Hornady
Hornady Critical Duty 9mm 135gr +P FlexLock
Barrier-oriented duty load with FlexLock bullet and InterLock band to resist jacket separation through common FBI protocol barriers.
Quick Specs
- Price
- $32
- Weight
- N/A
- Brand
- Hornady
- Category
- ammunition
Features
- •135 grain FlexLock +P
- •9mm Luger +P
- •1,110 fps muzzle velocity
- •369 ft-lbs energy
- •Nickel-plated case
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Hornady Critical Duty 9 mm Luger +P 135 grain FlexLock Brass Cased Centerfire Pistol Ammo, 25 Rounds, 90226
Compatibility Tags
Overview
Hornady Critical Duty 135-grain +P FlexLock was purpose-built to meet every requirement of the FBI ammunition protocol. The FlexLock bullet features Hornady's patented InterLock band that mechanically locks the jacket to the core, preventing separation even through the most punishing barriers. The flexible polymer insert in the hollow point cavity prevents clogging from clothing and drywall.
In Lucky Gunner's gel testing, the 135gr +P Critical Duty achieved 18.08 inches of penetration with 0.468 inches of expansion. The +P loading is listed by Hornady at 1,110 fps from a 4-inch test barrel, providing the velocity needed for reliable barrier penetration and expansion. This is a duty-oriented load built around protocol-style barrier performance.
The 135-grain weight represents a calculated middle ground between 124gr and 147gr, optimizing the velocity-to-mass ratio for consistent expansion across all barriers. The nickel-plated case ensures reliable feeding and the +P pressure provides the velocity margin needed for shorter barrels. Critical Duty is designed for duty-size pistols (4"+ barrels) — for compact carry guns, Hornady recommends Critical Defense instead.
Key Features
- Duty-oriented 9mm +P ammunition for protocol-style barrier performance
- FlexLock bullet with InterLock band prevents jacket separation
- Flex Tip polymer insert prevents hollow point clogging
- +P loading at 1,110 fps for barrier penetration
- 18.08" penetration through FBI protocol barriers
- 135gr weight optimized for velocity/mass balance through barriers
Pros
- +Built around rigorous barrier-protocol performance
- +FlexLock + InterLock prevents jacket/core separation
- +Flex Tip prevents HP clogging through clothing/drywall
- +135gr splits the difference between 124 and 147gr
Cons
- −+P recoil is noticeably snappier
- −Less expansion than Federal HST (0.468" vs 0.606")
- −Not recommended for subcompact pistols
- −+P may accelerate barrel wear over thousands of rounds
Detailed Specifications
- grainWeight
- 135gr
- velocity
- 1,110 fps
- energy
- 369 ft-lbs
- penetration
- 18.08"
- expansion
- 0.468"
- pressure
- +P
Compatible Platforms
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Related Guides & Articles
Guides
Build Your Custom Configuration
Add the Hornady Critical Duty 9mm 135gr +P FlexLock to your build and see how it enhances your platform.