Hornady Critical Defense 380 Auto 90gr FTX

Hornady Critical Defense 380 Auto 90gr FTX is engineered from the ground up for the unique demands of pocket .380 pistols. Conventional hollow points fail in these guns through two mechanisms: the short barrel reduces velocity to the point where expansion is unreliable, and clothing fibers clog the hollow point cavity before the bullet contacts tissue. The Flex Tip polymer insert eliminates clogging entirely, initiating expansion on contact with soft tissue rather than packing with fabric.

Chronographed from a 2.75 inch barrel at 980 fps, the Critical Defense produces 11.3 inches of penetration and 0.573 inches of expansion in calibrated gel through 4-layer denim. The penetration falls just below the FBI's 12 inch minimum, but this is consistent with the physics of .380 ACP from ultra-short barrels. From a 3 to 3.5 inch barrel, penetration increases to the 12 to 13 inch range.

Hornady loads Critical Defense in nickel-plated cases for reliable feeding and corrosion resistance, and the propellant is optimized for clean burning in the fouling-prone environment of pocket pistols. For LCP Max, Bodyguard 380, and P3AT users, this is the default carry recommendation.