and the effective range of the bullet.
Ballistics Coefficient (G1)
0.154
Ballistics Coefficient (G7)
0.000
Sectional Density
0.147
Muzzle 25 yds. 50 yds. 75 yds. 100 yds.
Velocity fps 1175 1116 1067 1027 992
Energy ft lbs 506 456 418 386 360
Bullet drop inch n/a 0 -1.7 -5.4 -11.1

Trajectory Line Graph Hornady Ammunition 40 Smith & Wesson

Velocity / Energy Comparisons

Ammo Muzzle Velocity Muzzle Energy
180 Grain Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) Blazer Brass
#29
926 fps
#27
343 ft lbs
180 Grain Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) Sellier & Bellot Ammunition
#32
915 fps
#30
335 ft lbs
180 Grain Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) Tula Ammo
#31
919 fps
#29
338 ft lbs
180 Grain Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) Magtech
#23
944 fps
#21
356 ft lbs
180 Grain Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) Blazer
#25
938 fps
#22
352 ft lbs
180 Grain Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) Winchester Ammunition
#15
1006.5 fps
#6
405 ft lbs
165 Grain Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) Winchester Ammunition
#6
1044.5 fps
#7
400 ft lbs
165 Grain Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) Federal Ammunition
#11
1035 fps
#10
392 ft lbs
180 Grain Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) Remington Ammunition
#18
964 fps
#15
371 ft lbs
180 Grain Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) Federal Ammunition
#21
946 fps
#19
358 ft lbs
180 Grain Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) PMC Ammunition
#28
931 fps
#25
347 ft lbs
180 Grain Jacketed Hollow-Point (JHP) Federal Ammunition
#20
954 fps
#18
364 ft lbs
165 Grain Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) Blazer Brass
#17
972 fps
#26
346 ft lbs
165 Grain Jacketed Hollow-Point (JHP) Fiocchi Ammunition
#13
1016 fps
#13
378 ft lbs
180 Grain Jacketed Hollow-Point (JHP) Federal Ammunition
#22
946 fps
#20
358 ft lbs
165 Grain Total Metal Jacket (TMJ) Speer
#9
1040 fps
#9
396 ft lbs
155 Grain Jacketed Hollow-Point (JHP) Federal Ammunition
#10
1036 fps
#16
370 ft lbs
180 Grain Jacketed Hollow-Point (JHP) Speer
#19
956 fps
#17
365 ft lbs
125 Grain Frangible Fiocchi Ammunition
#1
1265 fps
#3
444 ft lbs
165 Grain Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) PMC Ammunition
#24
941 fps
#32
324 ft lbs
165 Grain Jacketed Hollow-Point (JHP) Federal Ammunition
#12
1035 fps
#11
392 ft lbs
155 Grain Jacketed Hollow-Point (JHP) Remington Ammunition
#3
1146 fps
#2
452 ft lbs
165 Grain Jacketed Hollow-Point (JHP) Speer
#8
1042 fps
#8
398 ft lbs
155 Grain Hollow Point Speer
#2
1200 fps
#1
496 ft lbs
155 Grain Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) Federal Ammunition
#7
1043 fps
#14
374 ft lbs
165 Grain Jacketed Hollow-Point (JHP) Hornady Ammunition
#5
1067 fps
#5
418 ft lbs
180 Grain Total Metal Jacket (TMJ) Speer
#26
937 fps
#23
351 ft lbs
180 Grain Total Metal Jacket (TMJ) Speer
#27
937 fps
#24
351 ft lbs
180 Grain Jacketed Hollow-Point (JHP) Prvi Partizan Ammunition
#30
920 fps
#28
339 ft lbs
180 Grain Jacketed Hollow-Point (JHP) Hornady Ammunition
#33
903 fps
#31
326 ft lbs
180 Grain Jacketed Hollow-Point (JHP) Winchester Ammunition
#16
985 fps
#12
388 ft lbs
140 Grain Solid Copper Hollow Point (SCHP) Barnes Bullets
#14
1014 fps
#33
320 ft lbs
165 Grain Jacketed Hollow-Point (JHP) Remington Ammunition
#4
1089 fps
#4
435 ft lbs
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The Reviews

Why Shooters and Hunters love or hate 20rds - 40 S&W Hornady Critical Defense 165gr. HP Ammo

Leave a Review Reviews icon
  • ☆☆☆☆☆

    posted on by Penname

    Barely any muzzle flash from Glock 35 in complete darkness. Recoil OK. Chambers flawlessly.

  • ☆☆☆☆☆

    posted on by Charles Gray

    I carry this in personal firearm everyday. I have never shot a more consistent ammo out of my Glock 23 or my Kimber 45. Shooting this ammo is expensive I know but if you're serious about protecting your loved one's and yourself then you already know to at least be familiar with ammo that you're carrying in your weapon. At 10 yards I got nothing out of the 9 ring and at 20 yards nothing out of the 7 ring. I highly recommend this ammo for anyone that is serious about self preservation.

  • ☆☆☆☆☆

    posted on by BR WA

    Recently purchased 100 rounds of this for use in my XD40 CCW/home protection firearm. <br />
    Shot 50 rounds at the range, without a hiccup; no FTE, FTF, jams, stovepipes. The powder burned very clean and left almost no residue behind. 40/50 rounds were center mass in either in 8 or 9 rings at 10 yards (there were 10 fliers, but I got excited, and they were completely my fault). <br />
    <br />
    The only 'drawback' to this ammo (but which I actually appreciated), is that it is a very HOT load, and kicks like a mule. The ammo is a bit on the expensive side, but what's $20 when your life might potentially be on the line one day? <br />
    <br />
    Overall, very consistent and accurate ammo. I would not hesitate to recommend this to friends and family.

  • ☆☆☆☆☆

    posted on by josh laura

    This ammo is great. Never had any issues with the .40 or my .45 with this stuff. Hornady is my favorite manufacturer of ammo. Don't let the price deter you. One can't put a price on his/her life and this is probably some of the most accurate handgun bullets offered on the market at this time, plus the ballistics are great and it offers reliable expansion consistently. I'm going to buy all i can while i still can.

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